PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shoryu Ken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zack Hitana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shoryu Ken could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Zack Hitana's chin.

Ken
vs
Hitana

165 cm
22
157 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
160 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Shoryu Ken!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zack Hitana!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Paulo Santos and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hitana lands a nice hook to Ken's body. Ken takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ken avoids the body shot from Hitana.
A punch combination from Hitana misses.

Hitana clinches up with Ken and pushes him back against the cage.
Hitana misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ken.
Hitana lands a nice elbow.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hitana.
Hitana lands a nice elbow.
Hitana lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ken or not.
Ken's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Hitana tries to land knees in the clinch but Ken avoids the damage to the body.
Hitana connects with a knee to the head.
Hitana misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ken.
Hitana landing knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hitana digs a right hand into Ken's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ken's gas tank.
Ken is breathing heavily.
Hitana with a knee to the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hitana.
Hitana lands a nice elbow.
Hitana scores a nice knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hitana scores a nice knee to the body.
Hitana lands a nice knee to the body.
Hitana comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Hitana comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Hitana lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Hitana scores a nice knee to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Hitana.
Hitana landing knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hitana lands a nice knee to the body.
The referee calls for Hitana to work.
Hitana pushes Ken back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Hitana lands a nice knee to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Hitana pushes Ken back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Hitana throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Hitana lands a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hitana lands a knee to the head.
Hitana lands an elbow just above Ken 's eye.
Hitana using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hitana cracks Ken with a nice body shot.
Hitana lands a left hand.
Hitana tries to land knees in the clinch but Ken avoids the damage to the body.
Hitana lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Good body shot from Hitana.
Hitana has Ken pressed against the cage.
Hitana lands an elbow inside.
Hitana lands a knee to the body.
Hitana lands a knee to the head.
Hitana unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ken lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hitana lands with a right to the head.
Hitana using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hitana lands a body punch in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Hitana.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ken is trying to drag Hitana to the mat but Hitana just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hitana stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Hitana prevents Ken from breaking the clinch.
Hitana lands a damaging elbow.
Ken blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hitana landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Hitana.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hitana.
Hitana unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ken lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hitana stalling the fight.
Ken throws a head punch that misses.
Hitana trying to land knees to the body.
Ken wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hitana lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hitana.
Hitana landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Ken takes a knee right on the jaw!
Knees to the body from Hitana.
A knee to the head by Hitana.
Hitana landing knees to the body.
Hitana lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Hitana lands a nice knee to the body.
Hitana scores with a knee to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hitana crunches a lovely knee into Ken's ribcage.
Hitana is leaning against Ken and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Hitana unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ken lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hitana blocks an uppercut.
Hitana lands a body shot in the clinch.
Hitana lands a body punch.
Hitana lands on the inside with an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zack Hitana dominated that round.
That's time! Ken's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hitana ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ken moves away.
Ken misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ken throws a front kick aimed at Hitana's knee but Hitana avoids it well.
Hitana throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ken.

Ken drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Hitana's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ken in side control, throwing shots but Hitana defends.

Ken tries for a kimura but Hitana is defending well.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ken trying to control the action but Hitana is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hitana is looking to regain half guard here but Ken keeps moving and retains side control.
Ken is looking to take a break and control but Hitana is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Ken is trying to get an arm triangle but Hitana is defending well.

Ken swings around for an armbar but Hitana sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Ken's guard.
Hitana really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ken. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

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.
Hitana 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.

Hitana avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hitana sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hitana wants to control from the top but Ken keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hitana trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ken trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Hitana trying to control but Ken is working from the bottom.

Ken throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ken working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hitana trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Ken is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hitana trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Ken manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Hitana not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ken throwing strikes but missing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hitana working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shoryu Ken dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Hitana looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hitana lands with an uppercut that bounces Ken off the cage and back into rage.
Hitana throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hitana dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hitana wants to clinch.
Ken throws a right hand that Hitana ducks under and follows up with a left that Hitana also avoids with ease.
Ken keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ken looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hitana fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Hitana fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zack Hitana is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hitana is looking to clinch but Ken is avoiding it.
Hitana scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Nice sprawl there from Hitana as Ken shoots in.
Hitana misses with a wild body shot.
Hitana has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ken keeps the fight on the outside.
Hitana moves in looking to clinch but Ken pushes him off.
Ken showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hitana.
Hitana tries to close the distance and clinch but Ken swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ken tries a head kick but it misses.
Hitana is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Ken rather than just go for the knockout.
Ken tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hitana swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shoryu Ken. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hitana scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Hitana misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ken.
Ken moves out of range as Hitana strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hitana lands a right hook to the body.
Hitana slips under a jab from Ken.
Hitana swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hitana with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ken throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hitana counters with a left and a right that stings Ken.
Ken on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Ken falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hitana counters with a one-two to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ken misses with a takedown attempt - Hitana sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hitana misses with a kick to the body.
Ken misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A combination from Hitana does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ken circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hitana misses with a kick to the body.
Hitana tries to clinch but Ken is having none of it.
Hitana keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hitana digs a good hook to Ken's body.
Ken misses with a takedown attempt - Hitana sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ken drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hitana connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Ken's hands.
Ken throws a low kick, looking for Hitana's leg but Hitana calmly moves out of range.
Hitana tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ken paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hitana scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hitana chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hitana ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ken moves away.
Shoryu Ken is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Hitana gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hitana tries to land knees in the clinch but Ken avoids the damage to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Hitana.
Hitana landing knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A right handed body shot lands from Hitana.
Hitana gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Hitana scores a nice knee to the body.
Hitana scores a nice knee to the body.
Hitana landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Hitana with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hitana lands a nice knee to the body.
Hitana connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ken's face.
Hitana lands an elbow inside that Ken shrugs off.
Hitana tries to land knees in the clinch but Ken avoids the damage to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zack Hitana comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hitana 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 26:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 26:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 26:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zack Hitana!