PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Brugnolo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaoru Hanayama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brugnolo kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Poison - Alice Cooper. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Kaoru Hanayama was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Brugnolo
vs
Hanayama

182 cm
27
195 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

187 cm
25
199 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
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 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kevin Brugnolo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kaoru Hanayama!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Albert Achterberg and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good exchange - Brugnolo coming out on top.
Hanayama misses with a low kick.
Hanayama fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hanayama will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Hanayama shoots for a takedown but Brugnolo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A good leg kick by Brugnolo.
Hanayama moves out of range of the strikes.
Brugnolo blocks a head kick by Hanayama.
Brugnolo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Hanayama closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hanayama lands in his opponent's guard.
Hanayama prevents Brugnolo from getting back to his feet.
Hanayama throws a big right hand that misses.
Hanayama is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hanayama working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Brugnolo's head.
Brugnolo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Brugnolo looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Brugnolo is working for a submission of some sort.
Hanayama is trying to get back to full guard.
Hanayama is refusing to be controlled, as Brugnolo sits in half guard.
Hanayama tries to roll over but Brugnolo keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Brugnolo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hanayama is looking for a sweep. Brugnolo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hanayama manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hanayama is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Brugnolo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hanayama is pulling down on Brugnolo's head to control his posture.
Brugnolo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Brugnolo is looking to work some ground and pound but Hanayama has wrist control.
Brugnolo trying to move into half guard but instead Hanayama has managed to sweep!
Brugnolo keeping moving, preventing Hanayama from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hanayama got a little sloppy there for a moment and Brugnolo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hanayama has managed to get both his arms back between Brugnolo's legs - danger averted.
Hanayama passes Brugnolo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Brugnolo looking for submissions off his back.
Hanayama takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Hanayama stops Brugnolo from getting back to his feet.
Hanayama not doing much here.
Brugnolo is not content to let Hanayama control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hanayama slips a nice elbow through Brugnolo's hands, connecting with Brugnolo's forehead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hanayama controlling the action here.
Brugnolo wants to improve his position but Hanayama is controlling well.
Brugnolo scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Hanayama manages to mount him!
Brugnolo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hanayama has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Brugnolo's face.
Hanayama prevents Brugnolo from getting the reversal.
Hanayama controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaoru Hanayama dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hanayama shoots in for a takedown but Brugnolo shows good takedown defense.

Hanayama looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Brugnolo!
Brugnolo working to try and regain half guard.
Brugnolo sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Brugnolo is staying active underneath Hanayama, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Brugnolo wants to get back to full guard.
Brugnolo is trying to stand up here but Hanayama is controlling him well.
Hanayama controlling the action here.
Hanayama is keen to just control but Brugnolo is a slippery customer.
Hanayama sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Brugnolo defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Hanayama moves into full mount! Brugnolo won't be happy about that!
Brugnolo is desperately trying to improve his position but Hanayama has a good base and remains in mount.
Hanayama looking to control but Brugnolo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Brugnolo tries to hold on but Hanayama postures up.
Brugnolo wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Hanayama lands a big elbow.
Hanayama controlling from mount.
Hanayama can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Brugnolo is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanayama working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Brugnolo is squirming around, avoiding Hanayama's attempts to control the action.
Hanayama content just to control the position here.
Hanayama trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hanayama postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Brugnolo looks a forlorn figure.
Brugnolo tries to hold on but Hanayama pushes him away.
Hanayama sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brugnolo tries to reverse the position but Hanayama maintains control.
Hanayama with good strikes from the mount here!
Hanayama wants to control the pace but Brugnolo is squirming around nicely.
Hanayama punishing his opponent with strikes.
Brugnolo slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Hanayama sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Brugnolo defending well though.
Hanayama frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Brugnolo tries to buck Hanayama off but he can't manage it.
Hanayama looking to control but Brugnolo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Brugnolo is in a horrible position here. Hanayama smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brugnolo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Brugnolo is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Hanayama controlling the position easily from mount.
Hanayama wants to control the pace but Brugnolo is squirming around nicely.
Brugnolo gets back to half guard.
Hanayama stalling away here and it's allowed Brugnolo to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Hanayama landing with the ground and pound.
Hanayama with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaoru Hanayama showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Hanayama cracks the inside of Brugnolo's front leg.
Hanayama gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Brugnolo.
Hanayama shoots for a double leg takedown but Brugnolo sprawls well. He's pushed Hanayama's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Brugnolo moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Hanayama changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Brugnolo tries to avoid it but Hanayama manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Brugnolo to the ground. Brugnolo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A head kick misses from Brugnolo.
Hanayama throws a hook to the side of Brugnolo's head but Brugnolo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hanayama moves out of range of the body kick from Brugnolo.
Brugnolo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hanayama.
Good leg kick by Hanayama there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Brugnolo throws a nice outside leg kick.
Brugnolo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kevin Brugnolo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kaoru Hanayama.
Hanayama fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hanayama takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hanayama shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Brugnolo sprawls well. Brugnolo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hanayama gets slowly back to his feet.
Brugnolo connects with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Brugnolo.

Brugnolo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Brugnolo has clasped his hands together around Hanayama's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Hanayama is working to avoid the ground and pound but Brugnolo connects with a decent elbow.
Brugnolo scoring with punches and elbows.
Brugnolo throws a strike aimed at the side of Hanayama's head but Hanayama avoids it well.
Brugnolo in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Brugnolo in side control lands a decent elbow.
Hanayama is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Brugnolo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hanayama's head.
Brugnolo working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Hanayama's thigh. Hanayama counters though and makes it back to full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hanayama tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brugnolo landing with the ground and pound.
Hanayama keeping moving, preventing Brugnolo from controlling successfully.
Brugnolo is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Brugnolo is looking to work some ground and pound but Hanayama has wrist control.
Brugnolo trying to control but Hanayama is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hanayama is on top in guard.
Hanayama's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kevin Brugnolo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brugnolo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Brugnolo wants to stand and escape but Hanayama is having none of it.
Hanayama is stalling in the full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Brugnolo wants to sweep but no luck.
Brugnolo is working hard here to advance position.
Hanayama stops Brugnolo from standing up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Brugnolo forces Hanayama back against the cage and clinches.
Hanayama is trying to break the clinch but Brugnolo is controlling him.
Brugnolo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hanayama is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Brugnolo misses with some punches.
Brugnolo looking for a takedown.

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.

Hanayama pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hanayama throws a head kick that misses.
Hanayama throws a hook but Brugnolo avoids it easily.
Hanayama misses with a looping left.
A low kick from Hanayama misses

and Brugnolo holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Brugnolo swings wildly with an uppercut but Hanayama uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hanayama trying to stall but Brugnolo improves his position.
Brugnolo misses with a knee to the head.
Brugnolo gets underhooks to prevent Hanayama's takedown attempt.
Hanayama has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Brugnolo keeps control of Hanayama as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hanayama wants a takedown but no success here.
Nice elbow from Brugnolo.
Brugnolo misses with a knee to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Brugnolo just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hanayama's brow.
Brugnolo working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Brugnolo has picked Hanayama up - he's going for a ride! Brugnolo dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Hanayama is trying to control but can't.
Hanayama gets full guard.
Brugnolo lands a couple of elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Brugnolo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hanayama 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kaoru Hanayama!