PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jose Luis Cantero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shuuji Hanamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cantero comes to the cage accompanied by La mandanga. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Luis Cantero
vs
Hanamoto

183 cm
23
183 lbs
11 - 7 - 1

186 cm
22
195 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

[CBK] AJFC Smashwear clothing
[CBK] AJFC Smashwear clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Jose Luis Cantero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shuuji Hanamoto!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hanamoto.
Hanamoto advances to mount.
Cantero is looking to get to half guard.
Hanamoto is landing with some decent strikes but Cantero is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Hanamoto fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Hanamoto scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cantero in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Cantero is trying to escape the mount.
Hanamoto misses with some ground and pound and Cantero recovers position to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hanamoto throwing shots but Cantero is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanamoto works his way into side control.
Hanamoto misses with the ground and pound.
Hanamoto working the strikes but Cantero uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Hanamoto throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cantero trying to hold on to Hanamoto's head to control him but Hanamoto postures up.
Hanamoto landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hanamoto passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Cantero!
Hanamoto looking to finish Cantero with some ground and pound. This is bad for Cantero!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanamoto landing strikes from the mount and Cantero is in trouble!
Cantero is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hanamoto lands with some strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hanamoto unloads with some shots from mount but Cantero bucks and avoids them well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cantero tries to hold on but Hanamoto pushes him away.
Hanamoto landing strikes from the mount.
Cantero in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Hanamoto working the ground and pound effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanamoto is landing with some decent strikes but Cantero is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Hanamoto with the ground and pound from mount.
A nice elbow there by Hanamoto.
Hanamoto landing strikes from the mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cantero is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hanamoto scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Cantero?
Hanamoto connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Hanamoto in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Hanamoto raining down shots from the mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanamoto with good strikes from the mount here!
Hanamoto looking to finish Cantero with some ground and pound. This is bad for Cantero!
Hanamoto can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cantero is looking to escape.
Cantero throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Hanamoto trying to control but Cantero is having none of it.
Cantero really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Hanamoto throws some wild stikes that Cantero manages to avoid easily.
Hanamoto lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Cantero is bucking up trying to escape but Hanamoto cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Hanamoto lands a heavy elbow.
Hanamoto in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cantero tries to hold on but Hanamoto postures up.
Cantero is working to get back to half guard.
BOOM! Hanamoto connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Cantero really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Cantero is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Hanamoto with the ground and pound from mount.
Cantero bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Cantero stopping the sweep attempt from Hanamoto.

Hanamoto has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Cantero off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Hanamoto will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cantero with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hanamoto counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Hanamoto throws a strike but Cantero rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hanamoto keeping moving, preventing Cantero from controlling successfully.
Cantero is really struggling to control Hanamoto but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Hanamoto is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Hanamoto's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Hanamoto wants to stand up but Cantero is controlling him.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hanamoto pulls Cantero in close to prevent any damage.

Jose Luis Cantero has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Hanamoto misses with a takedown

and Cantero decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hanamoto's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hanamoto manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Cantero can't escape the position.
Hanamoto landing punches.
Cantero is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hanamoto raining down hammerfists from mount.
Hanamoto wants to control the pace but Cantero is squirming around nicely.
Hanamoto punishing his opponent with strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hanamoto lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Hanamoto cracks Cantero with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shuuji Hanamoto dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hanamoto tries for a takedown but Cantero circles away easily

and Cantero counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Cantero stops Hanamoto from standing up.
Hanamoto wants to sweep here but Cantero controlling him for the moment.
Cantero trying to control but Hanamoto is working from the bottom.
Cantero is pushing down on Hanamoto's leg trying to pass to half guard. Hanamoto is fighting to maintain full guard but Cantero has managed to sneak the leg through.

Hanamoto is defending against the submission attempts here by Cantero.

Hanamoto kicks Cantero off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanamoto gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Cantero counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hanamoto won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cantero wants to control but Hanamoto is keeping him busy.
Hanamoto has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hanamoto manages to work his way to half guard, despite Cantero's best efforts.
Hanamoto is trying to stand back up but Cantero is controlling him
Hanamoto is breathing heavily.
Hanamoto is doing well to control the position and prevent Cantero from advancing to side control.
Cantero uses his free foot to push down on Hanamoto's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Hanamoto.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanamoto tries to lock up and control but Cantero gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Cantero working for a submission but Hanamoto is keeping him at bay.
Hanamoto wants to control but Cantero is having none of it.
Cantero is looking to work his way around to Hanamoto's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanamoto tries to lock up and control but Cantero gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Shuuji Hanamoto has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cantero won't let Hanamoto get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

Cantero is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Hanamoto shoots and misses

and Cantero counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Jose Luis Cantero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shuuji Hanamoto.
Cantero not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Cantero is looking for a kimura here.

Hanamoto makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hanamoto fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cantero sprawls well initially but Hanamoto persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Cantero is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hanamoto scores with a couple of nice shots.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hanamoto is trying to control the action in half guard but Cantero is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Cantero is looking to control Hanamoto's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cantero avoid being mounted?
Hanamoto is looking to take a break and control but Cantero is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cantero is controlling Hanamoto's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Hanamoto is looking to take a break and control but Cantero is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Hanamoto is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Cantero tries to reverse the position but Hanamoto maintains control.
Cantero tries to lock up and control but Hanamoto gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hanamoto throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Cantero really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hanamoto lands with some strikes.
Cantero holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Hanamoto tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Hanamoto looking to finish Cantero with some ground and pound. This is bad for Cantero!
Hanamoto misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Cantero tries to hold on but Hanamoto pushes him away.
Hanamoto fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Cantero tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hanamoto lands with some strikes.
A nice elbow there by Hanamoto.
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!
Hanamoto putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Cantero is working to get back to half guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hanamoto cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Hanamoto lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Hanamoto with shots to the head and body - Cantero looks very uncomfortable down there.
A nice elbow there by Hanamoto.
Cantero taking shots to the head.
A nice elbow there by Hanamoto.

Cantero is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hanamoto raining down shots from the mount!
Oh Cantero is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hanamoto scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Hanamoto working Cantero over with strikes here.
Hanamoto raining down hammerfists from mount.
Cantero seems to have got his legs back now.
Hanamoto connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Hanamoto breaks from Cantero's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The referee warns Cantero that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Cantero is trying desperately to improve position.
Hanamoto landing strikes from the mount and Cantero is in trouble!
Hanamoto lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Hanamoto working Cantero over with strikes here.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Cantero is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hanamoto lands a heavy elbow.
Hanamoto scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Hanamoto with the ground and pound from mount.
Cantero takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Hanamoto with good strikes from the mount here!
Hanamoto is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Cantero can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Hanamoto with a couple of short strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hanamoto cracks Cantero with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Jose Luis Cantero has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shuuji Hanamoto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hanamoto controlling from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shuuji Hanamoto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hanamoto has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Shuuji Hanamoto!
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Shuuji Hanamoto!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Shuuji Hanamoto!

Shuuji Hanamoto wins by unanimous decision!