PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hatsu Hioki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alejandro De La Barrera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barrera is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Westside Connection - Bow Down . Alejandro De La Barrera is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Hioki
vs
De La Barrera

180 cm
20
155 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
156 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Hellraiser Fightgear ($10 Clothing)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hatsu Hioki!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alejandro De La Barrera!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Alec Ball and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hioki swings away with a body shot that misses
and Barrera counters with a leg kick.
Hioki shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Barrera pinned against the cage. Barrera gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hioki moves out of range as Barrera strikes.
Hioki throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Barrera counters with a low kick, right behind Hioki 's knee.
Barrera looks to land a right hand but Hioki moved out of range.
Barrera uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hioki.
A jab from Hioki misses.
Hioki closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Barrera looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Barrera lands with a right hand.
Hioki tries to score a power double leg takedown but Barrera sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hioki somewhat.
Barrera takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hioki closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hioki trying to control from half guard but Barrera is working away.
Hioki is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Barrera is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Barrera controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hioki is trying to control. Barrera wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Barrera keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hioki passes to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hioki working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Hioki tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hioki has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hioki throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Barrera is looking for a sweep.

Hioki swings around for an armbar but Barrera sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Hioki's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hioki keeping moving, preventing Barrera from controlling successfully.
Barrera stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hioki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barrera stopping the sweep attempt from Hioki.
Barrera trying to control the position from guard on top but Hioki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barrera wants to stand and escape but instead Hioki has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hioki sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Barrera's guard.
Barrera wants to get back to full guard but Hioki has passed into side control.

Hioki tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Barrera tries to buck Hioki off but Hioki is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hioki tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Hioki tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hatsu Hioki dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hioki scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Hioki is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Barrera is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Barrera sneaks back into half guard.
Barrera wants to improve his position but Hioki is controlling well.
Hioki wants to control but Barrera is keeping him busy.
Hioki thows a huge punch but Barrera dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hioki wants to take a breather but Barrera is having none of it.

Hioki trying to work for an americana but Barrera has managed to regain full guard.

Hioki drops back, looking for a kneebar! Barrera looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Barrera looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Barrera!

Barrera is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hioki has escaped the position, nice work there.
Hioki manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Hioki regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hioki manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Barrera manages to get himself to full guard.
Hioki missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hioki accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Barrera tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Barrera keeping moving, preventing Hioki from controlling successfully.
Hioki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Barrera is keeping the position for now.
Hioki sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Barrera's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hioki thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrera regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Hioki.
Barrera is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Hioki drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Barrera manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Hioki has Barrera in his guard.
Barrera trying to control the position from guard on top but Hioki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hioki is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barrera stands and steps away. Hioki gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Barrera swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hioki swings widly with a right hand
and Hioki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Barrera lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Barrera connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hioki. Hioki circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Hioki lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barrera circles away quickly and effectively.
Hioki misses with a combination
and Barrera counters with an inside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barrera keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Barrera misses with a wild body shot.
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 Hatsu Hioki will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Barrera wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Hioki misses with a series of wild punches.
Barrera fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hioki looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The fighters circle momentarily. Barrera darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Barrera's jab looks to have found its range, popping Hioki under the eye.
Hatsu Hioki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hioki will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hioki shoots in for a takedown but Barrera shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hioki misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Barrera counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Hatsu Hioki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barrera scores with a jab to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Barrera tries to sprawl but Hioki drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Hioki tries to pass to full mount but Barrera defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hioki is looking for a kimura here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barrera trying to control but Hioki postures up.
Hioki is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Barrera is trying to maintain the position but Hioki is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Barrera avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hioki.
Hatsu Hioki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hioki sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Barrera defending well though.
Hioki is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Hioki takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hioki misses with a head shot.
Hioki thowing shots but they're missing.
Hioki lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hioki with the ground and pound from mount.
Hioki has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Hioki goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Barrera is on top in guard.
Barrera trying to control but Hioki is working from the bottom.

Barrera drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hioki dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hioki wants to control from the top but Barrera keeps moving.
Hioki wants to pass the guard but Barrera is keeping the position.
Hioki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hioki looking to sit in guard and control but Barrera gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Barrera trying to control but Hioki is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Hatsu Hioki did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hioki swings widly with a right hand
and Barrera makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hioki fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Barrera avoids it really well and circles away.
Barrera lands a jab to Hioki's midsection.
Hioki closes the distance and clinches up with Barrera, looking for a takedown. Hioki pushes Barrera against the cage but Barrera circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Barrera lands a head shot.
Hioki shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Barrera as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hatsu Hioki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barrera slips a jab and a cross from Hioki.
Barrera scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Barrera takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Hioki doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hioki misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hioki fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Hioki doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Barrera fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hioki looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hioki shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Barrera counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Jab from Barrera.
Barrera scores with a hook.
Barrera lands a right hook to the body.
Hioki takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Hioki looks to land a right hand but Barrera moved out of range.
Hioki misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barrera swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Hioki.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barrera connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hioki swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Barrera lands a really nice looking cross but Hioki seems unphased.
Barrera throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hioki loads up on a big right hand but Barrera slips the punch.
Hioki connects with a looping right hand.
Hioki fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Barrera avoids it really well and circles away.
Hioki moves out of range of the body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrera dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hioki. That did some damage!
Hioki swings widly with a right hand
and Barrera counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hioki misses with an uppercut. Barrera saw that one coming.
Hioki misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Barrera with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hioki misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Barrera throws a chopping leg kick but Hioki manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Barrera catches Hioki with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Barrera uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hioki.
Barrera cracks a nice hook into Hioki's ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barrera buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Hioki lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barrera circles away quickly and effectively.
Barrera throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hioki on the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barrera connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hioki moves forwards but Barrera connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Hioki takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hioki with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Barrera to score with a decent uppercut.
Hioki tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Barrera swivels and escapes.
Hioki thows a body shot but no joy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barrera scores with a one two! Hioki had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Hioki checks a leg kick.
Hioki throws a series of punches but Barrera avoids them all with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alejandro De La Barrera dominated that fourth round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hioki moves out of range of the leg kick from Barrera.
Alejandro De La Barrera seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barrera uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hioki has time to react.
A jab from Hioki does it's job there.
A leg kick checked by Hioki.
Hioki thows a body shot but no joy.
Hioki shoots in for a takedown but Barrera shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Barrera avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hioki throws a looping overhand right but Barrera ducks down to avoid it.
Hioki misses with a lunging right hand
and Barrera counters with a right hand to the body.
Hioki throws a nice looking combination but Barrera bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Barrera tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Hioki is able to avoid easily.
Barrera throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hioki stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barrera lands a nice hook to Hioki's body. Hioki takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hioki is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Hioki gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Barrera.
Barrera dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hioki takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Barrera scores with the left hand. Hioki knows he should have avoided that one.
A swing and a miss from Barrera.
Barrera finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Barrera connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Alejandro De La Barrera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hioki throws an off balance right hand
and Barrera connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hioki misses with a two punch combination.
Hioki looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barrera is fending him off so far but Hioki persists. Nope, Barrera circles away and we're back to standing.
Hioki shoots in but no luck this time.
Alejandro De La Barrera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hatsu Hioki. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hioki throws a body punch but Barrera moves out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barrera tried to score with a low kick but Hioki checks it.
Barrera connects with an inside leg kick.
Hioki gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Hioki has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hioki there as he acknowledges the shot.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hioki.
Hioki trying to control the action but Barrera is working from the bottom.
Barrera can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrera is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hioki off and has taken his back!
Hioki wants to escape the position.
Hioki just trying to survive but Barrera is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Barrera wants to control the position but Hioki frees himself and scrambles - Barrera manages to regain control in side control.
Barrera controlling the position.
Barrera looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Hioki is avoiding damage well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hioki struggling a bit here.
Barrera wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hioki keeps working.
Barrera with the ground and pound but Hioki regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barrera throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Hioki to regain full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alejandro De La Barrera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hioki has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 48:47
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 48:47
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hatsu Hioki!
Hatsu Hioki retains his featherweight title!
Our winner, Hatsu Hioki, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.