PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tyson Rios (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazuo Hata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rios comes to the cage accompanied by Their Law . Hata has chosen DJ Shadow - Stem as his entrance music. Kazuo Hata will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Rios
vs
Hata

175 cm
23
195 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

190 cm
23
190 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

CROWN

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tyson Rios!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazuo Hata!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Kenichi Hosakawa and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rios throws a series of punches but Hata avoids them all with ease.
Rios throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rios will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rios shoots in for a double leg but Hata sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rios just misses with a punch to the body.
Tyson Rios seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hata looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rios!
Rios is in all sorts of trouble here.
Rios could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Hata goes for an armbar but Rios turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Rios.
Hata manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rios manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hata drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rios manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Hata has Rios in his guard.
Hata 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.
Hata looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rios puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Hata looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rios sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Hata has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Rios escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Rios!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hata is trying to get back to half guard.
Rios working the head and body with strikes.
Hata tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Rios has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Rios looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Hata!
Hata looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rios wants to control the pace but Hata is squirming around nicely.
Hata can't escape the position.
Rios looking to control but Hata is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hata regains half guard.
Hata is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Hata looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Rios stands up from half guard.
Rios misses with a takedown

and Hata counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rios!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyson Rios. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rios tries to hold on but Hata pushes him away.
Rios stops Hata from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

Hata goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Rios is on top in guard.
Rios trying to control the position from guard on top but Hata is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tyson Rios will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rios moves into range and clinches up with Hata.
Rios goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hata prevents it.
Hata prevents Rios from breaking the clinch.
Hata drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rios gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Rios manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Hata stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rios swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rios might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Hata drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rios looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rios looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rios!
Rios cracks Hata with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hata manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rios's best efforts.
Hata is breathing heavily.
It looks like Rios is going to stand back up.
Hata wants to sweep but Rios has passed to side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hata on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Hata gets back to half guard.
Rios looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Hata looking for submissions off his back.

Hata is defending against the submission attempts here by Rios.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rios winds up and cracks Hata with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hata is staying active underneath Rios, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hata is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rios winds up and cracks Hata with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rios wants to take a breather but Hata is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rios tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rios looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rios with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hata decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rios's guard.

Hata drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hata jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hata won't allow Rios to get back to his feet.

Rios working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hata doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hata manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rios keeping full guard, as Hata tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hata slips nicely into half guard.

Hata seems to be working for a kimura but Rios defends the submission attempt.
Rios is trying to stand up here but Hata is controlling him well.
Hata frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Hata looking for a guillotine from mount but Rios is having none of it.
Rios wants to control but Hata is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuo Hata showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rios throws a left and a right that both miss

and Hata counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Hata seems to be working for a kimura but Rios defends the submission attempt.

Hata looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Rios moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hata tries to free his leg and advance position but Rios is retaining full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rios is trying to control the position but Hata postures up.
Hata trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Rios manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Hata had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Rios is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Hata Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Rios's back instead.

Hata working for a choke but Rios is defending well.
Rios tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hata blocks Rios's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

Hata goes for an armbar but Rios turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Rios.
Rios sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rios postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rios is looking to stand up but Hata won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rios stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Rios misses with an uppercut.
Hata dodges the punch combination from Rios.
Hata lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rios with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hata counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rios's guard now.
Hata advances position into side control!

Hata wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rios, who protects the arm well.

Hata is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rios knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hata is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rios is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Hata wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rios, who protects the arm well.

Hata goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Rios has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Hata but great work by Rios.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuo Hata really dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rios throws a head kick that misses

and Hata counters with a single leg into guard. Rios didn't expect that.
Rios lands a decent punch to the body there.
Hata works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rios punching from the bottom.
Hata stops Rios from getting back to his feet.
Hata is pressing down on Rios's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rios is holding on for now.

Hata looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Hata looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rios manages to escape and get back to his feet!
The fight stays on the outside here - Hata looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hata tries to clinch up.

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.
Rios throws a looping overhand right but Hata ducks down to avoid it.
Rios shoots and misses

so Hata counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Hata advances position into side control!

Hata is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rios is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hata advances nicely into full mount.

Hata looking to isolate an arm here. Rios doesn't see it coming and as Hata extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Hata!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:04 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kazuo Hata!
Kazuo Hata is the new middleweight champion!