PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pope Cozad (ranked 2387 p4p, 2252 weight class) and Kaoru Hanayama (ranked 305 p4p, 295 weight class). Cozad comes to the cage accompanied by Spirit In The Sky- Norman Greenbaum. Hanayama is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Hanayama vs Katsumi. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Cozad
vs
Hanayama

181 cm
24
170
9 - 5 - 0

182 cm
34
175
20 - 20 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

NARCOS
Conviction

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pope Cozad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kaoru Hanayama!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Summer Carpenter and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hanayama's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Cozad connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Hanayama scrambles back to his feet.
Cozad throws an overhand right that lands on Hanayama's shoulder, as Hanayama tries to avoid the shot.
Hanayama bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Cozad's head.
Hanayama throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Cozad.
Hanayama throws a body punch but Cozad moves out of range.
Hanayama throws a series of punches but Cozad moves out of range.
A head kick from Cozad lands but Hanayama takes it in his stride.

It looks like Kaoru Hanayama has been cut.

Hanayama closes the distance and clinches.
Cozad throws a head punch that misses.
Cozad trying to control the position but instead, Hanayama has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cozad into the cage.
Hanayama lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Cozad lands with a short punch from the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cozad scores with a shot to the side of Hanayama's head.
A frustrated look appears on Cozad's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cozad avoiding damage.
A shot in the inside from Hanayama.
Cozad misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanayama looking for a takedown.
Hanayama misses with some punches.
Hanayama lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cozad backwards.
Cozad makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Cozad throws a head punch that misses.
Hanayama scores with a nice hook to the head.

Cozad breaks from the clinch.
Hanayama throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Hanayama closes the distance and pushes Cozad back into the cage.
Hanayama lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hanayama lands with a short shot to the head.
Hanayama avoiding damage as Cozad throws knees to the body.
Cozad misses with some punches.
Cozad working aggressively here.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hanayama tightens his grip and picks Cozad up, before dumping him to the ground. Cozad manages to land in guard.
Cozad is wriggling around but Hanayama manages to pass to half guard.

Hanayama is looking to advance position but Cozad won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cozad is not content to let Hanayama control the position.
Cozad wants to get back to his feet.
Hanayama is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Hanayama looking to control and managing it successfully.
Hanayama fails to take his opponent's back.
Cozad is squirming around, avoiding Hanayama's attempts to control the action.
Hanayama content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cozad is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hanayama wants to control the pace but Cozad is squirming around nicely.

Hanayama jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Cozad manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Cozad is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

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.
Cozad trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Hanayama is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cozad knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Hanayama working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Cozad is trying to buck Hanayama off.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kaoru Hanayama dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kaoru Hanayama's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hanayama checks a low kick from Cozad.
Hanayama slips under a jab.
Hanayama is looking to clinch.
Hanayama tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cozad misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hanayama.
Hanayama closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Hanayama shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Cozad manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hanayama looking to pass the guard.
Hanayama won't allow Cozad to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cozad is wriggling around but Hanayama manages to pass to half guard.
Hanayama is looking to take a break and control but Cozad is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hanayama prevents Cozad from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hanayama is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cozad is just riding it out for now. Hanayama eventually gives up the hold.

Hanayama is looking for a kimura but Cozad is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hanayama to get the leverage.
Hanayama wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cozad keeps working.
Cozad wants to get back to his feet.

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.

Hanayama is looking for a kimura here.
Cozad scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Hanayama manages to mount him!
Cozad trying desperately to get to his feet.

Cozad defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Hanayama.

Hanayama looking to secure an arm triangle but Cozad defends it well.

Hanayama is working for a guillotine from mount but Cozad frees his head quite easily.
Hanayama has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanayama wants to control the pace but Cozad is squirming around nicely.
Hanayama controlling from mount.
Cozad wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Hanayama controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cozad is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Hanayama controlling from the full mount.
Cozad trying desperately to get to his feet.

Hanayama is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Cozad to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Cozad shrugs it off.
Cozad wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hanayama trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kaoru Hanayama showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kaoru Hanayama'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!

Cozad throws a lazy uppercut
and Hanayama counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Hanayama rushes Cozad and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cozad misses with a body punch.
Cozad fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hanayama goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hanayama lands a right hand.
A short right from Cozad on the inside.
Cozad tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hanayama jumps guard but Cozad stands there with Hanayama around his waist. Hanayama gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Hanayama jumps into guard, dragging Cozad to the mat.
Cozad would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanayama manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cozad manages to get himself to full guard.

Cozad is looking to stand up but Hanayama isn't so interested in that idea.
Hanayama trying to control but Cozad is working from the bottom.
Hanayama content to stall in guard here.
Hanayama wants to control from the top but Cozad keeps moving.
Hanayama stops Cozad from standing up.

That's two 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.
Hanayama sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hanayama trying to control but Cozad is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Hanayama fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Cozad to the ground. Hanayama is now in Cozad's guard.
Cozad wants to stand but Hanayama is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanayama trying to control the position from guard on top but Cozad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cozad wants to stand and escape but Hanayama is having none of it.
Hanayama advances to half guard.
Cozad looks like he's trying to stand up.

Hanayama is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cozad doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hanayama.
Hanayama moves into full mount! Cozad won't be happy about that!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanayama mounts Cozad! Really nice guard pass there!
You get the feeling that Cozad really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Hanayama seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Cozad is holding on tight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cozad is squirming around, avoiding Hanayama's attempts to control the action.
Pope Cozad has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cozad is trying to stand up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kaoru Hanayama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hanayama winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kaoru Hanayama!
Kaoru Hanayama decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.