PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James Torello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Uruhara Hatake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Uruhara Hatake has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Torello
vs
Hatake

168 cm
32
138 lbs
18 - 11 - 0

175 cm
36
145 lbs
21 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

GREEN!160

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Torello!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Uruhara Hatake!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Daniel Bishop and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hatake manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Torello on his heels. He'll look to pass Torello's guard now, I'm sure.
Hatake preventing the sweep.
Torello bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hatake's guard.
Torello postures up in Hatake's guard and throws a big left but Hatake blocks it.
Torello postures up in Hatake's guard and throws a big left but Hatake blocks it.
Torello with a flurry of punches that miss.
Torello distracts Hatake with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hatake is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Torello's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Torello throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Hatake is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Torello defends well.
Torello postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hatake escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Torello gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hatake told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Torello landing some decent shots from guard.
Torello throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hatake works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torello is looking to work some ground and pound but Hatake has wrist control.
Torello landing some decent shots from guard.
Torello loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Hatake is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Torello is aware though and is defending well.
Torello works over Hatake with some ground and pound from guard.

Hatake has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Torello can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Torello working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Torello working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hatake's head.
Torello keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hatake's head.
Torello loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Torello postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Hatake is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Torello loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Torello has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torello connects with a couple of short punches.
Torello cracks Hatake with a solid left hand.
Hatake looking for a sweep. Not yet Hatake, not yet.
Torello content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Torello throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Hatake escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Torello gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hatake will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Torello scoring with some ground and pound.
Torello trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Torello postures up in Hatake's guard and throws a big left but Hatake blocks it.

Hatake working for a triangle but Torello defends it easily.
Torello connects with a couple of short punches.

Torello avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Torello cracks Hatake with a solid left hand.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Torello's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Hatake escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Torello gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Hatake is looking for a triangle but Torello pushes his legs off easily.
Torello postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Torello with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Torello stopping the sweep attempt from Hatake.
Torello landing with the ground and pound.
Torello chips away with some ground and pound.
Hatake utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Torello works over Hatake with some ground and pound from guard.
Torello working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Torello throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Torello throwing strikes from guard but Hatake blocks nicely.
Torello throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hatake works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Torello trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Torello throwing strikes from guard but Hatake blocks nicely.
Torello lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Hatake is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Torello is aware though and is defending well.
Torello throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hatake works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Torello lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Torello lands a couple of digs.

Torello got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hatake has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Torello has managed to get both his arms back between Hatake's legs - danger averted.
Torello scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hatake utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Hatake looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hatake working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Torello.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Torello dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Torello has managed to clinch.
Torello throws a head punch that misses.
Torello fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hatake.
Hatake blocking some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Torello.
Hatake blocking some punches.

Hatake jumps into guard, dragging Torello to the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Torello accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hatake trying to control the position.
Torello scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Torello is looking to work some ground and pound but Hatake has wrist control.
Torello is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Torello throws an elbow that misses. Hatake uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Torello's guard. Nice move by Hatake!
Torello striking off his back but it's not causing Hatake any problems.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torello is striking off his back. Hatake thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Torello missing with punches from the bottom.
Hatake seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Torello does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Torello missing with punches from the bottom.
Torello is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hatake can do to turn this around?
Torello punching from the bottom.

Hatake is looking for a kimura here.
Torello is trying to get back to full guard.
Torello scores with a few weak punches.
Torello tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Torello tries to clinch but Hatake moves out of range.
Hatake looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Hatake lands a big head kick that sends Torello tumbling to the mat! Hatake takes a step backwards and waves Torello back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Torello is rocked!

Torello moves into the clinch.
Oh Torello is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Hatake has Torello pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Hatake pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Torello tumbling to the mat - Hatake dives into Torello's guard.
Torello tries to strike from the bottom.
Torello throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Torello seems to have got his legs back now.
Torello throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Torello throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Torello looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Torello with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Hatake can't handle though.
Hatake chips away with some ground and pound.
James Torello overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Torello trying to strike off his back.
Hatake showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Torello thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Torello doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Torello tries to close the distance and clinch but Hatake swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Torello tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Hatake counters with a head kick that drops Torello to the mat! Torello scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

Torello clinches.
Torello lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Torello breaks from the clinch.

Torello clinches with his opponent.

Hatake breaks the clinch.
James Torello is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Torello moves in looking to clinch but Hatake pushes him off.
Torello tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Torello closes the distance looking to clinch

and Hatake counters with a crisp one two that drops Torello! Hatake thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Torello to his feet! Torello is in big trouble!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Torello gets a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Torello.
Hatake blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Torello misses with a punch on the inside.

Hatake pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Torello wants to clinch.
Hatake is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Torello doesn't manage to clinch there - Hatake circles away.
Torello is looking to clinch.
Hatake fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Torello checks it well.
Torello tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Torello looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hatake drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Torello defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Uruhara Hatake showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Torello gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hatake to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Hatake passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Torello tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Torello tries to get to full guard but Hatake has control of the leg.
Hatake blocks the strikes from Torello.
Torello strikes from the bottom but Hatake passes into mount!
Torello throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hatake lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Torello sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Torello moves into full guard.
Torello throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torello is striking from the bottom but Hatake uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.

Hatake is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Torello punching from the bottom.
Torello missing with punches from the bottom.
Torello wants to get back to full guard.
Torello misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Torello punching from the bottom.

Hatake is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Torello sees it coming and defends easily.
Torello throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Torello is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hatake wants to control the pace but Torello is squirming around nicely.
Hatake fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Torello throwing hammer fists to the chest of Hatake. What's that going to do exactly?
Torello is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Torello is trying to escape the mount.
Hatake manages to capitalize on a mistake by Torello to take his back!

Hatake is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Torello knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Torello for a finish.
Torello tries to escape but Hatake has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Torello defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Torello is in bad spot here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hatake has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Hatake has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Torello is trying to break free.
Hatake is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Torello up.
Hatake doesn't have the hooks in and Torello manages to turn into his guard.
Hatake preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Torello avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Torello is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Torello scoring with punches to the head and body.
Torello throws a big right hand that misses.
Torello throws an elbow that misses. Hatake uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Torello's guard. Nice move by Hatake!
Torello throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hatake won't allow Torello to sweep him here.
Hatake working some strikes from top position.
Hatake wants to control from the top but Torello keeps moving.
Torello striking off his back but it's not causing Hatake any problems.
Hatake connects with a couple of short punches.
Hatake landing with the ground and pound.
Torello doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Torello keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Hatake postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hatake preventing the sweep.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Torello is looking to sweep but instead, Hatake has passed into half guard.
Torello is pressing down on Hatake's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Torello keeping moving, preventing Hatake from controlling successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

And that's the end of the fight!
Uruhara Hatake comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hatake has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Uruhara Hatake!
After winning the bout, Uruhara Hatake thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.