PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hanzo Hasashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karumoka Warakasa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Warakasa's choice of entrance music: Thy Serpent - Deathbearer. Karumoka Warakasa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hasashi
vs
Warakasa

188 cm
25
210 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

187 cm
23
207 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hanzo Hasashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Karumoka Warakasa!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hasashi lands a big head kick that sends Warakasa tumbling to the mat! Hasashi takes a step backwards and waves Warakasa back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Karumoka Warakasa has been cut.

Warakasa shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hasashi napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hasashi takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Warakasa connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Hasashi some visible discomfort.
Warakasa trying to control the action but Hasashi is working from the bottom.
Warakasa in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Warakasa working the head and body with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Warakasa prevents Hasashi from escaping the position.
Hasashi is trying to control Warakasa's posture but Warakasa avoids it.
Warakasa sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Hasashi is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Warakasa lands an elbow.
Hasashi struggling a bit here.
Hasashi wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Warakasa creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Hasashi sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Hasashi is trying to get back to his feet.

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.
Hasashi tries to buck Warakasa off but Warakasa is having none of it.
The ground and pound from Warakasa seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Hasashi is trying to improve his position.
Warakasa controlling from side mount.
Hasashi tries to escape but Warakasa is in control.
Warakasa throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Hasashi works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Warakasa slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Warakasa.
Hasashi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Warakasa winds up and cracks Hasashi with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Warakasa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hasashi keeps working.

Warakasa wants to work for an arm triangle but Hasashi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Warakasa is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Warakasa sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hasashi defending well though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hasashi is looking to escape.
Warakasa trying to control from half guard but Hasashi is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karumoka Warakasa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Karumoka Warakasa's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A lazy left from Warakasa finds it's target.
Warakasa lands with a shot to the body.
Warakasa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hasashi.
Warakasa throws a hook but Hasashi avoids it easily.
Hasashi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Warakasa counters with a nice uppercut.

Hasashi is rocked!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Warakasa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Oh Hasashi is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Karumoka Warakasa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Warakasa connects with a leg kick. Hasashi looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Hanzo Hasashi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hasashi walks forward, straight into a front kick from Warakasa.
Hasashi seems to have got his legs back now.
Warakasa tries to close the distance and clinch but Hasashi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hanzo Hasashi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Warakasa looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A good leg kick by Warakasa.

Warakasa closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hasashi did well to prevent Warakasa getting side control.
Warakasa lands with a punch from half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Warakasa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Warakasa working the head and body with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Karumoka Warakasa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hasashi is refusing to be controlled, as Warakasa sits in half guard.
Warakasa is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Warakasa controlling the pace.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Karumoka Warakasa wasn't active enough on the ground.
Hasashi throws a head kick but Warakasa moves out of range.
Hasashi takes one to the chin there.

Warakasa shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hasashi is trying to defend but Warakasa finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Warakasa is pressing down on Hasashi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hasashi is holding on for now.
Warakasa looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hasashi with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hasashi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Warakasa.
Warakasa sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hasashi defending well though.
Warakasa controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Warakasa is working for a submission of some sort.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Warakasa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Warakasa stops Hasashi from getting back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Warakasa wants to take a breather but Hasashi is having none of it.
Warakasa working Hasashi over with strikes.
Warakasa not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Warakasa looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hasashi with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Warakasa sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hasashi defending well though.
Warakasa takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Warakasa wants to take a breather but Hasashi is having none of it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hasashi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Warakasa.
Warakasa wants to free his trapped foot but Hasashi is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karumoka Warakasa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Karumoka Warakasa's cut.
That's time! Hasashi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Warakasa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hasashi was well out of range. Poor timing from Warakasa.
Warakasa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Warakasa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Warakasa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Warakasa. Hasashi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hasashi misses with a leg kick.
Hasashi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Warakasa counters with a nice leg kick.
Hasashi shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Warakasa eats them both and turns towards Hasashi to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Hasashi throws a predictable looking body shot

and Warakasa decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hasashi's guard.
Warakasa passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hasashi is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Warakasa off and has taken his back!
Warakasa rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Warakasa gets back to full guard.
Warakasa wants to sweep here but Hasashi controlling him for the moment.
Hasashi wants to stand but Warakasa is controlling his posture from full guard.
Warakasa is pulling down on Hasashi's head to control his posture.
Warakasa looking for a sweep. Not yet Warakasa, not yet.
Warakasa is pulling down on Hasashi's head to control his posture.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Warakasa misses with an attempted mid kick.

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.
Hasashi is looking to clinch but Warakasa is avoiding it.
Hasashi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hasashi misses with a wild combination.
Warakasa misses with the combination.
Hasashi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Warakasa darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Warakasa is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hasashi sees it coming and defends easily.

Hasashi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Warakasa pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Warakasa stalling.
Warakasa working Hasashi over with strikes.
Warakasa controlling the action here.
Hasashi wants to get back to his feet.
Karumoka Warakasa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Warakasa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Warakasa lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hanzo Hasashi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Warakasa takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Warakasa trying to mount his opponent but Hasashi defends it.
Warakasa with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Karumoka Warakasa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Warakasa has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yamamoto scores the fight 26:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Karumoka Warakasa!