PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zica Brava (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keiji Hashimoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brava comes to the cage accompanied by Chimaira - Nothing Remains. Hashimoto has chosen Chopin's Funeral March in B flat minor as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Brava
vs
Hashimoto

168 cm
24
142 lbs
13 - 1 - 0

172 cm
30
142 lbs
22 - 9 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI
Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zica Brava!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Keiji Hashimoto!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Felipe Paraventi and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hashimoto misses with a looping right.
Hashimoto lands with an uppercut that bounces Brava off the cage and back into range.
Hashimoto blocks a head kick by Brava.
Hashimoto moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Hashimoto lands with a cross.
Hashimoto blocks a head kick by Brava.
Brava defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hashimoto.
Hashimoto misses with a hook
letting Brava counter with a right hand.
Brava scores with a nice strike.
Brava bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zica Brava seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Brava closes the distance and clinches.
Hashimoto swings wildly with an uppercut but Brava uses good head movement to avoid it.
Brava is leaning against Hashimoto and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A short right from Hashimoto on the inside.
Brava doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hashimoto blocks a body shot from Brava.
Brava fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hashimoto trying to land knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hashimoto.
Brava tries to throw a body punch but Hashimoto avoids it by throwing Brava back against the cage.
Brava misses with a hook to the ribs.
Brava working aggressively here.
A shot in the inside from Hashimoto.
Brava lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Brava lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hashimoto backwards.
Brava has a couple of punches blocked by Hashimoto.
Brava lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Hashimoto or not.
Brava tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hashimoto.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Brava.
Brava working aggressively here.
Brava makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Brava creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Good body shot from Brava.
Knees to the body from Hashimoto.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A nice right hand lands inside from Brava.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hashimoto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hashimoto scores with a jab. Brava acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Brava fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hashimoto looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Brava tries to clinch up but Hashimoto circles away and keeps his distance.
Hashimoto takes a swing at Brava's ribcage but misses.
Hashimoto explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Hashimoto takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Brava throws a lazy right hand but Hashimoto sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hashimoto swings for the body but Brava moves out of range.
Brava scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A solid body kick from Brava.
Hashimoto looks to score with a jab to the body but Brava is just out of range.
Brava lands with a slapping head kick.
Brava tries to close the distance and clinch but Hashimoto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lazy body kick from Brava
and Hashimoto counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nice body punch from Brava.
Brava throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Brava forces Hashimoto back against the cage and clinches.
Brava struggles to land a body shot inside as Hashimoto controls his hands.
Hashimoto wants to break free but Brava has control.
Brava working aggressively here.
Hashimoto lands with a light punch inside.
Hashimoto has Brava pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Brava manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Brava struggles to land a body shot inside as Hashimoto controls his hands.
Brava doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Brava fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hashimoto blocks an uppercut.
Brava tries a body shot but Hashimoto blocks it.

Hashimoto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Brava throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hashimoto throws a nice looking combination but Brava bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Brava throws a head kick that misses.
Zica Brava is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hashimoto steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Brava. That one must have hurt.
Hashimoto walks into a left hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Brava throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Brava avoids the body shot from Hashimoto.
Hashimoto keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hashimoto digs a good hook to Brava's body.
Brava tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Brava gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Brava tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hashimoto's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hashimoto lands an uppercut.
Hashimoto tries to throw a body punch but Brava avoids it by throwing Hashimoto back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zica Brava dominated that round.
That's time! Brava's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Brava avoids the body shot from Hashimoto.
Brava tries to close the distance and clinch but Hashimoto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Brava tries to clinch but Hashimoto moves out of range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Hashimoto checks a leg kick.
Hashimoto fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Brava lands with a nice body punch.
Hashimoto throws a body punch but Brava moves out of range.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Brava.
Hashimoto is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Brava rather than just go for the knockout.
Brava throws a head kick that misses.
Brava closes the distance but Hashimoto moves to the side

and Hashimoto counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Hashimoto is trying to work for a kimura but Brava is defending well.
Hashimoto prevents Brava from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brava blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hashimoto.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Brava on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Brava knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hashimoto on the ground.

Hashimoto seems to be looking for submissions.
Hashimoto trying to mount his opponent but Brava defends it.
Brava is trying to stand.
Brava slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hashimoto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brava trying to control the position.
Brava keeping full guard, as Hashimoto tries to pass.
Brava not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hashimoto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hashimoto wants to control from the top but Brava keeps moving.
Hashimoto prevents Brava from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hashimoto wants to control from the top but Brava keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Brava wants to clinch up but Hashimoto keeps it at a distance.
Brava thows a leg kick but Hashimoto checks it
and Hashimoto counters with a left to the body.

Brava gets a clinch.
Brava lands a hook to the side of the head.
Brava throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hashimotos head.
Brava misses with a short punch on the inside.

Hashimoto drags the fight down to the ground.
Hashimoto keeping moving, preventing Brava from controlling successfully.
Brava is stalling in the full guard.

Hashimoto is looking for a triangle but Brava pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hashimoto keeping moving, preventing Brava from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Zica Brava has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Brava throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Brava just misses with a punch to the body.
Brava chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hashimoto can pounce on him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Brava misses with a hook to the body
and Hashimoto counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Zica Brava is winning the standup battle so far.
Hashimoto misses with a body shot.
Hashimoto keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Keiji Hashimoto will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hashimoto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hashimoto connects with a good right hand that stumbles Brava. Brava circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Hashimoto lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Hashimoto moves out of range as Brava throws a body kick.
Hashimoto circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hashimoto counters with a left to the body.
Hashimoto tries a head kick but it misses.
Brava is looking to clinch.
Hashimoto shoots in looking for a takedown but Brava manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hashimoto's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hashimoto swats away the attempt to clinch by Brava.
Hashimoto looks to score with a jab to the body but Brava is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brava tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hashimoto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Brava tries to land a front kick but Hashimoto steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Brava throws an overhand right that lands on Hashimoto's shoulder, as Hashimoto tries to avoid the shot.
Hashimoto walks into a jab.
Hashimoto swings for the body but Brava moves out of range.
Brava wants to clinch.
Hashimoto waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Brava.
Brava misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hashimoto.
Hashimoto lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Brava at a distance.
Brava throws a head kick that misses
and Hashimoto counters with a slapping leg kick.
Brava connects with a body shot that sends Hashimoto's belly button to the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brava throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hashimoto will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Hashimoto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Brava.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hashimoto. Brava does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hashimoto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Brava.
Brava looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Brava tried to score with a low kick but Hashimoto checks it.
Hashimoto slips under a jab.
Hashimoto thows a body shot but no joy.
Nice body punch from Brava.
Brava lands a head kick. Hashimoto smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
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!
Hashimoto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Brava.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hashimoto gets the takedown into side control.
Brava is looking to regain half guard here but Hashimoto keeps moving and retains side control.
Hashimoto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Brava keeps working.

Hashimoto is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Brava looks calm but he's in trouble here. Hashimoto gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Brava is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Hashimoto lets go of the hold and Brava can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Keiji Hashimoto!
Keiji Hashimoto is the new bantamweight champion!
Keiji Hashimoto decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.