PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shuuji Hanamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mieszko Szczygiel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hanamoto comes to the cage accompanied by Am I Evil?. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hanamoto
vs
Szczygiel

186 cm
29
194 lbs
20 - 15 - 0

175 cm
30
192 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shuuji Hanamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mieszko Szczygiel!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Ren Mimura and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Szczygiel has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Hanamoto has closed the distance and engaged Szczygiel in a clinch.

Hanamoto ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hanamoto no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Szczygiel is pushing down on Hanamoto's leg trying to pass to half guard. Hanamoto is fighting to maintain full guard but Szczygiel has managed to sneak the leg through.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Szczygiel takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Hanamoto tries to roll over but Szczygiel keeps him under control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Szczygiel slows the pace down in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hanamoto is trying to get back to full guard.
Szczygiel not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Szczygiel throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Szczygiel trying to control the action but Hanamoto is working from the bottom.
Szczygiel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Szczygiel lands strikes from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szczygiel is keen to just control but Hanamoto is a slippery customer.

Hanamoto looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Szczygiel prevents Hanamoto from improving his position.
Szczygiel trying to control from half guard but Hanamoto is working away.
Hanamoto is trying to get back to full guard.
Hanamoto moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hanamoto throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Hanamoto manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Szczygiel is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanamoto wants to control the pace but Szczygiel is squirming around nicely.
Hanamoto is looking to stand but Hanamoto has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Szczygiel tries to reverse the position but Hanamoto maintains control.
Szczygiel prevents Hanamoto from taking his back.
Hanamoto wants to control the pace but Szczygiel is squirming around nicely.
Szczygiel slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hanamoto looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hanamoto will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hanamoto works his way into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hanamoto is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Szczygiel is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Szczygiel is trying to get back to half guard.
Hanamoto is looking to take a break and control but Szczygiel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Szczygiel is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hanamoto's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Hanamoto moves into full mount! Szczygiel won't be happy about that!
Szczygiel tries to lock up and control but Hanamoto gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hanamoto tries to control but Szczygiel wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szczygiel tries to lock up and control but Hanamoto gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hanamoto seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Szczygiel is holding on tight.
Hanamoto working Szczygiel over with strikes here.
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!
Szczygiel is in all sorts of trouble here.

Hanamoto goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Szczygiel turns into him and now he's in Hanamoto's guard.
Hanamoto wants to sweep but no luck.

Hanamoto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Szczygiel gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Szczygiel looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Hanamoto wants to sweep here but Szczygiel controlling him for the moment.
Hanamoto is working hard here to advance position.
Hanamoto keeping full guard, as Szczygiel tries to pass.
Szczygiel won't allow Hanamoto to sweep him here.
Szczygiel stands up over Hanamoto, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hanamoto manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Szczygiel has given up his back.

Szczygiel is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Hanamoto is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Szczygiel has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Szczygiel holding both Hanamoto 's hands and preventing any damage.
Szczygiel trying to control the hands but Hanamoto breaks the grip.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hanamoto is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Szczygiel is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 7:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Shuuji Hanamoto!
Shuuji Hanamoto decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.