PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Denis Young (ranked 24595 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kakashi Hataki (ranked 4771 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Young
vs
Hataki

188 cm
19
193 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

178 cm
24
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Denis Young!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kakashi Hataki!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Sosuke Kotani and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Young misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And Hataki tries to counter it with a takedown but Young pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Young gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hataki to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hataki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hataki is still trying to improve position.
Hataki throws a big right hand that misses.
Hataki throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hataki sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hataki tries to free his leg and advance position but Young is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Young wants to stand and escape but Hataki is having none of it.
Hataki wants to control from the top but Young keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Hataki darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Young has one foot on Hataki's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Hataki decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hataki blocks the strikes from Young.
Young is staying active underneath Hataki, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hataki content to control rather than advance.
Young wants to get back to full guard but Hataki has mounted him!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hataki looking to finish with strikes here!
Young flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Hataki trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hataki seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Young is holding on tight.
Young is squirming around, avoiding Hataki's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hataki content just to control the position here.

Hataki stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Hataki looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Young!
Hataki tries to score with some ground and pound. Young controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Young taking a bit of punishment here - Hataki scoring with strikes.

Hataki stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hataki fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Young to the ground. Hataki is now in Young's guard.

Young kicks Hataki off and gets to his feet.
Hataki looks winded!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Hataki shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hataki throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Young to regain full guard.
Hataki looking to sit in guard and control but Young gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hataki keeping moving, preventing Young from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kakashi Hataki will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hataki closes the distance but Young moves to the side

and Young counters with a single leg into guard. Hataki didn't expect that.

Hataki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Young thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hataki pulls Young in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Young passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Young laying and praying for a moment but Hataki takes advantage and regains half guard.
Hataki is trying to control but can't.
Hataki pushes Young off looking to stand but Young dives back in and keeps control.
Hataki holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Young with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hataki wants to get back to full guard.

Young is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Denis Young overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hataki is looking for a sweep. Young is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hataki is breathing heavily.
Hataki trying to hold on to Young's head to control him but Young postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hataki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Young tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Hataki counters with a body kick.

Hataki drives through and clinches with Young against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hataki gets control of Young's arms and successfully pulls guard. Hataki will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Hataki being controlled here, momentarily.
Young stopping the sweep attempt from Hataki.
Young connects with a couple of short punches.
Young controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Young stands up from Hataki's guard - Young perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hataki has taken the fight to the clinch.

Hataki lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
It looks like Hataki is going to stand back up.
Young tries to get to full guard but Hataki has control of the leg.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Young misses with some strikes from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kakashi Hataki will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hataki pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Hataki shoots in and gets a takedown into Young's guard.

Young is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Hataki has hold of one of Young's legs. Young is fighting the takedown attempt but Hataki gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Young is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Young is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hataki is defending well.

Hataki gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Hataki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Young is trying to maintain the position but Hataki is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Young flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Hataki prevents Young from improving his position.
Hataki performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Hataki prevents Young from improving his position.
Young is not content to let Hataki control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Young striking from half guard on the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Danga de danga de dang - Hataki scores with a four punch combination!
Hataki takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Young takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Hataki shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Young's guard.
Young will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Young is trying to control the position but Hataki postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Young tries to strike from the bottom.
Young manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hataki manages to get himself to full guard.

Hataki had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Young defends it easily.
Young throwing strikes from guard but Hataki blocks nicely.
Young wants to control from the top but Hataki keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Young content to stall in guard here.
Young prevents Hataki from getting back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hataki is looking to clinch but Young is avoiding it.
Young drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hataki sprawls and moves away.

Young forces Hataki back against the cage and clinches.
Hataki wants to stall.
Denis Young has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kakashi Hataki is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Young tries a knee to the head but Hataki blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Denis Young.
I think Hataki 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Denis Young!