PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mc Hammer First (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazahiro Murakami (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kazahiro Murakami will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hammer First
vs
Murakami

178 cm
19
165 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

174 cm
20
161 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Slam-or-Fist

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mc Hammer First!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazahiro Murakami!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yuuki Gou and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hammer First closes the distance and clinches up with Murakami, looking for a takedown. Hammer First pushes Murakami against the cage but Murakami circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hammer First tries to clinch up.
Hammer First looks to score with a jab to the body but Murakami is just out of range.
Hammer First slaps away a takedown attempt from Murakami, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Murakami pivots, looking for a leg kick but Hammer First is out of range and Murakami settles back down.
Murakami moves out of range as Hammer First throws a body kick.
Hammer First moves in looking to clinch but Murakami pushes him off.
Hammer First keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Hammer First shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Murakami wants to hold on but Hammer First pushes him away.
Murakami regains half guard.
Hammer First 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.
Murakami is refusing to be controlled, as Hammer First sits in half guard.
Murakami tries to roll over but Hammer First keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammer First throws a strike but Murakami avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Hammer First loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murakami manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hammer First manages to get himself to full guard.
Hammer First looking to hit a scissor sweep but Murakami is one step ahead there.
Murakami postures up in Hammer First's guard and throws a big left but Hammer First blocks it.
Murakami trying to control but Hammer First is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hammer First looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Hammer First knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Murakami on the ground.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kazahiro Murakami was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Hammer First fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Murakami manages to avoid it.

Hammer First scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Murakami is trying to get back to full guard.
Hammer First scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murakami trying to control but Hammer First postures up.
Hammer First prevents Murakami from standing back up.
Murakami is looking for a sweep. Hammer First is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Murakami can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hammer First lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hammer First prevents Murakami from standing back up.
Hammer First thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Murakami's head.
Hammer First trying to control from half guard but Murakami is working away.
Hammer First misses with a head shot. Murakami uses the momentum to regain guard.
Hammer First stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Murakami swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Murakami wants to sweep but no luck.
Hammer First postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Murakami keeping full guard, as Hammer First tries to pass.
Hammer First is fighting to break Murakami's control of his arms but Murakami is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Murakami is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hammer First won't allow Murakami to sweep him here.
Hammer First makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hammer First shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Murakami is trying to defend but Hammer First finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hammer First looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hammer First throwing shots but Murakami is blocking nicely.
Murakami trying to control here.
Murakami keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Murakami wants to get back to full guard.
Murakami trying to hold on to Hammer First's head to control him but Hammer First postures up.
Murakami avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hammer First.
Hammer First is looking to take a break and control but Murakami is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammer First missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Murakami is looking to improve his position.
Murakami blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hammer First.
Hammer First prevents Murakami from standing back up.
Murakami moves into full guard.
Hammer First controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Murakami 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.
Murakami keeping moving, preventing Hammer First from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hammer First is looking to work some ground and pound but Murakami has wrist control.
Hammer First with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hammer First trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hammer First missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hammer First stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Murakami swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Murakami not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Murakami looking for a sweep. Not yet Murakami, not yet.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Murakami is trying to control the position but Hammer First postures up.
Hammer First has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer First preventing the sweep.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kazahiro Murakami wasn't active enough on the ground.
Murakami is looking to chop away at Hammer First's legs.
Murakami throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Hammer First defending well as Murakami loads up on a big left hand.
Murakami throws a leg kick which misses Hammer First's front leg but catches the back leg as Hammer First tries to avoid it.
Hammer First throws a right and a left that Murakami avoids nicely.
Murakami uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hammer First.
Kazahiro Murakami seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hammer First misses with a body kick.
Murakami lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hammer First throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hammer First scores with a hook to the body. Murakami takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's four 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.
Hammer First shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Murakami as he avoids it easily.
Murakami throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hammer First circles away from the clinch attempt.
Murakami throws a series of punches but Hammer First moves out of range.
Hammer First checks a low kick from Murakami.
Hammer First throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A shot to the body from Hammer First misses
enabling Murakami to counter with a crisp jab.
Murakami attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Murakami tries to work over Hammer First's front leg with a kick but Hammer First checks it.
Hammer First misses with a body punch
and Murakami counters with a low kick, right behind Hammer First 's knee.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hammer First throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Murakami counters with a nice low kick that buckles Hammer First's knee momentarily.
Hammer First shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Murakami sprawls well. Murakami wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hammer First gets slowly back to his feet.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Murakami.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kazahiro Murakami will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Murakami throws a leg kick but Hammer First sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hammer First.
Hammer First in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Hammer First with the ground and pound but Murakami regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Murakami slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hammer First is in close to Murakami's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hammer First throws a strike but Murakami rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hammer First has his hands on Murakami's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murakami missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hammer First pulls Murakami in close to prevent any damage.
Murakami works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Murakami wants to control but Hammer First is keeping him busy.
Murakami 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.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hammer First regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Murakami.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Murakami accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Murakami thows a big elbow that misses.
Murakami with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hammer First is controlling Murakami's posture.
Murakami trying to control but Hammer First is working from the bottom.
Murakami stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hammer First swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer First working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Murakami.
Murakami wants to control from the top but Hammer First keeps moving.
Murakami throwing strikes from guard but Hammer First blocks nicely.
Murakami wants to control from the top but Hammer First keeps moving.

Kazahiro Murakami has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Hammer First misses with a hook to the body
enabling Murakami to counter with a crisp jab.
Hammer First throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice defenses there by Hammer First.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hammer First has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Murakami.
Murakami looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A bone on bone clash there as Hammer First blocks the leg kick.
Murakami lands a leg kick that knocks Hammer First off balance momentarily.
Murakami stuffs the takedown attempt from Hammer First. Hammer First gets slowly back to his feet.
Murakami scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Murakami gets caught flat footed, as Hammer First shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hammer First wants to control from the top but Murakami keeps moving.
Hammer First stopping the sweep attempt from Murakami.
Murakami trying to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kazahiro Murakami.
I think Murakami has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazahiro Murakami!