PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kaoru Hanayama (ranked 2204 p4p, 3232 weight class) and Luke Valentine (ranked 309 p4p, 438 weight class). Hanayama comes to the cage accompanied by Plan Three - Tigress. Valentine is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Jack Stauber - Buttercup. Kaoru Hanayama had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Hanayama
vs
Valentine

182 cm
26
175
8 - 9 - 0

186 cm
26
178
6 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kaoru Hanayama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Luke Valentine!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, John Kavanagh and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Hanayama misses.
Valentine works Hanayama's body with a nice hook.
Valentine moves out of range of the strikes.
Good leg kick by Valentine.
Valentine drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Valentine throws a nice looking combination but Hanayama bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hanayama misses the jab.
Valentine throws out a counter right but Hanayama avoids it with no problem.
Valentine scores with a nice strike.
Valentine uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hanayama has time to react.
Hanayama throws a body punch but Valentine moves out of range.
Hanayama misses with a wild body shot.
Valentine is looking for the big counter here.
Hanayama takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Hanayama just misses with a punch to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hanayama rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Valentine moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hanayama looks to land a right hand but Valentine moved out of range.
Hanayama throws a hook but Valentine blocks it.
Hanayama has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Gonzasco Hydropathy in the buildup to the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Hanayama.

It looks like Kaoru Hanayama has been cut.
Valentine tests Hanayama's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hanayama avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Valentine moves into the clinch successfully.
Hanayama misses with a punch to the body.
Hanayama misses with a body punch.
Valentine works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hanayama.
Hanayama swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hanayama lands a right hand.
Valentine misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hanayama misses with the head strike.
Hanayama makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hanayama struggles to land a body shot inside as Valentine controls his hands.
Valentine throws a head punch that misses.
Hanayama gets through Valentine's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A right hand to the body from Hanayama.
Hanayama misses with a body punch.
Hanayama misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanayama blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Valentine throws a head punch that misses.
Hanayama misses with a punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Hanayama.
Valentine blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hanayama doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hanayama.
Valentine tries a body shot but Hanayama blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hanayama.
Valentine blocking some punches.
Hanayama blocking some punches.
Nice body punch from Valentine - that landed with a thud.
Valentine digs a right hand underneath Hanayama's ribcage. Hanayama let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Valentine misses with a short punch on the inside.
Valentine swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hanayama tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Valentine's elbow.
Hanayama pushes Valentine back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hanayama struggles to land a body shot inside as Valentine controls his hands.
Hanayama misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hanayama.
Hanayama working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hanayama blocks an uppercut.
Valentine lands an uppercut.
Hanayama fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hanayama tries to throw a body punch but Valentine avoids it by throwing Hanayama back against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Valentine.
Valentine tries a body shot but Hanayama blocks it.
Hanayama tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Valentine lands with a left to the head.
Valentine tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Valentine misses with a body punch.
Valentine tries to work over Hanayama's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nice body punch from Hanayama - that landed with a thud.
Hanayama lands a left hand that snaps the head of Valentine backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Valentine.
Hanayama lands a shoulder strike.
Hanayama lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Valentine doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hanayama lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hanayama lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Nice body punch from Hanayama - that landed with a thud.
Hanayama can't find room to land a body shot as Valentine controls the action.
Hanayama misses with a body punch.
Hanayama tries to work over Valentine's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Valentine blocks a body shot from Hanayama.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hanayama.
A short right from Valentine.
Valentine swings wildly with an uppercut but Hanayama uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hanayama throws a head punch that misses.
Valentine throws a punch but it's blocked by Hanayama.
Hanayama lands with a short shot to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hanayama creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hanayama has a couple of punches blocked by Valentine.
Hanayama throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Valentines head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kaoru Hanayama will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kaoru Hanayama's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

A solid leg kick lands there for Valentine.

Valentine darts in and clinches Hanayama up against the cage.
Valentine blocks an uppercut.
Valentine misses with some punches.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Valentine swings wildly with an uppercut but Hanayama uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valentine misses with the head strike.
Hanayama misses with a short punch on the inside.
Valentine fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Valentine digs a right hand into Hanayama's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Hanayama's gas tank.
Valentine scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hanayama throws a punch but it's blocked by Valentine.
Hanayama blocks a body shot from Valentine.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valentine tries to throw a body punch but Hanayama avoids it by throwing Valentine back against the cage.
Valentine lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Valentine blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hanayama.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hanayama.
Valentine blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine has a couple of punches blocked by Hanayama.
Valentine can't find room to land a body shot as Hanayama controls the action.
Hanayama lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hanayama misses with a punch to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Valentine.
Hanayama misses with a punch to the body.
A short right from Hanayama on the inside.
Hanayama misses with the head strike.
Hanayama throws a head punch that misses.
Valentine tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hanayama softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hanayama misses with some punches.
A right hook to the body lands for Hanayama.
Hanayama lands a right hand that snaps the head of Valentine backwards.
Valentine throws a head punch that misses.
Hanayama throws a head punch that misses.
Hanayama blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hanayama fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hanayama lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
A short right from Valentine on the inside.
Hanayama misses with a body punch.
Valentine lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hanayama backwards.

Hanayama is rocked!
Valentine misses with the head strike.
Oh Hanayama is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Valentine misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Valentine fails to land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hanayama.
Valentine misses with a short punch on the inside.
Valentine misses with some punches.
Valentine swings wildly with an uppercut but Hanayama uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valentine misses with the head strike.
Hanayama blocking some punches.
Valentine misses with a short punch on the inside.
Valentine misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hanayama blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Valentine misses with a punch on the inside.
Valentine working aggressively here.
Valentine throws a punch but it's blocked by Hanayama.
Valentine misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hanayama.
Hanayama swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valentine.
Valentine swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valentine.
Hanayama blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hanayama.
Hanayama blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hanayama blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hanayama tries to work over Valentine's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Valentine working aggressively here.
Valentine fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Valentine fails to land.
Valentine has a couple of punches blocked by Hanayama.
Valentine misses with the head strike.
Valentine misses with a punch on the inside.
Hanayama has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Valentine misses with the head strike.
Hanayama tries a body shot but Valentine blocks it.
Hanayama blocks an uppercut.
Hanayama blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hanayama blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Valentine misses with a punch on the inside.
Hanayama blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hanayama blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine throws a head punch that misses.
Valentine misses with a short punch on the inside.
Valentine swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Valentine misses with a hook from the clinch.
Valentine misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hanayama blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Valentine misses with a punch on the inside.
Valentine misses with a short punch on the inside.
Valentine tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hanayama blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hanayama blocks an uppercut.
Valentine working aggressively here.
Valentine misses with the head strike.
Valentine working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valentine.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hanayama.
Valentine throws a punch but it's blocked by Hanayama.
A head punch on the inside from Valentine fails to land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valentine.
Valentine misses with some punches.
Hanayama blocking some punches.
Hanayama blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Valentine fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Valentine swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Valentine fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hanayama blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Valentine misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hanayama.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Valentine misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valentine.
Valentine throws a punch but it's blocked by Hanayama.
Hanayama blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Valentine tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Valentine fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hanayama blocking some punches.
Valentine throws a punch but it's blocked by Hanayama.
Hanayama blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hanayama blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hanayama.
Valentine swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Valentine fails to land.
Hanayama blocking some punches.
Valentine misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hanayama blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hanayama blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hanayama.
Hanayama blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valentine.
Valentine working aggressively here.
Valentine throws a punch but it's blocked by Hanayama.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Valentine misses with a punch on the inside.
Hanayama blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Valentine has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Valentine misses with some punches.
Hanayama blocks an uppercut.
Valentine throws a head punch that misses.
Valentine throws a head punch that misses.
Valentine misses with some punches.
Hanayama blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hanayama blocks an uppercut.
Luke Valentine seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hanayama blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hanayama blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hanayama seems to have got his legs back now.
Valentine lands with a short shot to the head.
Hanayama lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Valentine backwards.
Valentine dips a shoulder and cracks Hanayama with a mighty uppercut! Hanayama falls back against the cage and Valentine unloads with a barrage of strikes! Hanayama is completely out with his eyes open, only supported by the cage! Save him ref! Eventually the ref decides to do his job and jumps in - Valentine screams abuse at the incompetent official before going over to celebrate with his corner. Brutal stuff!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Luke Valentine!
Luke Valentine thanked the fans post fight for their support.