PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kaoru Hanayama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Zaldiar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zaldiar has chosen EL CABRON as his entrance music. Alex Zaldiar has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Hanayama
vs
Zaldiar

187 cm
24
199 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

190 cm
23
196 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kaoru Hanayama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alex Zaldiar!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zaldiar drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Zaldiar trying to control but Hanayama is working from the bottom.
Zaldiar sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hanayama's guard.
Zaldiar is looking to advance position but Hanayama won't allow it.

Zaldiar is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hanayama doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Zaldiar.

Zaldiar is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hanayama defends it well.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Zaldiar seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zaldiar is trying to work for a kimura but Hanayama is defending well.

Hanayama is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zaldiar pulls his head out easily.
Zaldiar trying to mount his opponent but Hanayama defends it.

Zaldiar is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hanayama defends it well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Hanayama darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Hanayama perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hanayama is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Hanayama is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hanayama working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hanayama lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hanayama not doing much here.
Hanayama seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Zaldiar for as long as he can get away with.
Zaldiar is refusing to be controlled, as Hanayama sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaldiar is looking for a sweep. Hanayama is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hanayama is trying to control the action in half guard but Zaldiar is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Zaldiar keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Hanayama trying to control the action but Zaldiar is working from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Zaldiar looking for a kimura from the bottom but Hanayama passes into side control!
Zaldiar gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zaldiar trying to control from the bottom.
Hanayama prevents Zaldiar from improving his position.

Hanayama has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Zaldiar defend it? Hanayama steps over the head and cranks it - Zaldiar is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Hanayama!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Kaoru Hanayama!