PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joshua Weiss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryo Habanapa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ryo Habanapa told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Weiss
vs
Habanapa

190 cm
18
217 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joshua Weiss!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryo Habanapa!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Habanapa connects with a body shot.
Weiss shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Habanapa pinned against the cage. Habanapa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Habanapa swats away the attempt to clinch by Weiss.
Habanapa keeps the fight on the outside.
Weiss fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Weiss closes this distance looking for a takedown but Habanapa circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joshua Weiss. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Habanapa moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Weiss tries to clinch up but Habanapa circles away and keeps his distance.
Habanapa should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Weiss takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Habanapa swinging wilding here.
Weiss throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Habanapa counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Joshua Weiss seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Weiss misses with a takedown
and Habanapa counters with a left and a right that stings Weiss.
Weiss is breathing heavily.
Weiss slips a jab and a cross from Habanapa.
Weiss tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Habanapa counters with a series of strikes. Weiss will be more careful next time no doubt.
Habanapa lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Weiss at a distance. Habanapa throws a right and a left that Weiss avoids nicely.
A combination from Habanapa does no damage.
Habanapa lands with a straight right. Weiss didn't see that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Habanapa throws a combination. Weiss tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Weiss with a poor takedown

and Habanapa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Habanapa lands a shoulder strike.
Weiss misses with a knee to the head.
Weiss scores with a knee to the head.
Habanapa wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Weiss has him pressed against the cage.
Weiss goes for a takedown attempt but Habanapa pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Habanapa moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Weiss. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

Habanapa tries to keep at a distance but Weiss has taken the fight into the clinch.
Weiss changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Habanapa fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Habanapa circles away from the clinch attempt
and Habanapa counters with a right hand to the body.
Habanapa misses with a body kick.
Habanapa throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Habanapa lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Weiss backs up against the cage.
Weiss shoots and misses
and Habanapa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Weiss misses with a takedown
and Habanapa counters with a nice body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weiss clinches but Habanapa breaks the clinch
letting Habanapa counter with a right hand.
Weiss fails with the takedown

and Habanapa counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Habanapa.
Weiss looking for a takedown.
Weiss using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Habanapa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Habanapa lands a shoulder strike.
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!
Habanapa wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Habanapa has hold of one of Weiss's legs. Weiss is fighting the takedown attempt but Habanapa gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Habanapa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Weiss wants to improve his position but instead Habanapa has moved into half guard.
Weiss is trying to get back to full guard.
Weiss is not content to let Habanapa control the position.
Weiss manages to get to full guard.
Weiss throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weiss keeping moving, preventing Habanapa from controlling successfully.
Weiss tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Weiss throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Weiss with a poor takedown
enabling Habanapa to counter with a crisp jab.
Weiss 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.
Habanapa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Habanapa throws a nice looking combination but Weiss bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Weiss shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Weiss was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Weiss scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Habanapa?

Weiss working for a submission but Habanapa is keeping him at bay.
Weiss 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.
Weiss landing shots from mount.
Weiss lands a big shot there that rocks Habanapa but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Weiss landing strikes from the mount and Habanapa is in trouble!
A nice elbow there by Weiss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Weiss with a couple of short strikes.
Habanapa is looking to improve his position but Weiss isn't that keen on the idea.
Weiss is landing with some decent strikes but Habanapa is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Habanapa is trying to escape the mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Weiss with shots to the head and body - Habanapa looks very uncomfortable down there.
Habanapa is looking to improve his position but Weiss isn't that keen on the idea.
Habanapa gets back to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Habanapa pushes Weiss off and gets back to his feet.
Weiss gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Habanapa.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Habanapa closes the distance and clinches.
Weiss is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Weiss with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Habanapa wants to break the clinch but can't.
Weiss jumps guard but Habanapa stands there with Weiss around his waist. Weiss gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryo Habanapa dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Weiss closes the distance but Habanapa moves to the side
and Habanapa counters with a nice uppercut.
Weiss shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Habanapa circles away from the clinch attempt
and Habanapa counters with a left and a right that stings Weiss.
Habanapa misses with a two punch combination.
Weiss with a poor takedown
and Habanapa counters with a straight right hand.
Habanapa throws a right and a left that Weiss avoids nicely.
Weiss wants to clinch but Habanapa slips to the side

and Habanapa moves into the clinch.
Weiss throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Habanapa blocks it with crossed arms.
Weiss stops a takedown attempt from Habanapa.
Weiss drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joshua Weiss. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Habanapa wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Weiss has him pressed against the cage.
Weiss scores with a knee to the head.
Habanapa gets underhooks to prevent Weiss's takedown attempt.
Weiss goes for a takedown attempt but Habanapa pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Habanapa lands a body shot.
Habanapa circles away from the clinch attempt
and Habanapa counters with a one-two to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Habanapa closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Weiss is trying to get back to full guard.
Weiss keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Weiss makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Weiss.
Habanapa seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Weiss working a defensive guard here.
Weiss is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Weiss moves into full mount! Habanapa won't be happy about that!
Weiss landing punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Habanapa is working to get back to half guard.
Weiss working the ground and pound effectively.

Habanapa is rocked!
Weiss landing strikes from the mount and Habanapa is in trouble!
Habanapa is still in real trouble! Can Weiss finish him?Weiss lands a big shot there that rocks Habanapa but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Weiss with shots to the head and body - Habanapa looks very uncomfortable down there.
Weiss lands a heavy elbow.
Weiss dominating with strikes here.

Habanapa is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Weiss locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Habanapa is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:50 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Joshua Weiss!