PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yoko Honda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mister Hotline (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mister Hotline has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Honda
vs
Hotline

195 cm
28
275 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

189 cm
27
265 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoko Honda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mister Hotline!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shigeki Fujiwara and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hotline displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Honda.
Hotline is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Hotline leaves Honda with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hotline looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Honda shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hotline defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoko Honda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Honda has a takedown stuffed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Honda misses with a takedown
and Hotline counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Honda.
Hotline was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Honda has a takedown stuffed.

Hotline closes the distance and clinches.
Hotline has a couple of punches blocked by Honda.
Honda can't get the takedown.
Hotline lands with a light punch inside.
Come on Hotline - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Honda's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Honda wants to take the fight to the mat but Hotline manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Hotline scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hotline gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Honda.

Honda manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Hotline lands an impressive looking overhand right. Honda doesn't seem phased though.
Honda fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Honda shoots in for a takedown but Hotline shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hotline is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Honda attempts a counter takedown but Hotline avoids it well and moves away.
Hotline tries to clinch but Honda is having none of it.
Honda dives in and grabs Hotline's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hotline pushes down on Honda's head and hops out.

Hotline closes the distance and clinches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Honda blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Honda tries to break the clinch but Hotline is controlling the position.
Honda tries to score a body lock takedown but Hotline shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hotline lands a hook that snaps the head of Honda backwards.
Hotline stalling in the clinch but Honda improves position.
Hotline scores with a shoulder strike.
Honda blocks an uppercut.

Honda pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Hotline moves into the clinch.

Honda escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Hotline pushes Honda up against the ropes in a clinch.
Hotline works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Hotline is fighting off a takedown attempt but Honda is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Hotline to the mat. Hotline regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Hotline really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Honda. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hotline is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Honda is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Honda trying to control but Hotline is working from the bottom.
Hotline wants to stand but Honda is controlling the position.
Hotline utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Honda slips nicely into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Honda thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Honda takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Hotline is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Honda scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hotline is trying to stand back up but Honda is controlling him
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mister Hotline dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Honda.
Hotline flicks out a counter leg kick but Honda steps away.
Hotline tries to clinch up but Honda circles away and keeps his distance.
Hotline is looking to clinch.
Honda fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Honda swats away the attempt to clinch by Hotline.
Hotline wants to clinch up but Honda keeps it at a distance.
Honda feinted with a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Honda checks a leg kick.
Hotline displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Honda.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoko Honda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Honda misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Hotline to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hotline is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mister Hotline seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice sprawl there from Hotline as Honda shoots in.
Honda closes the distance and clinches up with Hotline, looking for a takedown. Honda pushes Hotline against the ropes but Hotline circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Hotline closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
A short right from Hotline on the inside.
Hotline tries to stall but Honda uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A head punch on the inside from Hotline fails to land.
Honda is trying to break the clinch but Hotline is controlling him.

Honda breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hotline is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hotline leaves Honda with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hotline stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hotline wants it to stay on the feet.
Hotline doesn't manage to clinch there - Honda circles away.
Hotline wants to clinch up but Honda keeps it at a distance.

Honda gets tackled into the ropes by Hotline. Hotline maintains the clinch.
Honda is looking for a takedown.
Honda tries for a takedown but Hotline manages to get underhooks.
Honda can't get the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Honda can't get the takedown.
Hotline working aggressively here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Honda wants a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hotline throws a head punch that misses.
Mister Hotline seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hotline lands with a light punch inside.
Hotline working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hotline gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Honda.
Hotline presses Honda against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Hotline scores with a shot to the side of Honda's head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hotline.
Hotline throws a punch but it's blocked by Honda.

Honda breaks the clinch.
Honda shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hotline sprawls well. Hotline wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Honda gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hotline pushes Honda up against the ropes in a clinch.
Hotline is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Honda escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Hotline rushes Honda and presses him up against the ropes.
Hotline stalling in the clinch but Honda improves position.
Honda drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A right hook to the body lands for Hotline.
Hotline has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Still in the clinch, Hotline scores with a nice short uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mister Hotline showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Honda misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hotline is looking for the big counter here.

Hotline drives through and clinches with Honda against the ropes.
Honda drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A frustrated look appears on Honda's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Honda breaks the clinch.
Yoko Honda is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hotline fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hotline moves into range and connects with a jab.
Honda shoots for a takedown but Hotline saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoko Honda. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hotline closes the distance and pushes Honda back into the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Honda has had enough of the clinch but Hotline keeps him there for the moment.
Honda has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A short left from Hotline.
Honda drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hotline pulls his leg out and moves away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Honda swats away the attempt to clinch by Hotline.
Honda feinted with a counter takedown.
Hotline tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Honda manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mister Hotline is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Honda misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hotline tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Honda manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Honda tries to counter with a takedown but Hotline is quick to defend against it.
Hotline tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Honda manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Hotline moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Honda escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Hotline closes the distance and pushes Honda back into the ropes.
Honda drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Honda drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hotline pulls his leg out and moves away.

Hotline has managed to clinch.
Hotline makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Honda can't get the takedown.
Hotline is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Honda is keeping busy.
Hotline taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Honda working hard to break the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Hotline fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
I was talking to Honda's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Honda goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hotline prevents it.
Hotline lands with a short shot to the head.
Honda drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hotline keeps control of Honda as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hotline tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hotline tries to work over Honda's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Honda is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hotline is defending well.
Hotline lands a left hand that snaps the head of Honda backwards.
Hotline working aggressively here.
Yoko Honda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mister Hotline is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hotline lands a shoulder strike.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hotline.
Hotline working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hotline tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Honda pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Hotline clinches up with Honda and pushes him back against the ropes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hotline has a couple of punches blocked by Honda.
Honda is trying to drag Hotline to the mat but Hotline just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
Hotline looking to slow down the pace here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mister Hotline comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hotline winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mister Hotline!
Mister Hotline was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.