PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Fantinaz Del Norte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Uruhara Hatake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Del Norte comes to the cage accompanied by La Coka Nostra - Malverde Market. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Del Norte
vs
Hatake

165 cm
34
138 lbs
18 - 8 - 1

175 cm
32
145 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)
Hellbent

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 18 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fantinaz Del Norte!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Uruhara Hatake!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Tiny Johnson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Del Norte throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hatake is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Del Norte avoids the head kick by Hatake.
Del Norte misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hatake.
Del Norte scores with a body shot.
Del Norte missing with a left hand there. Hatake was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Del Norte fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hatake sprawls well initially but Del Norte persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hatake is trying to stand back up but Del Norte is controlling him

Del Norte is looking for a kimura but Hatake is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Del Norte to get the leverage.
Hatake has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Del Norte is thwarting Hatake's attempts to control the position.

Del Norte is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Del Norte is thwarting Hatake's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Del Norte wants to work for an arm triangle but Hatake is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Del Norte tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hatake knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hatake wants to improve his position but Del Norte is controlling well.
Hatake won't allow Del Norte to pass to mount.
Hatake wants to sweep but Del Norte has passed to side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Del Norte goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hatake has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Del Norte but great work by Hatake.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hatake laying and praying for a moment but Del Norte takes advantage and regains half guard.

Del Norte actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hatake trying to control the action but Del Norte is working from the bottom.
Del Norte is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Del Norte wants to control but Hatake is keeping busy.

Del Norte actively working from the bottom here.

Del Norte looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Hatake looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Del Norte looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Del Norte avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hatake.

Hatake is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Del Norte sees it coming and defends easily.
Del Norte blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hatake.
Del Norte tries to get to full guard but Hatake has control of the leg.
Del Norte gets full guard.

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.

Del Norte looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Del Norte working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hatake doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hatake manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Del Norte escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hatake gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Hatake stands up and waves to Del Norte to follow him.
Fantinaz Del Norte seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Del Norte swats away the attempt to clinch by Hatake.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hatake looking to score a takedown here. Del Norte is defending well but Hatake drives through and ends up in Del Norte's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fantinaz Del Norte dominated that round.
That's time! Del Norte's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Del Norte misses with a straight right.
Hatake pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Del Norte fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hatake to the ground. Del Norte is now in Hatake's guard.
Hatake keeping moving, preventing Del Norte from controlling successfully.
Del Norte advances to half guard.
Hatake is looking to control Del Norte's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hatake avoid being mounted?
Del Norte wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hatake keeps working.

Del Norte is looking for a kimura but Hatake is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Del Norte to get the leverage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hatake is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Del Norte pulls his head out easily.
Hatake tries to kick Del Norte off but Del Norte keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hatake is defending against the submission attempts here by Del Norte.

Del Norte seems to be looking for submissions.

Del Norte seems to be working for a kimura but Hatake defends the submission attempt.

Del Norte is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Del Norte is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Del Norte is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hatake slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Hatake has his foot on Del Norte's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Del Norte works his way back into a safe position though.

Del Norte got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hatake has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Del Norte has managed to get both his arms back between Hatake's legs - danger averted.

Del Norte drops back, looking for a kneebar! Hatake looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Hatake looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Hatake!

Hatake throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Del Norte manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Del Norte moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Del Norte is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hatake tries to free his leg and advance position but Del Norte is retaining full guard.
Del Norte tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Del Norte looking for a guillotine here but Hatake defends easily.
Hatake is looking to work some ground and pound but Del Norte has wrist control.
Hatake with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hatake trying to control but Del Norte is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hatake wanted to stand there but Del Norte had control of the position.
Hatake with a nice head shot there.
Hatake postures up and lands a big shot to Del Norte's brow.

Del Norte is looking for a triangle here but Hatake uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Hatake landing strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Del Norte tries to buck Hatake off but Hatake is having none of it.
Del Norte is working to avoid the ground and pound but Hatake connects with a decent elbow.

Del Norte is rocked!

Hatake is trying to get an arm triangle but Del Norte is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Uruhara Hatake will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Del Norte misses with a body shot.
Del Norte thuds a left hand into Hatake's body.
Del Norte closes the distance and clinches up with Hatake, looking for a takedown. Del Norte pushes Hatake against the cage but Hatake circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Del Norte will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Del Norte tries for a takedown but Hatake sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Del Norte takes a swing at Hatake's ribcage but misses.
Hatake lands with a right and another and another! Del Norte is in big trouble! Hatake lands again and this time it's lights out for Del Norte! A quality knockout there for Hatake.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Uruhara Hatake!
Uruhara Hatake decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.