PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Israel Hands (ranked 2539 p4p, 274 weight class) and Koki Haranda (ranked 3451 p4p, 349 weight class). Hands comes to the cage accompanied by A Collection of Sea Shanties. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Hands
vs
Haranda

175 cm
22
160 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

185 cm
21
165 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Dark Knight Nutrition

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Israel Hands!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Koki Haranda!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haranda looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hands misses with a body shot.
Haranda looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hands smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

It looks like Koki Haranda has been cut.
Haranda throws a looping overhand right but Hands ducks down to avoid it.
Haranda missing with a left hand there. Hands was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Haranda throws a body kick that misses
and Hands counters with a one-two to the body.
Hands is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Haranda.
Nice body punch from Hands.
Hands closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Hands misses with a hook. Haranda ducked under it nicely.
Hands throws an overhand right that lands on Haranda's shoulder, as Haranda tries to avoid the shot.
Haranda is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Hands with a body shot.
Hands throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Haranda sees it coming and avoids it easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Haranda misses with a head kick.
Haranda throws a left and a right that both miss

and Hands counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Hands misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hands lands a body punch in the clinch.
We've been hearing reports that Hands has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Hands makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Haranda fails to land.
Hands blocks an uppercut.
Haranda throws a head punch that misses.
Hands is working Haranda over against the cage.
Haranda has a couple of punches blocked by Hands.
Haranda lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hands backwards.
Hands softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hands lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Haranda looks winded!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hands.
Haranda misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hands blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hands.
Haranda swings wildly with an uppercut but Hands uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hands lands a body punch in the clinch.
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's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Hands successfully pulls guard.

Hands is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Haranda defends well.
Hands has Haranda pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hands is looking for a triangle but Haranda pushes his legs off easily.
Hands trying to control the position.
Hands managing to control the position.
Hands wants to control the position but Haranda says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hands trying to hold on to Haranda's head to control him but Haranda postures up.
Hands works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hands is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hands looking for a sweep. Not yet Hands, not yet.
Hands trying to keep a closed guard but Haranda is proving a slippery customer.

Hands is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hands not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hands looking for a guillotine here but Haranda defends easily.
Hands not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Hands working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Haranda has passed into half guard!
Hands is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Israel Hands dominated that round.
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.

Haranda scores with a shot to the body.
Hands tests Haranda's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hands slips under a jab from Haranda.
Haranda throws a hook but Hands avoids it easily.
Hands is looking to land body kicks.
Haranda steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hands.

Hands rushes Haranda and presses him up against the cage.
Hands tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Haranda.
Haranda lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hands backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Haranda.
Hands jumps guard but Haranda turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Hands lands a body shot in the clinch.
Hands pushes Haranda back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Haranda is breathing heavily.

Hands manages to pull guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hands holds on and takes a little breather.

Haranda got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hands has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Haranda has managed to get both his arms back between Hands's legs - danger averted.
Haranda must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hands is trying to keep Haranda in close.
Haranda showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hands is trying to control the position but Haranda postures up.

Hands throws his legs up looking for a submission but Haranda uses it to pass to side control.
Hands manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hands trying to hold on to Haranda's head to control him but Haranda postures up.
Hands is looking for a sweep. Haranda is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Hands looking for submissions off his back.
Hands trying to hold on to Haranda's head to control him but Haranda postures up.
Haranda prevents Hands from improving his position.
Hands has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Haranda is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hands is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Haranda pulls his head out easily.
Haranda is trying to control the action in half guard but Hands is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Hands looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Haranda pushes past his half guard into mount!
Israel Hands overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Haranda controlling from the full mount.
Hands is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hands tries to hold on but Haranda postures up.
Hands is desperately trying to improve his position but Haranda has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hands wants to control but Haranda is having none of it.
Hands is just holding on here. Haranda manages to take his back.
Hands breaks Haranda's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Haranda is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Hands looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hands sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Haranda's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Israel Hands will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Koki Haranda's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Haranda throws a looping overhand right but Hands ducks down to avoid it.
Haranda throws out a loose jab but Hands uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hands looks to throw the jab but Haranda is out of range.
Hands is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Haranda can do to turn this around?
Good leg kick by Hands there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A telegraphed right hand from Haranda misses the target.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hands.
Hands moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Koki Haranda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Haranda feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hands's calf.
Haranda takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Haranda throws an off balance right hand
and Hands counters with a thumping low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hands ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Haranda takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Hands throws a push kick but Haranda slaps the foot to one side.
Haranda throws a fast counter high kick but Hands manages to duck under it in time.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hands swings for the body but Haranda moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hands moves into the clinch.
Hands lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Haranda.
Haranda takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hands is leaning against Haranda and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Hands lands a body punch in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Hands.
Hands digs a right hand into Haranda's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Haranda's gas tank.
A short right from Hands.
Hands working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Hands successfully pulls guard.
Hands controlling the position.

Hands looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Hands is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Haranda is aware though and is defending well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hands working a defensive guard here.

Hands looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hands trying to keep a closed guard but Haranda is proving a slippery customer.
Koki Haranda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Hands looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Hands looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Haranda passes into half guard.
Hands wants to control but Haranda is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hands preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Hands trying to control here.
Hands is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Haranda jumps into side control!
Hands is not content to let Haranda control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hands is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Haranda is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Haranda looking to finish with strikes here!
Hands keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hands sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Israel Hands is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Hands looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Israel Hands showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hands has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Israel Hands!
An out of breath Israel Hands thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.