PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dario Hajek (ranked 3568 p4p, 3660 weight class) and Mitsubasa Midoriya (ranked 0 p4p, 245 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hajek
vs
Midoriya

180 cm
25
147
1 - 0 - 0

171 cm
25
140
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dario Hajek!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mitsubasa Midoriya!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Midoriya bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Midoriya has a takedown stuffed.
Hajek scores with a punch to the head.
Midoriya tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hajek paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Midoriya lands with a nice body kick.
Midoriya misses with a few strikes there.
Midoriya uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hajek.
Midoriya looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hajek stuffs the takedown attempt from Midoriya. Midoriya gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Midoriya pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hajek swats away the attempt to clinch by Midoriya.
A little feinted left hand from Hajek on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Midoriya throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hajek.
Hajek is looking to counter punch.
Hajek avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Midoriya slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hajek scores with a nice strike.
Midoriya doesn't manage to clinch there - Hajek circles away.
Midoriya throws an overhand right that lands on Hajek's shoulder, as Hajek tries to avoid the shot.
Midoriya bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Midoriya misses with a lunging right hand
and Hajek counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nice defenses there by Midoriya.
Midoriya wants to clinch up but Hajek keeps it at a distance.
Dario Hajek is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Midoriya tries to clinch
and Hajek counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hajek really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Midoriya throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Hajek counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hajek connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Midoriya momentarily.

Midoriya moves into range and clinches up with Hajek.
Hajek is trying to break the clinch but Midoriya has him pressed against the cage.
Midoriya drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dario Hajek has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mitsubasa Midoriya.
Midoriya looks winded!

Hajek breaks the clinch.

Midoriya has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hajek wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Midoriya is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Midoriya looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hajek wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
With the fighters up against the cage, Midoriya throws an elbow but misses.
Midoriya has Hajek pressed against the cage, preventing Hajek from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hajek is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Hajek breaks from the clinch.
Midoriya throws a right hand that Hajek ducks under and follows up with a left that Hajek also avoids with ease.
A jab from Hajek misses.
Midoriya tries to close the distance and clinch but Hajek swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hajek swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Hajek throws a big shot that misses.
Hajek throws a jab but it's blocked by Midoriya.
Hajek connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Midoriya is looking to clinch but Hajek is avoiding it.
Midoriya misses with a double jab
letting Hajek counter with a right hand.
Hajek is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Midoriya closes the distance but Hajek moves to the side
enabling Hajek to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hajek looks to land a left hand but Midoriya moved out of range nicely.
Hajek darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Hajek thuds his right hand into Midoriya's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Midoriya misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Hajek counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd cheers as Hajek lands an impressive looking overhand right. Midoriya doesn't seem phased though.
Hajek lands a head shot.
Hajek looks to land a left hand but Midoriya moved out of range nicely.
Midoriya slips under a jab from Hajek.
Midoriya lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Midoriya shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Midoriya takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hajek scores with the left hand. Midoriya knows he should have avoided that one.
Hajek circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hajek swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Midoriya tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hajek paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Midoriya on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hajek misses with a hook.
Hajek bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Midoriya's head backwards.
Hajek misses the jab.
Hajek misses with a hook.
Hajek cracks Midoriya with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Hajek is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Good shot there by Hajek.
Midoriya closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Midoriya misses with a kick to the body.

Midoriya has closed the distance and engaged Hajek in a clinch.
Hajek is trying to break the clinch but Midoriya has him pressed against the cage.

Hajek escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Midoriya throws a sloppy body shot
and Midoriya takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Midoriya uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hajek.
Midoriya tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hajek manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Midoriya tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hajek manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hajek scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dario Hajek dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hajek scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A head kick misses from Midoriya.
Mitsubasa Midoriya is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hajek bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Midoriya's head backwards.
Hajek looks to land a right hand but Midoriya moved out of range.
Midoriya looks to clinch
and Hajek connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Midoriya slips a straight right by Hajek.
Hajek cracks Midoriya with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Hajek throws an overhand right that lands on Midoriya's shoulder, as Midoriya tries to avoid the shot.
Midoriya throws out a counter right but Hajek avoids it with no problem.
Midoriya looks to clinch
and Hajek counters with a three punch combo that has Midoriya backing up. Midoriya nods at Hajek to acknowledge the strikes.
Midoriya tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hajek paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Midoriya wants to clinch
and Hajek counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hajek throws a looping overhand right but Midoriya ducks down to avoid it.
The fighters circling - Hajek throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Midoriya darts in trying to clinch
and Hajek counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Hajek finds it's way through Midoriya's defenses.
Midoriya throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Hajek to counter with a crisp jab.
Midoriya is looking to clinch but Hajek is avoiding it.
Midoriya fails to land with a series of punches.
Midoriya is breathing heavily.
Midoriya tries to clinch but Hajek moves away
and Hajek counters with a straight right hand.
Dario Hajek is winning the standup battle so far.
Midoriya uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hajek.
Hajek throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nice uppercut there from Hajek.
Hajek is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Midoriya can do to turn this around?
Midoriya doesn't manage to clinch there - Hajek circles away.
Midoriya has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Midoriya throws a right hand that misses
enabling Hajek to counter with a crisp jab.
Hajek connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Midoriya momentarily.
Hajek with a hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hajek looks to land a left hand but Midoriya moved out of range nicely.
Hajek lands with an uppercut that bounces Midoriya off the cage and back into range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Midoriya is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hajek.
Hajek swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Midoriya.
Midoriya tries to clinch up.
Midoriya moves out of range of the strikes.
Midoriya tries to clinch but Hajek moves out of range.
Hajek was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Jab by Hajek.
Midoriya closes the distance but Hajek moves to the side
and Hajek counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Midoriya misses with a takedown attempt
and Hajek counters with a stiff right hand.
Mitsubasa Midoriya seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Midoriya wants to clinch
and Hajek counters with a nice uppercut.
Midoriya tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hajek swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hajek loads up on a big right hand but Midoriya slips the punch.
Midoriya raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Midoriya tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Hajek counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hajek throws a jab but it's blocked by Midoriya.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Midoriya throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hajek bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Midoriya steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hajek.
Midoriya is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Hajek lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Midoriya gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hajek 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.
Midoriya tries to clinch
and Hajek counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A jab from Hajek misses.
A combination from Midoriya does no damage.
It looked like Hajek wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hajek jabs Midoriya right on the nose. Midoriya blinks but takes it well.
Hajek throws a jab but it's blocked by Midoriya.
Midoriya appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Midoriya ducks under a wild hook from Hajek.
Hajek connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Hajek throws a hook to the side of Midoriya's head but Midoriya sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hajek keeps the fight on the outside.

Midoriya rushes Hajek and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hajek escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hajek throws an overhand right that lands on Midoriya's shoulder, as Midoriya tries to avoid the shot.
As Hajek backs off Midoriya throws a huge counter combo but Hajek manages to avoid it all.
A punch combination from Hajek misses.
Midoriya fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hajek throws a hook to the side of Midoriya's head but Midoriya sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Midoriya moves in looking to clinch but Hajek pushes him off.
Hajek scores with a hook.
Midoriya doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hajek counters with a stiff right hand.
Midoriya throws a body shot but no joy.
Midoriya wants to clinch
and Hajek cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters circling - Hajek throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A swing and a miss from Hajek.
Midoriya loads up on a big right hand but Hajek slips the punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dario Hajek dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

A lazy left from Hajek finds it's target.
Hajek scores with a jab.
Midoriya misses with a body kick.
Midoriya throws a right hand that Hajek ducks under and follows up with a left that Hajek also avoids with ease.
Midoriya slips under a jab.
Midoriya shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hajek sprawls well. Hajek wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Midoriya gets slowly back to his feet.
Hajek was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Midoriya slips under a jab.
Midoriya tries to clinch but Hajek is having none of it.
Midoriya fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hajek circles away from the clinch attempt.
Midoriya takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Midoriya shoots in for a takedown but Hajek shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hajek thows a left - swing and a miss!
Midoriya is looking for the big counter here.
Hajek misses with an uppercut.
Midoriya is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Midoriya looks to clinch
and Hajek connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Midoriya uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hajek.
Midoriya defending well as Hajek loads up on a big left hand.
Hajek cracks Midoriya with a right hand to the side of the head.
Midoriya defending well as Hajek loads up on a big left hand.
Hajek thuds his right hand into Midoriya's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Midoriya tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hajek scores with a body shot.
Hajek throws a hook but Midoriya avoids it easily.
Midoriya raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Hajek uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Hajek finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Midoriya ducks right into an uppercut from Hajek.
Hajek cracks Midoriya with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Midoriya closes the distance but Hajek moves to the side
and Hajek counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hajek scores with a jab. Midoriya acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A telegraphed right hand from Hajek misses the target.
Despite the aggression on Midoriya's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Hajek misses with a straight right.
Hajek stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hajek wants it to stay on the feet.
Dario Hajek has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mitsubasa Midoriya.
Hajek loads up on a big right hand but Midoriya slips the punch.
Hajek cracks Midoriya with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Hajek is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Midoriya.
Hajek keeps the fight on the outside.
Hajek connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hajek pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hajek with a hook.
Hajek scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Jab by Hajek.
Hajek swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Midoriya now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Hajek connects with a looping right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hajek connects with a jab.
Hajek moves into range and connects with a jab.
Midoriya is trying desperately to land a takedown but Hajek is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Midoriya.
Hajek slips a jab from Midoriya.
Hajek swinging wildly here.
Midoriya checks the leg kick.
Hajek with a nice cross.
A punch lands to the side of Midoriya 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Midoriya swings away with a body shot that misses
and Hajek cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Midoriya throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Hajek to counter with a crisp jab.
Midoriya slips a jab from Hajek.
Hajek sets himself, and Midoriya steps forward looking for the clinch! Hajek avoids it this time.
Hajek keeps the fight on the outside.

Midoriya moves into the clinch successfully.
Hajek tries to break the clinch but Midoriya is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Midoriya breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hajek fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Midoriya on the side of the head.
Hajek jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Midoriya gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Hajek misses with an uppercut.
Midoriya is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Hajek misses with a hook. Midoriya ducked under it nicely.
Hajek lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Midoriya doesn't manage to clinch there - Hajek circles away.
Midoriya takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A big right from Hajek misses.
Midoriya tries to clinch up but Hajek circles away and keeps his distance.
Midoriya fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mitsubasa Midoriya has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hajek looks to throw the jab but Midoriya is out of range.
Midoriya is trying to counter with his kicks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dario Hajek showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hajek, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dario Hajek!