PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Baki Hanma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Strummer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hanma's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Disl Automatic (feat. K-rino) - Battle Cry. Strummer has chosen The Stranglers- Nice N' Sleazy as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hanma
vs
Strummer

178 cm
27
158 lbs
10 - 12 - 0

168 cm
31
159 lbs
15 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 10 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Baki Hanma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Strummer!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Ren Mimura and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hanma attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Hanma misses with a low kick as Strummer jumps back.
And Strummer tries to counter it with a takedown but Hanma pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Strummer feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Hanmas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Strummer.
A slapping body kick lands there for Hanma.
Hanma throws a head kick that misses.
Hanma attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hanma ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Strummer moves away.
Hanma ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hanma throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hanma throws a jab but it's blocked by Strummer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanma throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Baki Hanma is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hanma takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Strummer has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Strummer there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hanma uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Strummer.
Strummer avoids a kick to the body.
Hanma keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hanma tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Strummer was well out of range. Poor timing from Hanma.
Hanma blocks a jab.
Hanma scores with a kick to the body.
Hanma with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hanma slips under a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanma misses the shot to the body.
Hanma fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Strummer on the side of the head.
Hanma connects with a body shot that sends Strummer's belly button to the back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Strummer slips a jab from Hanma.
A telegraphed right hand from Strummer misses the target.
Hanma scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Strummer throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hanma lands a glancing blow to the side of Strummer's head.
Hanma looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A combination from Hanma does no damage.
Hanma misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Hanma.
Strummer moves forwards but Hanma connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Strummer blocks a head kick by Hanma.
Strummer loads up on a big right hand but Hanma slips the punch.
Hanma tries a head kick but it misses.
Hanma lands a really nice looking cross but Strummer seems unphased.
Hanma fails to land with a series of punches.
Hanma works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Hanma with a nice cross.
Hanma misses with a low kick.
Hanma thows a leg kick but Strummer checks it

and Strummer counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
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!
Hanma is staying active underneath Strummer, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strummer scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Hanma actively working from the bottom here.
Hanma is trying to control but can't.
Strummer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hanma keeps working.
Strummer prevents Hanma from improving his position.
Hanma is working hard here to advance position.
Hanma is staying active underneath Strummer, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baki Hanma dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hanma throws a leg kick that is checked

and Strummer counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Strummer.
Hanma seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Hanma not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Strummer looking to pass the guard.
Hanma keeping moving, preventing Strummer from controlling successfully.
Strummer engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Strummer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strummer trying to control the position from guard on top but Hanma is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strummer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hanma wants to sweep here but Strummer controlling him for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hanma lands a jab-cross combination.
Hanma connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hanma swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Strummer is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Hanma swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hanma is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Strummer shoots in but no luck this time.
Hanma thows a leg kick but Strummer checks it

and Strummer counters with a shoot takedown. Hanma fights it but they end up in guard.
Strummer looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strummer trying to control the position from guard on top but Hanma is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hanma has control of Strummer's left arm, preventing Strummer from doing any damage.

Hanma is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Strummer wants to pass the guard but Hanma is keeping the position.
Hanma being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanma seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Strummer preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hanma blocks a jab.
Hanma steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Strummer.
Strummer looks to score with a jab to the body but Hanma is just out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hanma lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Strummer has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Strummer and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Hanma misses with a head kick.
Strummer is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Strummer dodges the punch combination from Hanma.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanma misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Strummer fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Hanma checks it well.
Hanma looks to land a right hand but Strummer moved out of range.
Hanma throws a head kick but Strummer moves out of range.
Hanma misses with a wild body shot.
Strummer might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Strummer misses with a looping right.
Strummer uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hanma.
Strummer feints the counter takedown.
Hanma thows a leg kick but Strummer checks it

and Strummer counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Strummer wants to control from the top but Hanma keeps moving.

Hanma is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joe Strummer will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Nice uppercut there from Strummer.
Hanma misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Baki Hanma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Strummer looks to score with a jab to the body but Hanma is just out of range.
Hanma throws a jab but it's blocked by Strummer.
Baki Hanma is winning the standup battle so far.
Hanma throws a hook but Strummer blocks it.
Hanma tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hanma misses with a hook

and Strummer counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strummer is trying to control the action in half guard but Hanma is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Strummer moves into full mount! Hanma won't be happy about that!
Hanma is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strummer avoids the attempt from Hanma to control.
Strummer wants to take Hanma's back here but Hanma is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Hanma holds of for dear life.
Strummer with a couple of short strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strummer can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hanma is looking to escape.
Hanma is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanma can't escape the position.
Strummer sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
A nice elbow there by Strummer.

Strummer goes for an armbar but Hanma turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Hanma.
Strummer working a defensive guard here.
Joe Strummer has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanma trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Strummer being controlled here, momentarily.
Hanma postures up.
Hanma trying to stand up but can't free himself from Strummer's guard.

Hanma avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hanma looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hanma forces his way into half guard.
Strummer is looking to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hanma is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Strummer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Strummer 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Strummer!
During a confident post fight interview, Joe Strummer thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.