PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kaoru Hanayama (ranked 25130 p4p, 2928 weight class) and Umar Khattab (ranked 566 p4p, 345 weight class). Hanayama's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, I Want To Break Free. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hanayama
vs
Khattab

189 cm
23
190
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
21
192
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kaoru Hanayama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Umar Khattab!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Anthony Taglia and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khattab will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Khattab keeps the fight on the outside.
Khattab shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hanayama as he avoids it easily.
Hanayama appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Khattab closes the distance and clinches.
Hanayama fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hanayama has Khattab pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Khattab manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Khattab lands a takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khattab is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Khattab makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Khattab is working Hanayama over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hanayama will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Khattab postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Khattab throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khattab cracks Hanayama with a solid left hand.
Hanayama preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Hanayama throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Khattab escapes and throws Hanayama's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Khattab working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Hanayama is looking for a sweep.
Khattab working away.

Khattab tries for a kimura but Hanayama is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hanayama struggling a bit here.
Khattab landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khattab misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Khattab lands a nice forearm strike.
Khattab working the ground and pound.

Khattab is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hanayama knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hanayama is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Khattab is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Khattab looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Khattab with the ground and pound from mount.
A nice elbow there by Khattab.

Hanayama is rocked!
Hanayama definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Khattab cracks Hanayama with a big head shot that has him covering up instantly! He's rolled onto his side and the referee has seen enough - this one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Umar Khattab!