PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ace Popo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Hayabusa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Popo comes to the cage accompanied by Murder To Excellence. Hayabusa has chosen Viper! as his entrance music. Akira Hayabusa has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Popo
vs
Hayabusa

168 cm
25
157 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

167 cm
20
165 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
KO power

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ace Popo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Hayabusa!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Matheus Silva and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hayabusa feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hayabusa won't allow Popo to sweep him here.
Popo trying to keep a closed guard but Hayabusa is proving a slippery customer.
Popo wants to sweep but no luck.

Popo scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Hayabusa jabs Popo right on the nose. Popo blinks but takes it well.
Hayabusa lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Popo at a distance.
Hayabusa connects with a good right hand that stumbles Popo. Popo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Popo shoots in for a double leg but Hayabusa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Hayabusa shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Popo manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hayabusa wants to pass the guard but Popo is keeping the position.

Popo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hayabusa can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hayabusa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Popo is keeping the position for now.
Popo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Hayabusa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Popo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hayabusa has managed to get both his arms back between Popo's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hayabusa tries to stand but Popo is controlling from the bottom.
Hayabusa slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Hayabusa tries to move into full mount but can't pass Popo's legs.

Hayabusa is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Popo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hayabusa's best efforts.
Popo wants to improve his position but Hayabusa is controlling well.
Hayabusa is keen to just control but Popo is a slippery customer.

Popo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Popo is trying to control but Hayabusa passes into side control!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
You can see the frustration on Popo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popo is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hayabusa off and has taken his back!
Popo not allowing Hayabusa to control his hands.

Popo patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Hayabusa breaks Popo's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Popo looking to control.
Hayabusa wants to pass the guard but Popo is keeping the position.
Popo controls Hayabusa momentarily but Hayabusa frees himself.
Hayabusa wants to pass the guard but Popo is keeping the position.
Hayabusa wanted to stand there but Popo had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hayabusa wants to control from the top but Popo keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hayabusa misses with a hook.

Popo shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hayabusa napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Hayabusa tries to improve position but can't.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hayabusa can't do much from the bottom here.
Hayabusa might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Popo kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hayabusa is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Popo off and has taken his back!
Popo manages to reverse the position and now he's in Hayabusa's guard. Nice work there by Popo.
Hayabusa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Popo is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Hayabusa dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Popo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hayabusa tries to avoid it but Popo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hayabusa to the ground. Hayabusa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hayabusa connects with a nice looking jab.
Hayabusa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hayabusa wants it to stay on the feet.

Popo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hayabusa was covering up waiting for the punch and Popo finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Popo content to stall in guard here.
Popo trying to control but Hayabusa is working from the bottom.
Hayabusa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Popo.

Hayabusa is looking for a triangle but Popo pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hayabusa wants to sweep here but Popo controlling him for the moment.

Popo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Hayabusa wriggles free and stands up.
Hayabusa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Popo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ace Popo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Popo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hayabusa sprawls well. Hayabusa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Popo gets slowly back to his feet.
Hayabusa looks to land a combination. Popo sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayabusa fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice body punch from Hayabusa.
Hayabusa scores with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A jab from Hayabusa finds it's way through Popo's defenses.
Hayabusa loads up on a big right hand but Popo slips the punch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hayabusa. Popo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Popo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hayabusa tries to avoid it but Popo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hayabusa to the ground. Hayabusa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Popo avoids the body shot from Hayabusa.
Hayabusa works Popo's body with a nice hook.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jab by Hayabusa.
Some wild striking there from Hayabusa.
Akira Hayabusa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayabusa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Popo but Popo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Popo shoots in but no luck this time.
Popo on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Popo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hayabusa stalks Popo and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Popo's face. Popo staggers backwards, shaken.
Hayabusa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hayabusa misses with a jab, cross combination.

Popo shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Popo was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Popo prevents Hayabusa from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Popo punishing his opponent with strikes.
Hayabusa manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Hayabusa wants to get back to full guard.
Popo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hayabusa with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Akira Hayabusa has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Popo thows a huge punch but Hayabusa dodges it nicely.
Popo thows a huge punch but Hayabusa dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Hayabusa 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 eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Popo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hayabusa is fending him off so far but Popo persists. Nope, Hayabusa circles away and we're back to standing.
Hayabusa misses with a left hand

and Popo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hayabusa!

Popo wants to finish this one by submission but Hayabusa is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Popo.
Hayabusa tries to lock up and control but Popo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hayabusa blocking the ground and pound.
Hayabusa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hayabusa is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Popo breaks from Hayabusa's wrist control and lands an elbow.
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!
Popo landing strikes from the mount.
Hayabusa is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popo has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Hayabusa's face.
Popo working Hayabusa over with strikes here.

Hayabusa is rocked!
Popo avoids the attempt from Hayabusa to control.
Hayabusa is still in real trouble! Can Popo finish him?
Hayabusa regains half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Popo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hayabusa defends it well.
Popo lands with a punch from half guard.

Popo decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
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!
Popo shoots in looking for a takedown but Hayabusa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Popo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Popo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hayabusa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ace Popo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hayabusa loads up on a big right hand but Popo slips the punch.
Nice sprawl there from Hayabusa as Popo shoots in.
Popo slips a straight right by Hayabusa.
Hayabusa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Popo shoots in but no luck this time.
Hayabusa seems to have recovered his senses.
Popo drops his hands momentarily and Hayabusa takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Popo leaves Hayabusa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Hayabusa is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Popo's half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hayabusa is working for a submission of some sort.
Popo is looking for a sweep. Hayabusa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Popo is trying to maintain the position but Hayabusa is very close to passing his half guard.
Hayabusa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Popo is trying to maintain the position but Hayabusa is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayabusa trying to control from half guard but Popo is working away.

Hayabusa is working for a kimura but Popo is defending it quite comfortably.
Popo is looking for a sweep. Hayabusa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hayabusa uses his free foot to push down on Popo's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Popo.
Popo tries to hold on but Hayabusa pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hayabusa wants to control the pace but Popo is squirming around nicely.
Hayabusa works his way to his opponent's back.

Popo defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Hayabusa's arms.
Hayabusa has good solid back control here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Popo rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

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 Ace Popo.
I think Hayabusa 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akira Hayabusa!
Akira Hayabusa decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.