PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kazuo Hashimoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyle Van Hook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Van Hook has chosen The Cure's Close To Me as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Hashimoto
vs
Van Hook

169 cm
31
142 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

170 cm
32
139 lbs
21 - 9 - 2

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kazuo Hashimoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kyle Van Hook!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hashimoto checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Hashimoto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Van Hook.
A low kick from Hashimoto is predictable there
and Van Hook counters with a nice kick to the body.
Van Hook keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Van Hook takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Van Hook throws a push kick but Hashimoto slaps the foot to one side.
Hashimoto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Van Hook moves away.
Hashimoto works Van Hook's body with a nice hook.
Hashimoto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Van Hook.
Van Hook looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hashimoto looks to land a right hand but Van Hook moved out of range.
Hashimoto tries to bum rush Van Hook with a series of wild strikes but Van Hook uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Hook needs to keep his hands up - Hashimoto had a free shot at his head there.
Hashimoto thuds his right hand into Van Hook's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Hashimoto thuds a left hand into Van Hook's body.
Hashimoto moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Hashimoto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Van Hook manages to avoid it.
Van Hook scores with a kick to the body.
Van Hook misses with a body kick.
Van Hook misses with an attempted mid kick.
Hashimoto misses with a right hand
and Van Hook counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Hashimoto takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Hook gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Hashimoto counters with a left and a right that stings Van Hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hashimoto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Van Hook.
Van Hook throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Van Hook throws a wild body kick that Hashimoto sees coming a mile off.
Hashimoto looks to throw the jab but Van Hook is out of range.
Hashimoto connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Van Hook momentarily.
Hashimoto lands a jab.
Van Hook misses with a low kick.
Van Hook takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Hook misses with an attempted mid kick.
Van Hook avoids the body shot from Hashimoto.
Van Hook throws a half hearted mid kick.
Van Hook's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Hashimoto connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Van Hook scrambles back to his feet.
Hashimoto misses with a wild body shot.
Hashimoto's jab looks to have found its range, popping Van Hook under the eye.
Van Hook looks for the body kick but Hashimoto saw that one coming.
Hashimoto takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Hashimoto swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hashimoto throws a hook to the side of Van Hook's head but Van Hook sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hashimoto scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hashimoto misses with a body shot.
Hashimoto throws a series of punches but Van Hook moves out of range.
Hashimoto is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Hashimoto lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Van Hook thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Hashimoto if he has to take too many more of those.
Hashimoto takes a swing at Van Hook's ribcage but misses.
Hashimoto swings for the body but Van Hook moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A cross from Hashimoto lands.
Van Hook throws a leg kick but Hashimoto moved away.
Hashimoto looks to land a right hand but Van Hook moved out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuo Hashimoto dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hashimoto connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hashimoto misses with a body shot
and Van Hook counters with an inside leg kick.
Hashimoto avoids a kick to the body.
Good shot there by Hashimoto.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hashimoto. Van Hook does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hashimoto's jab looks to have found its range, popping Van Hook under the eye.
Hashimoto thows a body shot but no joy.
Hashimoto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Van Hook.
Van Hook misses with an attempted mid kick.
Van Hook thows a leg kick but Hashimoto checks it
and Hashimoto cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hashimoto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hashimoto waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Van Hook.
Hashimoto throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Van Hook is looking to land body kicks.
Hashimoto looks to land a right hand but Van Hook moved out of range.
Hashimoto blocks the body kick.
Van Hook throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hashimoto will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Hashimoto throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Van Hook throws a low kick but Hashimoto moves out of range easily.
Hashimoto tests Van Hook's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kazuo Hashimoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hashimoto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hashimoto has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Van Hook.
Jab, jab by Hashimoto - just one landing.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Van Hook in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Hashimoto throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A telegraphed right hand from Hashimoto misses the target.
Van Hook is looking to chop away at Hashimoto's legs.
Hashimoto scores with the left hand. Van Hook knows he should have avoided that one.
Hashimoto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Van Hook throws a body kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Hook takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Hashimoto takes a swing at Van Hook's ribcage but misses.
Hashimoto moves out of range of the body kick.
Hashimoto keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Van Hook has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Hashimoto scores with a jab.
Van Hook avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A swing and a miss from Hashimoto.
Van Hook takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hashimoto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Van Hook manages to avoid it.
Van Hook misses with the body kick
and Hashimoto counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hashimoto lands with a right hand.
Hashimoto misses with a body shot.
Van Hook defending well as Hashimoto loads up on a big left hand.
Van Hook throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hashimoto misses with a lunging right hand
and Van Hook counters with a nice body kick.
Hashimoto jabs Van Hook right on the nose. Van Hook blinks but takes it well.
Van Hook throws out a leg kick but Hashimoto moves out of range and Van Hook only half commits.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hashimoto moves out of range of the body kick from Van Hook.
Hashimoto throws a shot from downtown. Van Hook moves away and avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuo Hashimoto dominated that second round.
That's time! Hashimoto's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Van Hook ducks under a wild hook from Hashimoto.
Hashimoto lands with a nice body punch.
Hashimoto stuns Van Hook with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Hashimoto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hashimoto moves out of range of the body kick.
Hashimoto swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hashimoto misses the shot to the body.
Hashimoto lands a nice looking body shot.
Van Hook walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Hashimoto with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Hook avoids the body shot from Hashimoto.
Van Hook throws a body kick that misses.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Van Hook.
Kazuo Hashimoto is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice uppercut there from Hashimoto.
Van Hook takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Van Hook attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Hashimoto scores with a jab. Van Hook acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Hashimoto connects with a body shot that sends Van Hook's belly button to the back.
Van Hook throws the kick towards the body but Hashimoto avoids it.
Hashimoto connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hashimoto cracks Van Hook with a good jab.
Hashimoto misses with a straight right.
Van Hook lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hashimoto's sensitive parts.
Hashimoto looks to land a combination but Van Hook avoids it well.
Van Hook tries to land a front kick but Hashimoto steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Van Hook throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Hashimoto counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Van Hook. Hashimoto shrugs it off though.
Hashimoto lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hashimoto moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Hook tries to score with a low kick but Hashimoto moves his leg out of the way.
Van Hook on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Hashimoto takes a swing at Van Hook's ribcage but misses.
Hashimoto takes a swing at Van Hook's ribcage but misses.
Kazuo Hashimoto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hashimoto connects with a nice looking jab.
A lazy left from Hashimoto finds it's target.
Van Hook walks into a left hand.
A punch lands to the side of Van Hook 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nice body kick there by Van Hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hashimoto takes a swing at Van Hook's ribcage but misses.
Hashimoto fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Van Hook checks it well.
Hashimoto misses with a looping right.
Van Hook misses with a body kick.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Van Hook might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Hashimoto has got the better of the exchanges.
Hashimoto scores with a decent looking hook.
Van Hook avoids the body shot from Hashimoto.
Hashimoto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Van Hook manages to avoid it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A low kick from Van Hook misses
and Hashimoto counters with a straight right hand.
Hashimoto scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kyle Van Hook has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hashimoto keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazuo Hashimoto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hashimoto has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazuo Hashimoto!
Kazuo Hashimoto made sure to mention his sponsor, Vandal Fight Boutique (prices $8 - $30) in his post fight interview.