PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nobutaka Hiyoshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Pazzini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hiyoshi's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter. Pazzini has chosen Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger as his entrance music. Nobutaka Hiyoshi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hiyoshi
vs
Pazzini

183 cm
23
181 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

177 cm
24
186 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nobutaka Hiyoshi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Pazzini!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Jonathan Paton and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hiyoshi misses the jab.
A combination from Hiyoshi does no damage.
Hiyoshi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hiyoshi looks to land a right hand but Pazzini moved out of range.
Hiyoshi throws out a loose jab but Pazzini uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hiyoshi takes a swing at Pazzini's ribcage but misses.
Hiyoshi cracks Pazzini with an open hand slap.
Nice defenses there by Pazzini.
Hiyoshi misses with a wild combination.
Nobutaka Hiyoshi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hiyoshi misses with a body shot.
Hiyoshi punishes Pazzini's body with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pazzini defending well as Hiyoshi loads up on a big left hand.
Pazzini displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hiyoshi throws out the jab.
Hiyoshi takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Pazzini uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hiyoshi.
Pazzini staying out of range there.
Pazzini wants to clinch up but Hiyoshi keeps it at a distance.
Pazzini slips under a jab.
Pazzini will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hiyoshi throws a looping overhand right but Pazzini ducks down to avoid it.
Hiyoshi throws a lazy right hand but Pazzini sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pazzini displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hiyoshi throws out the jab.
Hiyoshi connects with a body shot that sends Pazzini's belly button to the back.
Nice body punch from Hiyoshi.
Pazzini fails to land the takedown.
Hiyoshi just misses with a punch to the body.
Hiyoshi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hiyoshi misses with a straight left.

Pazzini has Hiyoshi up against the cage in a clinch.
Pazzini lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hiyoshi digs a right hand underneath Pazzini's ribcage. Pazzini let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Good body shot from Hiyoshi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Hiyoshi.
Hiyoshi lands with a short shot to the head.
Good body shot from Hiyoshi.
Pazzini being controlled against the cage.
Hiyoshi is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Pazzini is keeping busy.
Hiyoshi lands a left hand.
Hiyoshi lands a shoulder strike.
Hiyoshi stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Pazzini is working for takedown but Hiyoshi is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nobutaka Hiyoshi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Pazzini.
Pazzini looks gassed!
Nice body punch from Hiyoshi.
A short right from Hiyoshi.
Hiyoshi lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Pazzini.
A nice left hand lands by Hiyoshi.
Hiyoshi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Hiyoshi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pazzini avoids the body shot from Hiyoshi.
Pazzini has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hiyoshi finds it's way round the side to connect with Pazzini's head.

Pazzini is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fighters circling - Hiyoshi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pazzini is still on wobbly legs! Can Hiyoshi finish him?
Hiyoshi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pazzini manages to avoid it.
Pazzini seems to have recovered his senses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hiyoshi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hiyoshi dips to his left and cracks Pazzini with an uppercut!
Hiyoshi misses with a body shot.
Hiyoshi looks to score with a jab to the body but Pazzini is just out of range.
Hiyoshi looks to score with a jab to the body but Pazzini is just out of range.
Hiyoshi thows a body shot but no joy.
Hiyoshi lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pazzini steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hiyoshi.
Hiyoshi throws a hook but Pazzini avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nobutaka Hiyoshi 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.

Hiyoshi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hiyoshi getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Hiyoshi throws an overhand right that lands on Pazzini's shoulder, as Pazzini tries to avoid the shot.
Pazzini slips a jab from Hiyoshi.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hiyoshi, as that shot connected.
Hiyoshi misses with an uppercut.
Hiyoshi misses the jab.
Pazzini avoids the body shot from Hiyoshi.
Hiyoshi misses with a looping right.
Pazzini slips a jab from Hiyoshi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hiyoshi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Matt Pazzini is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hiyoshi throws a shot from downtown. Pazzini moves away and avoids it.
A big right from Hiyoshi misses.
Hiyoshi scores with the left hand. Pazzini knows he should have avoided that one.
Hiyoshi misses with a hook.
Pazzini fails with an attempt to clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hiyoshi. Pazzini does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hiyoshi missing with a left hand there. Pazzini was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hiyoshi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hiyoshi throws a lazy right hand but Pazzini sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hiyoshi throws a hook to the side of Pazzini's head but Pazzini sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hiyoshi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nobutaka Hiyoshi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hiyoshi throws out a loose jab but Pazzini uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hiyoshi lands the left hand.
Pazzini ducks under a wild hook from Hiyoshi.
Hiyoshi swings for the body but Pazzini moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Hiyoshi. Those never looked like landing.
Hiyoshi misses the shot to the body.
Hiyoshi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Pazzini avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hiyoshi swings for the body but Pazzini moves out of range.
Hiyoshi thows a body shot but no joy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hiyoshi. Pazzini does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hiyoshi throws a hook to the side of Pazzini's head but Pazzini sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nice shot by Pazzini.
A slow jab from Hiyoshi misses its intended target.

Pazzini feints and as Hiyoshi raises his hands in defense, Pazzini changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hiyoshi controlling the position.
Hiyoshi keeping moving, preventing Pazzini from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hiyoshi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hiyoshi can't keep his opponent in guard - Pazzini advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hiyoshi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hiyoshi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Pazzini missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pazzini throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Pazzini is looking for a kimura but Hiyoshi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pazzini to get the leverage.
Pazzini thows a huge punch but Hiyoshi dodges it nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pazzini prevents Hiyoshi from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nobutaka Hiyoshi dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Hiyoshi changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The fighters circling - Hiyoshi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hiyoshi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hiyoshi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pazzini moves away.
Hiyoshi misses the shot to the body.
Hiyoshi misses with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pazzini uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hiyoshi.
A big right from Hiyoshi misses.
Pazzini displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hiyoshi throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hiyoshi misses with a body shot.
Hiyoshi misses with a series of wild punches.
Pazzini keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hiyoshi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pazzini was well out of range. Poor timing from Hiyoshi.
Hiyoshi misses with a body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pazzini looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hiyoshi jabs Pazzini to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Pazzini wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pazzini tries for a takedown but Hiyoshi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hiyoshi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Pazzini keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hiyoshi.
Hiyoshi thows a body shot but no joy.
Hiyoshi wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Hiyoshi misses with a looping right.
Hiyoshi thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pazzini bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nobutaka Hiyoshi is winning the standup battle so far.
Hiyoshi connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Pazzini slips a straight right by Hiyoshi.
Hiyoshi misses the shot to the body.
Hiyoshi misses the jab.
A slow jab from Hiyoshi misses its intended target.
Pazzini tries to bum rush Hiyoshi with a series of wild strikes but Hiyoshi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hiyoshi thows a body shot but no joy.
Hiyoshi lands a jab.
Hiyoshi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pazzini moves away.
Matt Pazzini has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hiyoshi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pazzini moves away.
Pazzini uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hiyoshi.
Hiyoshi misses the shot to the body.
Hiyoshi throws a jab but it's blocked by Pazzini.
Hiyoshi throws a combination that misses

and Pazzini counters with a shoot takedown. Hiyoshi fights it but they end up in guard.
Pazzini has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Pazzini in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pazzini throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hiyoshi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pazzini postures up in Hiyoshi's guard and throws a big left but Hiyoshi blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Nobutaka Hiyoshi.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hiyoshi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:26
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:26
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nobutaka Hiyoshi!