PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hiroshi Hatayama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fedor Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hatayama comes into the arena with けいおん！ blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hatayama
vs
Rua

178 cm
20
191 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
192 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiroshi Hatayama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fedor Rua!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hatayama gets caught flat footed, as Rua shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hatayama working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rua.
Hatayama is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hatayama wants to sweep here but Rua controlling him for the moment.
Rua postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hatayama keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Rua preventing the sweep.

Hatayama working for a triangle but Rua defends it easily.
Rua sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hatayama's guard.
Hatayama is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hatayama desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Hatayama keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hatayama on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hatayama is trying to maintain the position but Rua is very close to passing his half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hatayama tries to get to full guard but Rua has control of the leg.
Rua lands strikes from half guard.
Hatayama has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rua is working away from the top position though.
Rua looks to land a strike but Hatayama avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Hatayama looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rua distracts Hatayama with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rua lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Hatayama escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rua gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hatayama is breathing heavily.
Rua distracts Hatayama with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hatayama keeping full guard, as Rua tries to pass.
Rua wants to control from the top but Hatayama keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rua must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rua content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rua scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rua connects with a couple of short punches.
Rua controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hatayama has momentary wrist control but Rua slips an elbow through the middle.
Rua distracts Hatayama with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rua working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rua postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rua trying to control but Hatayama is working from the bottom.

Hatayama working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rua doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rua manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rua's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Hatayama is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hatayama trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hatayama working for a triangle but Rua defends it easily.
Hatayama avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hatayama looking for a sweep. Not yet Hatayama, not yet.
Hatayama controls Rua momentarily but Rua frees himself.
Hatayama wants to stand up but Rua is controlling him.
Hatayama wants to sweep but no luck.
Rua looking to pass the guard.
Rua is looking to work some ground and pound but Hatayama has wrist control.

Hatayama looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Hatayama throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hatayama's head.
Rua lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rua lands a couple of elbows.
Rua lands a couple of digs.

Hatayama looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hatayama keeping full guard, as Rua tries to pass.

Hatayama working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rua doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rua manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hatayama trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Rua stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Hatayama misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hatayama throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rua tries to clinch but Hatayama moves out of range.
Rua fails with the takedown.
Hatayama fails to land the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rua looks for a takedown but Hatayama sprawls well.
Hatayama rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rua moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rua shoots and misses
and Hatayama counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hiroshi Hatayama is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hatayama with a poor takedown

and Rua counters by moving into the clinch.
Rua has Hatayama pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hatayama manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hiroshi Hatayama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fedor Rua.

Hatayama has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Rua uses from the top position.

Rua avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hatayama is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rua preventing the sweep.
Rua loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rua wants to pass the guard but Hatayama is keeping the position.

Hatayama escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rua gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Hatayama looking for a guillotine here but Rua defends easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hatayama keeping full guard, as Rua tries to pass.
Rua lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rua throws and elbow that misses. Hatayama uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rua's guard. Nice move by Hatayama!

Rua is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hatayama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hatayama stopping the sweep attempt from Rua.

Rua looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Rua is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rua looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hatayama swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Rua bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rua content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Rua cracks Hatayama with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Hatayama takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Fedor Rua has got the better of the ground game so far.
You can see the frustration on Hatayama's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Check out the look on Rua's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
You can see the frustration on Hatayama's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hatayama is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Rua misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hatayama manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rua's best efforts.
Hatayama makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hatayama.
Hatayama trying to keep a closed guard but Rua is proving a slippery customer.
Hatayama 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.
Hatayama working a defensive guard here.

Hatayama escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rua gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rua with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hatayama working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rua.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua is in close to Hatayama's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hatayama not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Hatayama throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rua pushing down on Hatayama's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua moves nicely into side control.
Hatayama is working to avoid the ground and pound but Rua connects with a decent elbow.
Hatayama can't do much from the bottom here.
Hatayama takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Hatayama can't do much from the bottom here.
Hatayama is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Hatayama keeping control of the position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Hiroshi Hatayama just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Nice shot by Hatayama.
Hatayama ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rua moves away.
Hatayama feints and then cracks Rua's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rua down.
Hatayama throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rua sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hatayama tries to bum rush Rua with a series of wild strikes but Rua uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Hiroshi Hatayama will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hatayama wants to clinch up but Rua keeps it at a distance.
Hatayama throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hatayama clinches but Rua breaks the clinch

and Rua counters with a shoot takedown. Hatayama fights it but they end up in guard.

Rua avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rua wants to pass the guard but Hatayama is keeping the position.

Hatayama looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hatayama keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Hatayama is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rua's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hatayama keeping full guard, as Rua tries to pass.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Hatayama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua throwing strikes but missing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hatayama working for a triangle but Rua defends it easily.
Rua seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rua wants to pass the guard but Hatayama is keeping the position.
Rua chips away with some ground and pound.
Rua looking to pass the guard.
Rua keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hatayama's head.
Rua lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rua passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Rua lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hatayama is trying to control Rua's posture but Rua avoids it.
Rua working the head with strikes.
Hatayama tries to bench press Rua off him but Rua keeps the position.
Hatayama is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rua off and has taken his back!
Hatayama is looking to control Rua but Rua is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Hatayama doesn't have the hooks in and Rua manages to turn into his guard.
Rua landing some decent shots from guard.
Rua is working Hatayama over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rua preventing the sweep.
Hatayama not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rua postures up in Hatayama's guard and throws a big left but Hatayama blocks it.
Rua connects with a couple of short punches.
Hatayama not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Rua avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hatayama looking to control.
Rua advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hatayama on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rua lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rua is nestled in close to Hatayama, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rua connects with a nice short shot to Hatayama's temple.
Hatayama makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hatayama.
Hatayama 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.
Hatayama keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Hatayama working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rua.

Rua gets to his feet - Hatayama follows without any prompting.
Rua blocks a head kick by Hatayama.

Rua gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rua can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hatayama is fighting to break Rua's control of his arms but Rua is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Hatayama won't allow Rua to sweep him here.
Hatayama passes Rua's left leg - he's now in half guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Hatayama is thwarting Rua's attempts to control the position.
Rua flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rua manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rua lands a decent shot there.
Rua tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hatayama with a nice head shot there.
Hatayama postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rua takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hatayama as he jumps to the side.
Hatayama throws out a powerful jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
No luck for Rua with that takedown attempt.

Rua shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rua showed some decent athleticism there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fedor Rua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rua 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fedor Rua!