PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Juji Gatame (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Hanks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gatame comes to the cage accompanied by Storm. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gatame
vs
Hanks

186 cm
37
174 lbs
30 - 14 - 1

179 cm
38
175 lbs
38 - 21 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Mohito Fightwear

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Juji Gatame!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 38 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Craig Hanks!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hanks is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Hanks throws a jab when Gatame was well out of range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Gatame. That's going to slow Hanks down.
Gatame looks to throw the jab but Hanks is out of range.
Hanks's coach down at Cell Block Six was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Hanks's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Hanks ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gatame moves away.
Hanks lands a jab to the nose.
Hanks misses the body punch
and Gatame counters with a nice uppercut.
Hanks takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Hanks lands with a good body shot.
Hanks digs a good body shot into Gatame's ribs.
Hanks throws a hook but Gatame avoids it easily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gatame.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
No joy there for Hanks, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gatame jabs Hanks to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Gatame lands a jab to the nose.
A low kick from Hanks misses
and Hanks takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Hanks has closed the distance and engaged Gatame in a clinch.

Gatame pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hanks misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gatame.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatame throws a hook but Hanks blocks it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Gatame.
Gatame checks a low kick from Hanks.
Hanks ducks under a wild hook from Gatame.
Hanks is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Hanks takes a swing at Gatame's ribcage but misses.
Gatame walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Gatame blocks the body kick.
Gatame slips under a jab.
Gatame throws a push kick but Hanks slaps the foot to one side.
Gatame misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gatame scores with a head kick.
Hanks lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Hanks throws a low kick but Gatame moves out of range easily.
Gatame moves out of range as Hanks strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanks misses with a double jab

and Gatame counters with a takedown into side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hanks tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gatame wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gatame is chipping away with strikes.
Gatame is chipping away with strikes.
Gatame working the head and body with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hanks tries to buck Gatame off but Gatame is having none of it.
Gatame looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Hanks is avoiding damage well.
Gatame misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
We've been hearing that Gatame has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Hanks struggling a bit here.
Gatame is working Hanks over with some ground and pound from side control.
Gatame is putting a hurting on Hanks here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Hanks's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gatame misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Gatame working the strikes but Hanks uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Gatame 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.
Hanks moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gatame trying to control the position from guard on top but Hanks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hanks is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hanks keeping moving, preventing Gatame from controlling successfully.
Gatame is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hanks working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gatame.
Hanks has momentary wrist control but Gatame slips an elbow through the middle.

It looks like Craig Hanks has been cut.
Gatame looking to pass the guard.
Gatame postures up in Hanks's guard and throws a big left but Hanks blocks it.
Gatame keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hanks's head.
Gatame with a nice head shot there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hanks is on top in guard.

Hanks postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juji Gatame dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Craig Hanks's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hanks avoids the head kick by Gatame.
Gatame throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gatame throws a leg kick that is checked
and Hanks counters with a straight right hand.
Hanks throws a body shot but no joy.
Gatame fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Hanks attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Gatame throws a quick counter kick to the body but Hanks avoids it.
That kick from Gatame tenderised Hanks's leg. Hanks is trying to keep his angry face on.
Hanks throws an overhand right that lands on Gatame's shoulder, as Gatame tries to avoid the shot.
Hanks pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hanks throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Gatame counters with a nice leg kick.
Hanks is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Gatame.
No joy there for Gatame, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hanks appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Gatame throws a body punch but Hanks moves out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hanks takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Good work by Gatame as he checks the leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gatame checks a leg kick.
Gatame is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Gatame tries to score with a low kick but Hanks moves his leg out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left lands for Gatame.
Gatame throws out a leg kick but Hanks moves out of range and Gatame only half commits.
Hanks tries to counter by closing the distance.
Gatame smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Hanks takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Juji Gatame is winning the standup battle so far.
Hanks keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gatame fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hanks.
Hanks scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Gatame throws a body shot but no joy.
Hanks misses with a jab to the body
and Gatame counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hanks shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Gatame throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gatame lands with a hook. Hanks tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gatame lunges at Hanks with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hanks's hand.

Hanks tries to sprawl but Gatame drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Hanks is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gatame is looking to stall here but Hanks recovers full guard.
Hanks trying to control the position.
Gatame is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hanks can do to turn this around?
Gatame is stalling in the full guard.
Gatame pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hanks is keeping the position for now.
Gatame trying to control the position from guard on top but Hanks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatame stopping the sweep attempt from Hanks.
Gatame in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hanks controlling the position.
Gatame trying to control but Hanks is working from the bottom.
Hanks looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Gatame puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Juji Gatame overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gatame thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gatame takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hanks trying to control but Gatame postures up.
Gatame is trying to control the action in half guard but Hanks is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanks holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Hanks is pressing down on Gatame's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gatame working some strikes from top position.
Gatame with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gatame loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gatame is looking to work some ground and pound but Hanks has wrist control.
Hanks keeping moving, preventing Gatame from controlling successfully.
Hanks wants to sweep here but Gatame controlling him for the moment.
Gatame throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juji Gatame dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Craig Hanks's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Gatame lands a lovely overhand right.
Gatame scores with a decent looking hook.
A jab from Gatame misses.
Gatame slips a jab from Hanks.
Gatame is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Hanks uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gatame.
Hanks keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hanks lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Hanks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Gatame misses the target.
Gatame motions for Hanks to come forward. Gatame throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gatame lunges at Hanks with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hanks's hand.
Gatame lands with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gatame scores with a nice right hand.
Hanks chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gatame can pounce on him.
A head kick misses from Hanks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gatame takes a swing at Hanks's ribcage but misses.
Hanks blocks a head kick by Gatame.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatame throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hanks tries to clinch but Gatame is having none of it.
Gatame avoids a kick to the body.
Gatame throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A swing and a miss from Gatame.
Hanks takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Gatame lands a nice shot to the body.
Hanks misses the shot to the body.
Gatame uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hanks.
Gatame gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hanks counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The fighters circling - Hanks throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gatame misses with an uppercut. Hanks saw that one coming.
Gatame digs a good body shot into Hanks's ribs.
Hanks tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Craig Hanks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanks walks into a left hand.
Hanks scores with a nice head shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hanks bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gatame clobbers Hanks with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Decent striking displayed by Gatame there.
Gatame swings away with a body shot that misses

and Hanks holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Gatame wants to take the fight to the mat but Hanks manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Gatame prevents a body shot from Hanks.

Gatame breaks the clinch.
Hanks looks to land a left hand but Gatame moved out of range nicely.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gatame.
Hanks looks to score with a jab to the body but Gatame is just out of range.
Gatame connects with a right hand. Hanks shakes it off.
Gatame avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hanks lands a jab to Gatame's midsection.
Gatame avoids the head kick by Hanks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gatame closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Hanks quickly recovers to half guard.
Gatame trying to control from half guard but Hanks is working away.
Gatame is nestled in close to Hanks, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Hanks blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gatame.
Gatame missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gatame throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hanks tries to get to full guard but Gatame has control of the leg.
Gatame trying to advance position but Hanks counters by regaining guard.
Gatame won't allow Hanks to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gatame accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gatame postures up.
Gatame trying to control but Hanks is working from the bottom.
Gatame forces his way into half guard.

Gatame is working for a kimura but Hanks is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gatame throwing shots but Hanks is blocking nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juji Gatame showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gatame, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juji Gatame!
After the fight, Juji Gatame was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.