PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kenny Botwin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Baki Hanma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Botwin
vs
Hanma

176 cm
20
143 lbs
2 - 3 - 1

175 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenny Botwin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Baki Hanma!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Sosuke Kotani and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Botwin connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Hanma swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hanma misses with a two punch combination.
Botwin throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Baki Hanma has been cut.
Hanma misses the jab.

Botwin closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hanma to the mat! Hanma manages to get full guard.
Hanma wants to stand up but Botwin is controlling him.
Hanma keeping moving, preventing Botwin from controlling successfully.
Hanma wants to stand and escape but Botwin is having none of it.
Botwin wants to control from the top but Hanma keeps moving.
Botwin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hanma is keeping the position for now.
Botwin prevents Hanma from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kenny Botwin wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Hanma misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Botwin closes the distance and clinches.
Botwin prevents Hanma from breaking the clinch.
Botwin working Hanma over with knees to the body.
Botwin scores a nice knee to the body.
Hanma looks gassed!

Botwin pulls Hanma into guard.

Botwin wriggles free and stands up.
Botwin throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Danga de danga de dang - Hanma scores with a four punch combination!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Botwin shoots in looking for a takedown but Hanma manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Botwin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Botwin throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A swing and a miss from Hanma.
Hanma chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Botwin can pounce on him.

Botwin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hanma, pushing him back against the cage.
Botwin throws a knee to the head but misses.

Botwin pulls guard successfully.

Botwin is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Botwin lands a nice elbow.
Stalling in the clinch from Botwin.
Hanma has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Botwin is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Botwin lands a good knee to the midsection. Hanma won't want to take too many of those.
Hanma drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Botwin working Hanma over with knees to the body.
Botwin putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Hanma in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Hanma has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Botwin pressing his opponent against the cage.
Hanma fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kenny Botwin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Baki Hanma.
Hanma is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanma avoiding damage as Botwin throws knees to the body.
Botwin is pushing Hanma up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Botwin has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hanma uses from the top position.
Hanma would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Botwin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hanma throws a strike but Botwin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Botwin stops Hanma from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hanma is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Botwin wants to pass the guard but Hanma is keeping the position.
Botwin sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hanma's guard.
Hanma tries to kick Botwin off but Botwin keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Botwin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hanma's head.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Botwin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hanma's head.
Botwin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Botwin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Botwin working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Hanma's thigh. Hanma counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Botwin wants to pass the guard but Hanma is keeping the position.
Botwin thows a big elbow that misses.
Botwin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Botwin throws a big right hand that misses.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Botwin wants to stand but Hanma is controlling his posture from full guard.
Botwin tries to free his leg and advance position but Hanma is retaining full guard.
Botwin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Botwin is looking to stand up but Hanma won't let him.
Hanma is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Botwin is pushing down on Hanma's leg trying to pass to half guard. Hanma is fighting to maintain full guard but Botwin has managed to sneak the leg through.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hanma is staying active underneath Botwin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Hanma keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hanma is trying to stand.
Hanma avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Botwin.
Botwin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Botwin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hanma tries to kick Botwin off but Botwin keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Botwin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Botwin thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Hanma to regain full guard.
Botwin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Botwin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Botwin postures up in Hanma's guard and throws a big left but Hanma blocks it.
Botwin tries to free his leg and advance position but Hanma is retaining full guard.
Botwin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Hanma pushes Botwin off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Botwin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Botwin tries to move into range but Hanma moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Botwin scores with a takedown into Hanma's guard.

Hanma scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Botwin clinches up with Hanma and pushes him back against the cage.

Botwin ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Botwin no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Hanma working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hanma wants to stand and escape but instead Botwin has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Botwin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hanma works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Botwin wants to control from the top but Hanma keeps moving.
Hanma wants to stand but Botwin is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Botwin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Baki Hanma's cut.
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!

Hanma throws a front kick aimed at Botwin's knee but Botwin avoids it well.
Hanma cracks a nice hook into Botwin's ribs.
Kenny Botwin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hanma misses with the combination.
Hanma fails to land with a series of punches.
Hanma connects with a crisp jab.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Botwin.
Hanma stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Botwin.
Hanma pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hanma misses with a straight right.
Hanma is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Botwin.
A solid leg kick lands there for Botwin.
Hanma works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Hanma throws a wild body kick that Botwin sees coming a mile off.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Botwin checks the leg kick nicely there.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Botwin. Hanma shrugs it off though.
No joy there for Hanma, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Botwin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hanma sprawls well. Hanma wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Botwin gets slowly back to his feet.
Botwin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hanma throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanma keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenny Botwin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Botwin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hanma moves away.
Hanma throws a hook but Botwin blocks it.
Botwin connects with a high kick.
Hanma lands a jab to the nose.
Hanma throws a hook but Botwin blocks it.
Botwin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hanma's corner calls for a 1-2. Hanma obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kenny Botwin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Botwin pushes Hanma up against the cage in a clinch.
Botwin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hanma has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Botwin tries to land knees in the clinch but Hanma avoids the damage to the body.
Hanma wants to get back to striking at distance but Botwin won't allow it.
Botwin misses with a knee to the head.
Botwin tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hanma tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hanma can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanma tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Botwin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hanma tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Botwin tries a knee to the head but Hanma blocks it.
A frustrated look appears on Hanma's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Botwin trying to land knees to the body.
Hanma is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Botwin gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hanma jumps guard but Botwin stands there with Hanma around his waist. Hanma gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hanma jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Botwin walks away with a smile on his face. Hanma gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Botwin throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hanma.
Hanma smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Hanma lands a body shot.
Botwin tries a head kick but it misses.
Botwin takes one to the side of the head.
Hanma waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Botwin.
Hanma lands with a nice combination. Botwin backs away looking to recover.
Botwin lands with a nice body kick.
Hanma tests Botwin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Botwin fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanma lands a jab to Botwin's midsection.
Hanma scores with a hook to the body. Botwin takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Hanma scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Botwin throws a head kick but Hanma moves out of range.
Hanma shoots in looking for a takedown but Botwin manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hanma's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A swing and a miss from Hanma.
Hanma scores with a sloppy right hand. Botwin should have avoided that one.
Left hook, right uppercut from Botwin.

Hanma tries to keep at a distance but Botwin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hanma is trying to break free.

Botwin jumps into guard, dragging Hanma to the mat.
Botwin looking to control.
Botwin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Hanma is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Botwin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hanma postures up in Botwin's guard and throws a big left but Botwin blocks it.
Hanma wants to control from the top but Botwin keeps moving.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Hanma throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Botwin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hanma with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hanma is looking to work some ground and pound but Botwin has wrist control.
Hanma postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hanma looking to pass the guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hanma trying to control the position from guard on top but Botwin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Botwin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Botwin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hanma.

Hanma stands up from Botwin's guard - Hanma perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Hanma takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Nice cross by Hanma.
Nice shot lands for Hanma.
Botwin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Decent striking displayed by Hanma there.
Botwin fails with the takedown.
Botwin has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Botwin there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hanma throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Botwin moves away from the strike by Hanma.
Hanma just misses with a punch to the body.
Botwin wants to clinch up but Hanma keeps it at a distance.
Hanma keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hanma swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hanma misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hanma cracks Botwin with an open hand slap.
A nice inside leg kick there by Botwin. That's going to slow Hanma down.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Hanma pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Botwin darts in and clinches Hanma up against the cage.
Hanma blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hanma tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Botwin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Botwin looking to throw knees to the head but Hanma is blocking nicely.
Botwin connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hanma's face.
Hanma jumps guard but Botwin stands there with Hanma around his waist. Hanma gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Botwin tries to land knees in the clinch but Hanma avoids the damage to the body.
Hanma is trying to push Botwin away but Botwin has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Botwin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hanma is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Botwin jumps guard but Hanma stands there with Botwin around his waist. Botwin gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hanma is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hanma wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Botwin scores with a knee to the head.
Hanma tries to pull guard but Botwin holds him up against the cage and eventually Hanma drops back down to his feet.
Botwin connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hanma's face.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Hanma has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Botwin is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Hanma fails to pull guard.
Botwin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hanma is trying to drag Botwin to the mat but Botwin just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hanma tries to pull guard but Botwin won't allow it.
Botwin lands a nice knee to the body.
Hanma takes a knee right on the jaw!
Hanma drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Botwin gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Botwin stalls.
Hanma on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hanma jumps guard but Botwin stands there with Hanma around his waist. Hanma gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Botwin tries to pull guard but Hanma holds him up against the cage and eventually Botwin drops back down to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Baki Hanma.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Kenny Botwin!
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Kenny Botwin!
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Kenny Botwin!

Kenny Botwin wins by unanimous decision!