PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Koki Haranda (ranked 4386 p4p, 435 weight class) and Kaiji Inoue (ranked 4049 p4p, 410 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Haranda
vs
Inoue

185 cm
19
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
19
150 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Solid chin

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Koki Haranda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Kaiji Inoue!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Reed Andrews and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haranda plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Haranda tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Inoue was well out of range. Poor timing from Haranda.
Inoue lands with a good body shot.
A cross from Inoue lands.
Haranda goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Haranda tries to move into range but Inoue moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Haranda displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Inoue.
Haranda throws a hook but Inoue avoids it easily.
Haranda throws a hook but Inoue blocks it.
Inoue will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Inoue has closed the distance and engaged Haranda in a clinch.
Haranda working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Inoue.
Inoue lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Inoue content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Inoue is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Haranda is defending well.
Koki Haranda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kaiji Inoue.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Inoue.
Inoue looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Haranda scores with a shoulder strike.
Haranda swings wildly with an uppercut but Inoue uses good head movement to avoid it.
Inoue lands with a short shot to the head.
A short right from Haranda.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Inoue scores with a shoulder strike.
Inoue lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Koki Haranda has been cut.
Inoue has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Haranda avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Inoue is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Haranda pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Haranda goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Inoue is working for takedown but Haranda is calmly controlling the position for now.
Inoue gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Haranda throws a punch but it's blocked by Inoue.
Inoue tries to work over Haranda's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Haranda misses with the head strike.
Haranda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Haranda fails to land.
Inoue blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Haranda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Haranda has a couple of punches blocked by Inoue.
A head punch on the inside from Inoue fails to land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Inoue.
Inoue gets through Haranda's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Haranda lands with a left to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Inoue creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Inoue gets through Haranda's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Inoue blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Inoue lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Inoue pushes off an throws an elbow but Haranda leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Inoue lands an elbow just above Haranda 's eye.
Haranda tries to work over Inoue's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Inoue blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Haranda misses with a short punch on the inside.
Inoue lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Haranda misses with a hook from the clinch.
Haranda lands a shoulder strike.
Haranda misses with the head strike.
Inoue blocks a body shot from Haranda.
Haranda misses with some punches.
Haranda throws a punch but it's blocked by Inoue.
Inoue is leaning against Haranda and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Inoue lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Haranda backwards.
Haranda stops a takedown attempt from Inoue.
Haranda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Haranda throws a head punch that misses.
Haranda takes an elbow to the temple.
Haranda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Inoue lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Koki Haranda's cut is getting worse.
Inoue blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Inoue blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Haranda working aggressively here.
Inoue lands an elbow inside.
A nice left hand lands by Inoue.

Koki Haranda's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
A right hand to the body from Inoue.
Inoue comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Inoue drops down looking for an ankle pick but Haranda pulls his leg out and moves away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Inoue shoots in for a takedown but Haranda shows good takedown defense.
Nice uppercut lands for Inoue. That snapped Haranda's head back.
Haranda looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Inoue moves out of range as Haranda throws a body kick.
Inoue lands with a straight right. Haranda didn't see that one coming.
Haranda swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Inoue defending well as Haranda loads up on a big left hand.
Haranda sets himself, and Inoue steps forward looking for the clinch! Haranda avoids it this time.
Inoue staying out of range there.

Inoue clinches.
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!
Haranda blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Inoue scores with a knee to the head.

Jeez, Koki Haranda's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Inoue blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Haranda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A right hand to the body from Inoue.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Inoue is working for takedown but Haranda is calmly controlling the position for now.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Inoue.
Inoue is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Haranda is defending well.
Haranda lands a right hand.
Haranda working aggressively here.
Haranda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Haranda prevents a takedown attempt there.
Haranda working aggressively here.
Inoue works on Haranda's body with a couple of short punches.
Inoue lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Inoue lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Haranda gets underhooks to prevent Inoue's takedown attempt.
Haranda lands a hook to the side of the head.
Haranda lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Inoue backwards.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Inoue blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Haranda prevents a takedown attempt there.
Haranda misses with some punches.
Inoue lands an elbow that stopped Haranda in his tracks for a moment.
Haranda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kaiji Inoue will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Koki Haranda's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nice uppercut lands for Inoue. That snapped Haranda's head back.

Inoue forces Haranda back against the cage and clinches.
Haranda swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Inoue.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Inoue.
Haranda swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Inoue tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Haranda scores with a shot to the side of Inoue's head.
Inoue blocks an uppercut.
Inoue lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Haranda has a couple of punches blocked by Inoue.
Inoue lands an elbow just above Haranda 's eye.
Haranda is pressed up against the cage. Inoue has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Haranda down to the mat. Haranda avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Inoue moves out of range as Haranda strikes.
Haranda jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Inoue was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Inoue instigates a clinch.
Inoue lands a hook that snaps the head of Haranda backwards.
Inoue stalling.
Haranda misses with a hook from the clinch.
Haranda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Haranda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haranda misses with a punch on the inside.
Inoue looking for a takedown.
Haranda takes an elbow to the forehead.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Koki Haranda's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Kaiji Inoue!
Our winner, Kaiji Inoue, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.