PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ben Soap (ranked 6609 p4p, 24367 weight class) and Asaki Hanaki (ranked 605 p4p, 676 weight class). Soap comes to the cage accompanied by Drag Me To Hell. Hanaki has chosen The HU - Wolf Totem as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Soap
vs
Hanaki

178 cm
19
155
2 - 1 - 0

173 cm
26
155
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ben Soap!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Asaki Hanaki!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hanaki stuffs the takedown.

Hanaki shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Soap napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Soap is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Soap is not content to let Hanaki control the position.
Soap wants to get back to his feet.
Soap's coaches at London Warrior Gym have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hanaki is trying to get an arm triangle but Soap is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hanaki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Soap keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soap tries to bench press Hanaki off him but Hanaki keeps the position.

Hanaki has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Soap fails with the takedown.

Hanaki closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Soap's guard.
Soap wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Hanaki manages to pass to side control.

Hanaki postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Soap to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanaki displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Soap.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Soap. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Soap shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Hanaki moves into the clinch.

Hanaki breaks the clinch.
Hanaki moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Hanaki has taken the fight to the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Soap drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hanaki pulls his leg out and moves away.
No luck for Soap with that takedown attempt.
Hanaki lands a front kick.
Hanaki lands with a nice body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanaki tries a head kick but it misses.
Soap doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hanaki moves into the clinch.

Hanaki successfully pulls guard.
Hanaki wants to sweep but no luck.
Hanaki trying to control the position here.
Hanaki keeping moving, preventing Soap from controlling successfully.
Hanaki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Soap is one step ahead there.

Hanaki manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soap shoots in for a takedown but Hanaki shows good takedown defense.
Hanaki tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Soap swivels and escapes.

Hanaki instigates a clinch.

Hanaki lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hanaki trying to advance position but Soap counters by regaining guard.

Soap throws his legs up looking for a submission but Hanaki uses it to pass to side control.
Soap is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Hanaki is controlling him well.
Check out the look on Hanaki's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Hanaki is chipping away with strikes.

Hanaki decides to stand back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Asaki Hanaki dominated that round.
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.

Hanaki looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Soap is fending him off so far but Hanaki persists. Nope, Soap circles away and we're back to standing.
Hanaki lands a jab to Soap's midsection.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Soap is defended easily by Hanaki.
Ben Soap seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hanaki moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soap is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Hanaki breaks from the clinch.
Hanaki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Hanaki shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Asaki Hanaki has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Soap throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Hanaki got a little sloppy there for a moment and Soap has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hanaki has managed to get both his arms back between Soap's legs - danger averted.
Soap 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.

Hanaki gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Hanaki lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Soap backs up against the cage.
Soap tries for a takedown but Hanaki circles away easily
and Hanaki counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Soap misses with a takedown
and Hanaki makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hanaki has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Soap. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanaki pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Soap back to the cage. Hanaki follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Left hook, right uppercut from Hanaki.
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!

Hanaki closes the distance and clinches.

Hanaki pulls guard effortlessly.
Hanaki keeping full guard, as Soap tries to pass.

Hanaki is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Soap defends well.

Soap postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Hanaki is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Soap, into his guard.

Hanaki slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Soap looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hanaki is stalling in the full guard.
Soap keeping moving, preventing Hanaki from controlling successfully.

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.

Soap is working an open guard so Hanaki takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Hanaki looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Hanaki closes the distance and clinches.
Soap fails to pull guard.
Soap misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Hanaki manages to break the clinch.
Hanaki lands a jab-cross combination.

Hanaki pushes Soap up against the cage in a clinch.

Hanaki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Hanaki gets in close and instigates a clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Asaki Hanaki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Soap shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hanaki as he jumps to the side.
A combination from Hanaki does no damage.
Asaki Hanaki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Soap takes one to the side of the head.
A combination from Hanaki does no damage.
Hanaki lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Hanaki drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Soap wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Hanaki manages to pass to side control.

Hanaki perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Soap looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hanaki decides to stand up.

Soap tries to keep at a distance but Hanaki has taken the fight into the clinch.

Hanaki manages to break the clinch.
Soap shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hanaki pinned against the cage. Hanaki gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Hanaki gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soap wants to take the fight to the mat but Hanaki manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Soap. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Soap jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hanaki walks away with a smile on his face. Soap gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Hanaki fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Soap avoids it really well and circles away.
A combination from Hanaki does no damage.
Soap went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Hanaki throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Soap tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hanaki is in Soap's guard.

Soap is looking for a triangle here but Hanaki uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Soap sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanaki is looking to advance position but Soap won't allow it.
Hanaki is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Hanaki looking to control but Soap is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hanaki controlling from the full mount.
Hanaki lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Hanaki controlling the pace for now.

Hanaki stands up from mount. Strange move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soap shoots in and drives through. Hanaki sprawls well.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hanaki. That's going to slow Soap down.

Hanaki has Soap up against the cage in a clinch.

Soap ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Soap no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Soap is looking for a triangle but Hanaki pushes his legs off easily.
Soap can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hanaki controls the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Asaki Hanaki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hanaki 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Asaki Hanaki!
A very excited looking Asaki Hanaki made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
In defeat, Ben Soap stepped up to the mic, saying 'I came to fight and he delivered, respect to Nate Diaz, he was the better man tonight'.