PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Krzysztof Kulak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaoru Hanayama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kulak comes into the arena with CowdeR - Kułak blaring out of the sound system. Kaoru Hanayama is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Kulak
vs
Hanayama

189 cm
22
187 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

187 cm
22
199 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Krzysztof Kulak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kaoru Hanayama!
The judges for this bout are , and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hanayama shoots in and drives through. Kulak sprawls well.

Kulak gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hanayama to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Hanayama trying to control the position from guard on top but Kulak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hanayama is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hanayama stops Kulak from standing up.
Hanayama with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hanayama looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hanayama prevents Kulak from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hanayama drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kulak dives on top into guard.
Hanayama looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanayama looking to control.
Hanayama preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hanayama has Kulak pulled in close to control his posture.
Kulak is looking to work some ground and pound but Hanayama has wrist control.
Kulak thows a big elbow that misses.
Kulak is fighting to break Hanayama's control of his arms but Hanayama is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kulak preventing the sweep.

Kulak avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kulak stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hanayama swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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 controlling Kulak's posture.
Hanayama 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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hanayama has control of Kulak's left arm, preventing Kulak from doing any damage.
Kulak has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hanayama is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Despite being in the dominant position, Kaoru Hanayama just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kulak keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
No luck for Kulak with that takedown attempt.
Hanayama doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kulak counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Krzysztof Kulak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kaoru Hanayama.
Hanayama looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanayama wants to sweep here but Kulak controlling him for the moment.
Hanayama pulls Kulak in close to his closed guard and prevents Kulak from doing any damage or advancing position.
Hanayama is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hanayama is keen to just control but Kulak is a slippery customer.
Hanayama lands strikes from half guard.
Hanayama stops Kulak from getting back to his feet.
Still in half guard, Hanayama seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kulak has hold of Hanayama's hands but Hanayama slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Hanayama stalling.
Hanayama is keen to just control but Kulak is a slippery customer.
Hanayama slips a nice elbow through Kulak's hands, connecting with Kulak's forehead.

Hanayama is looking for a kimura but Kulak is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hanayama to get the leverage.
Kulak wants to get back to his feet.
Hanayama is taking a breather. Kulak says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Kulak avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hanayama.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaoru Hanayama dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hanayama shoots and misses

and Kulak counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hanayama won't be happy with that.
Kulak is working Hanayama over with some ground and pound from side control.

Kulak tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kulak working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
What's Hanayama going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Hanayama tries to improve position but can't.
Kulak trying to control the action but Hanayama is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hanayama can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanayama sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Hanayama is positioning himself well to prevent Kulak advancing to mount.
Kulak throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hanayama controlling the position for now.
Hanayama regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hanayama has his hands on Kulak's head, controlling the position.

Despite being in the dominant position, Kaoru Hanayama just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Hanayama shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hanayama not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanayama stands and throws Kulak's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Hanayama taking a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanayama connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Kulak some visible discomfort.
Hanayama taking a breather here.

Despite being in the dominant position, Kaoru Hanayama just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kulak shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Hanayama counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kulak is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Hanayama dives into side control.

Hanayama looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Hanayama is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Kulak is trying to escape and Hanayama transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Kulak is forced to tap! Nice work there by Hanayama! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kaoru Hanayama!