PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Diego Arteta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kato Hanzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Arteta
vs
Hanzo

179 cm
19
179 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

173 cm
19
178 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Blitzkrieg Formula 5000
Blitzkrieg Formula 5000

CROWN
Elite Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Diego Arteta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kato Hanzo!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arteta scores with a nice strike.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hanzo.
Hanzo shoots for a double leg takedown but Arteta sprawls well. He's pushed Hanzo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hanzo tries to clinch up.
Arteta wants to clinch but Hanzo slips to the side

and Hanzo holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Hanzo has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Arteta regains guard immediately.
Hanzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Arteta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Arteta is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Arteta wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Hanzo won't allow Arteta to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanzo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hanzo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Arteta is keeping the position for now.
Arteta is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hanzo is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Arteta lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hanzo!
Hanzo wants to hold on but Arteta pushes him away.
Arteta looking to control and managing it successfully.
Hanzo slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanzo missing with punches from the bottom.

Hanzo looking for submissions off his back.
Arteta tries to stand but can't do so whilst Hanzo controls his leg.

Hanzo looking for submissions off his back.
Hanzo wants to control but Arteta is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arteta takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Hanzo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Arteta controlling the action here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Arteta swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hanzo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Arteta.

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.

Hanzo moves into range and clinches up with Arteta.
Hanzo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Arteta is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Diego Arteta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kato Hanzo.
Arteta wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hanzo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Arteta pulls his leg out and moves away.
Arteta looks to land a right hand but Hanzo moved out of range.
Hanzo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Arteta.
Arteta looks to clinch

and Hanzo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Arteta's guard.
Hanzo lands a couple of elbows.
Arteta avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hanzo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Arteta swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Arteta avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kato Hanzo will probably get the nod.
That's time! Arteta's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hanzo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Arteta.

Arteta takes the fight into the clinch.
Hanzo tries to pull guard but Arteta won't allow it.
Arteta gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hanzo.

Hanzo is trying to trip Arteta. He has hold of a leg but Arteta is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Hanzo persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Hanzo sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hanzo stops Arteta from standing up.
Arteta trying to keep a closed guard but Hanzo is proving a slippery customer.
Hanzo passes Arteta's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanzo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Arteta does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Arteta avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hanzo.
Hanzo blocks the strikes from Arteta.
Arteta wants to control but Hanzo is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hanzo tries to clinch but Arteta moves out of range.
Arteta misses with an uppercut. Hanzo saw that one coming.
Some wild striking there from Arteta.

Arteta clinches up with Hanzo and pushes him back against the cage.
Arteta is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hanzo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Arteta is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Diego Arteta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kato Hanzo.
Hanzo keeps control of Arteta as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Arteta breaks the clinch.
Kato Hanzo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Arteta closes the distance but Hanzo moves to the side

and Hanzo counters with a single leg into guard. Arteta didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanzo looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Arteta keeping moving, preventing Hanzo from controlling successfully.
Arteta trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanzo works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Hanzo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Arteta is trying to maintain the position but Hanzo is very close to passing his half guard.
Hanzo is looking to take a break and control but Arteta is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Arteta tries to clinch up

and Hanzo moves into the clinch.
Arteta wants to break the clinch but can't.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hanzo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hanzo wants a takedown but no success here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Arteta is trying to break the clinch but Hanzo has him pressed against the cage.
Arteta is trying to break the clinch but Hanzo has him pressed against the cage.
Hanzo wants a takedown.
Arteta is trying to break free.
Hanzo has Arteta pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Arteta manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hanzo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hanzo lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Arteta backwards.
Hanzo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Arteta is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hanzo is breathing heavily.

Arteta breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Arteta swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Hanzo.
Arteta with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Arteta wants to clinch

and Hanzo moves into the clinch.
Arteta can't break the clinch.
Arteta has had enough of the clinch but Hanzo keeps him there for the moment.
Hanzo is working for takedown but Arteta is calmly controlling the position for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Arteta is looking to break free of the clinch but Hanzo has double underhooks.

Arteta pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Arteta throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hanzo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Diego Arteta will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hanzo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Arteta tries to score with a low kick but Hanzo moves his leg out of the way.
Hanzo wants to clinch up but Arteta keeps it at a distance.
Arteta cracks Hanzo with an uppercut from hell and Hanzo crumples to the canvas, he's out! Oh no, he's recovered and he's grabbed one of Arteta's legs and pulled him into guard. The ref thought about stopping it there but he's let it go - good reffing!

Hanzo is rocked!
Arteta sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Arteta has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Arteta gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Hanzo clinches up against the cage.
Arteta has had enough of the clinch but Hanzo keeps him there for the moment.
Arteta can't break the clinch.
Arteta wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Arteta wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Arteta is trying to break the clinch but Hanzo has him pressed against the cage.

Arteta's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanzo checks the leg kick nicely there.
Arteta just misses with a punch to the body.
Hanzo tries to clinch but Arteta moves out of range.
Arteta tries to clinch but Hanzo moves away
and Hanzo counters with a left to the body.

Hanzo moves into range and clinches up with Arteta.
Arteta wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hanzo fails to pull guard.
Hanzo wants a takedown but no success here.
Hanzo stalls.
Hanzo is trying to drag Arteta to the mat but Arteta just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Diego Arteta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kato Hanzo.
Hanzo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Arteta wants to break the clinch but can't.
Arteta is trying to break the clinch but Hanzo has him pressed against the cage.
Hanzo prevents Arteta from breaking the clinch.
Hanzo tries to stall but Arteta uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Hanzo prevents Arteta from breaking the clinch.
Hanzo is trying to drag Arteta to the mat but Arteta just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arteta is pressed up against the cage. Hanzo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Arteta down to the mat. Arteta avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Arteta looks to clinch

and Hanzo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Arteta's guard.
Arteta wants to stand up but Hanzo is controlling him.
Hanzo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Arteta is keeping the position for now.
Hanzo forces his way into half guard.
Arteta is trying to stand up here but Hanzo is controlling him well.
Hanzo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanzo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Arteta does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hanzo passes to side control.
Hanzo trying to control the position but Arteta is working away.
Arteta is trying to buck Hanzo off.
Hanzo trying to control the action but Arteta is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Arteta looks to land a left hand but Hanzo moved out of range nicely.
Arteta getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Arteta rushes Hanzo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hanzo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Arteta is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hanzo scores with a shoulder strike.
Hanzo has Arteta pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Arteta manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hanzo throws a punch but it's blocked by Arteta.
Arteta is trying to break free.

Arteta manages to break the clinch.
Arteta connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Arteta misses with an uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hanzo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Arteta has Hanzo pulled in close to control his posture.

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 Diego Arteta.
I think Arteta has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Diego Arteta!