PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Uruhara Hatake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Birigiz Ignatiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hatake
vs
Ignatiev

175 cm
32
145 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

160 cm
31
145 lbs
21 - 10 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Uruhara Hatake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Birigiz Ignatiev!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Gwen Towbar and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hatake goes for a double leg but Ignatiev avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ignatiev continues to drive forward.
With the fighters up against the cage, Ignatiev throws an elbow but misses.
Ignatiev has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hatake avoiding damage as Ignatiev throws knees to the body.
Hatake is trying to break the clinch but Ignatiev has him pressed against the cage.
Ignatiev wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hatake jumps guard but Ignatiev stands there with Hatake around his waist. Hatake gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ignatiev working hard to break the clinch.
Ignatiev avoiding damage as Hatake throws knees to the body.
Hatake wants to take the fight to the mat but Ignatiev manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Uruhara Hatake. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ignatiev is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Ignatiev breaks from the clinch.
Ignatiev throws a sloppy head kick
and Hatake counters with a right hand to the body.
A slapping body kick lands there for Ignatiev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ignatiev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick by Ignatiev misses
and Hatake finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Ignatiev checks a leg kick nicely.
Ignatiev throws a head kick but Hatake moves out of range.
Ignatiev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ignatiev tries a head kick but it misses.
Ignatiev tries a head kick but it misses.
Hatake shoots in for a takedown but Ignatiev shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ignatiev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick misses from Hatake.
A head kick misses from Ignatiev.
Birigiz Ignatiev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hatake tries to clinch but Ignatiev is having none of it.
Ignatiev tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ignatiev throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Birigiz Ignatiev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ignatiev throws a sloppy head kick and Hatake moves out of range easily.
Ignatiev throws a sloppy head kick and Hatake moves out of range easily.
Hatake is looking to land body kicks.
Ignatiev throws a lazy head kick
and Hatake counters with an outside leg kick.
Ignatiev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ignatiev throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Hatake feints and as Ignatiev raises his hands in defense, Hatake changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hatake trying to control the position from guard on top but Ignatiev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hatake is really struggling to control Ignatiev but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Hatake postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ignatiev avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hatake postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ignatiev wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Hatake manages to pass to side control.
Hatake wants to free his trapped foot but Ignatiev is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Hatake thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ignatiev's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ignatiev is looking to escape.
Hatake tries to pass to full mount but Ignatiev defends it.
Hatake will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ignatiev is trying to stand up here but Hatake is controlling him well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd cheers as Ignatiev lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hatake doesn't seem phased though.
Ignatiev lands with a slapping head kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hatake, as that shot connected.

It looks like Birigiz Ignatiev has been cut.
Hatake ducks right into an uppercut from Ignatiev.
Hatake takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ignatiev throws a head kick but Hatake moves out of range.
Hatake swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A head kick by Ignatiev misses

and Hatake counters with a head kick that drops Ignatiev to the mat! Ignatiev scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

Ignatiev is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Birigiz Ignatiev will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Birigiz Ignatiev's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ignatiev lands an overhand right.
Ignatiev is still on wobbly legs! Can Hatake finish him?

Hatake shoots in and bounces Ignatiev off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hatake postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hatake throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ignatiev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Hatake gets to his feet - Ignatiev follows without any prompting.
Ignatiev throws a right hand that Hatake ducks under and follows up with a left that Hatake also avoids with ease.
Ignatiev seems to have recovered his senses.
Ignatiev throws a sloppy head kick and Hatake moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Decent striking displayed by Hatake there.
Hatake takes a kick to the side of the head.
Ignatiev scores with a jab to the head.
Uruhara Hatake is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hatake blocks a head kick by Ignatiev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ignatiev throws a sloppy head kick
and as Ignatiev loses concentration momentarily, Hatake counters with a picture perfect head kick! Ignatiev goes down, out cold! The referee rushed in to check on his condition - I'm sure he'll be ok but that was a massive knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:06 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Uruhara Hatake!
During a confident post fight interview, Uruhara Hatake thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.