PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yuujirou Hanma (ranked 2784 p4p, 2467 weight class) and Ronan Harvey (ranked 336 p4p, 309 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Hanma
vs
Harvey

190 cm
26
215
2 - 1 - 0

192 cm
27
205
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Excellent grappler
Brawler
Solid chin

BANZAI NUTRITION

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yuujirou Hanma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ronan Harvey!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Ivan Kurochkin and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hanma gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Harvey managing to block the knees to the body from Hanma.
Hanma has a couple of punches blocked by Harvey.
Hanma lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Harvey backwards.

Harvey has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hanma uses from the top position.
Hanma wanted to stand there but Harvey had control of the position.
Harvey is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Hanma wants to get up but he can't break Harvey's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Hanma preventing the sweep.
Hanma has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Harvey is proving hard to escape from.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harvey is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Harvey is pulling down on Hanma's head. It's preventing any offense from Hanma, at least for the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Harvey 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Hanma throws a big shot that misses.
Harvey feints the counter takedown.
Harvey slips a jab from Hanma.
As Hanma backs off Harvey throws a huge counter combo but Hanma manages to avoid it all.
Harvey shoots in for a takedown but Hanma shows good takedown defense.
Harvey shoots and misses
and Harvey takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Harvey drops his hands momentarily and Hanma takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Harvey has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Harvey there as he acknowledges the shot.
Harvey tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hanma swivels and escapes.
Yuujirou Hanma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronan Harvey.
Hanma wants to clinch up but Harvey keeps it at a distance.
Nice sprawl there from Hanma as Harvey shoots in.
A big left from Hanma misses.
Harvey tries for a takedown but Hanma circles away easily
and Hanma counters with a big head kick but Harvey shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanma misses with a head kick.
Hanma fakes the leg kick and cracks Harvey in the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Harvey fails with a takedown attempt.
Yuujirou Hanma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Harvey is defended easily by Hanma.
Yuujirou Hanma is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hanma throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Harvey sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hanma stuffs the takedown.
Harvey dives in and grabs Hanma's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hanma pushes down on Harvey's head and hops out.
Hanma throws a sloppy head kick and Harvey moves out of range easily.
Hanma tries to clinch up but Harvey circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanma throws a head kick that misses.
Harvey darts in looking for a takedown but Hanma gets double underhooks and turns Harvey into the cage.
Horrible takedown attempt by Harvey or perhaps it was just good defense by Hanma, which made it look bad.
Harvey's coach down at New York Public Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Harvey's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Hanma throws an overhand right that lands on Harvey's shoulder, as Harvey tries to avoid the shot.
Harvey is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Harvey closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hanma circles away.
Harvey shoots in but Hanma avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Harvey has his takedown stuffed
and Hanma counters with a nice uppercut.
Hanma throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Harvey looks winded!
Harvey fails with the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Harvey shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hanma as he jumps to the side.
As Harvey looks to move away, Hanma throws a big counter combo but Harvey just gets out of the way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harvey drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hanma dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hanma throws a series of punches but Harvey moves out of range.
Harvey takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
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!
Nice uppercut there from Hanma.
Hanma tries to clinch up but Harvey circles away and keeps his distance.
Jab from Hanma.
Hanma throws a jab when Harvey was well out of range.
Harvey is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
It looks like Hanma has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Hanma is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Hanma lands with a kick to the temple. Harvey shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Hanma connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Harvey fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hanma darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yuujirou Hanma dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Harvey takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Nice takedown defense from Hanma. No joy for Harvey on that attempt.
Hanma lands with a shot to the body.
Hanma thumps Harvey with a low kick.
Harvey dodges the punch combination from Hanma.
Harvey doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hanma counters with a nice body shot.
Hanma paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Ronan Harvey is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hanma defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Harvey.
Yuujirou Hanma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronan Harvey.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harvey shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hanma but Hanma pushes him off and we're back to square one.
It looked like Hanma was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Harvey.
Hanma scoring well with a low kick there.
Hanma misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanma fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Hanma is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Harvey can do to turn this around?
A looping hook to the body misses from Hanma. Harvey does a little dance to reset his feet.
Harvey is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hanma sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hanma tests Harvey's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Harvey.
Hanma scores with a jab to the head.
Hanma scores with a sloppy right hand. Harvey should have avoided that one.
A solid leg kick lands there for Hanma.
Hanma jabs Harvey right on the nose. Harvey blinks but takes it well.
Harvey shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hanma pinned against the cage. Hanma gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanma with a nice cross.
Hanma scores with a jab. Harvey acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Harvey is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hanma throws a 1-2 combo that connects squarely on Harvey's jaw, knocking him onto his back! Hanma dives in looking to finish as Harvey flails his arms in a desperate attempt to block Hanma's strikes! Hanma is raining down hammerfists and the ref stops it! Harvey's desperate flailing just didn't constitute intelligent defence. Some people will probably question the ref's decision but Harvey was definitely hurt and the ref saved him from taking unnecessary punishment. A fighter's safety is paramount in this sport.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Yuujirou Hanma!