PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tanjira Hanashima (ranked 5719 p4p, 5868 weight class) and Hallam Houston (ranked 627 p4p, 635 weight class). Hanashima comes to the cage accompanied by Element- Pop Smoke. Tanjira Hanashima looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Hanashima
vs
Houston

189 cm
25
200
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
20
200
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tanjira Hanashima!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hallam Houston!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Roger Salmon and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Houston swings for the body but Hanashima moves out of range.
Hanashima looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Houston shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Houston landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Houston stands up and beckons Hanashima to join him on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hanashima looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Houston looks for the body kick but Hanashima saw that one coming.
It looked like Hanashima was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Hanashima definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Hanashima throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Houston closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Houston performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Houston lands with a punch from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Houston decides to stand up.

Houston closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Houston lands in his opponent's guard.
Hanashima can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Houston controls the pace.
Houston with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Houston sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hanashima's guard.
Still in half guard, Houston seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houston scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Houston stands up from half guard.

Houston drives through and clinches with Hanashima against the cage.
We've been informed that Houston has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

Houston drags the fight down to the ground.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Houston is on top in guard.

Hanashima can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Houston controls the pace.
Hanashima wants to stand up but Houston is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Houston decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hanashima, up you get!

Houston shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hanashima is trying to defend but Houston finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Houston has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Houston is taking a breather. Hanashima says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houston drops an elbow to the side of Hanashima's head.
Houston lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hanashima knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Houston on the ground.
Houston perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Houston takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hallam Houston dominated that round.
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.

Houston looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Houston scoring with some ground and pound.

Houston stands up and waves to Hanashima to follow him.
Houston fails with a takedown attempt.
Houston tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hanashima was well out of range. Poor timing from Houston.

Houston has Hanashima up against the cage in a clinch.
Houston missing with knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Houston is trying to pull guard but Hanashima has him pressed against the cage.
Houston manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Houston has Hanashima pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Houston breaks the clinch.

Houston forces Hanashima back against the cage and clinches.
Houston is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hanashima is defending well for now.
Hanashima is trying to pull guard but Houston has him pressed against the cage.
Houston doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Houston gets control of Hanashima's arms and successfully pulls guard. Houston will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Hanashima is sitting in close to Houston's body. Houston has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Hanashima is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Hanashima is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Houston.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Hallam Houston!
Tanjira Hanashima spoke after the fight, saying 'Tough loss, but i will definitely come back stronger!!'.