PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Takeshi Hashimoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rock Chuck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hashimoto comes to the cage accompanied by Tomoki Hasegawa - Lemon Song. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Rock Chuck enters the cage!

Hashimoto
vs
Chuck

158 cm
23
142 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

173 cm
23
149 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Powerful

Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Takeshi Hashimoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rock Chuck!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chuck falls off balance throwing a combination

and Hashimoto counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hashimoto keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Hashimoto throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hashimoto is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Chuck preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Hashimoto prevents Chuck from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hashimoto controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chuck wants to get back to full guard.
Hashimoto stalling.
Chuck trying to control but Hashimoto postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Chuck swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Hashimoto decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Chuck's guard.
Hashimoto stays in close to Chuck's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hashimoto's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Chuck has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Hashimoto has passed into side control.
Hashimoto tries to stand but Chuck is controlling his head.
Chuck is not content to let Hashimoto control the position.
Chuck is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hashimoto working away.
Chuck is trying to escape the position but Hashimoto is controlling the position.
Hashimoto misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Hashimoto remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Hashimoto landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

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.
Chuck tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hashimoto in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
I wouldn't like to be where Chuck is right now.
Hashimoto landing a few strikes.
Chuck tries to improve position but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A control attempt from Chuck but he's now mounted!
Chuck is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takeshi 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 gets caught napping as Chuck dives in and scores a takedown. Hashimoto manages to retain guard.
Chuck working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hashimoto is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Chuck working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Chuck wants to control from the top but Hashimoto keeps moving.
Takeshi Hashimoto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Chuck throws an elbow that misses. Hashimoto uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Chuck's guard. Nice move by Hashimoto!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hashimoto wanted to stand there but Chuck had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chuck is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Chuck seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Chuck is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Hashimoto as he works his way to full guard.
Chuck wants to control from the top but Hashimoto keeps moving.
Hashimoto not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hashimoto is pulling down on Chuck's head. It's preventing any offense from Chuck, at least for the moment.
Hashimoto keeping moving, preventing Chuck from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chuck might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hashimoto haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Hashimoto might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hashimoto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hashimoto pulls Chuck in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hashimoto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Chuck.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Chuck misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hashimoto feinted with a counter takedown.

Hashimoto shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Hashimoto was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Chuck is looking to reverse the position.
Hashimoto working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hashimoto is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Chuck will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Chuck tries to buck Hashimoto off but Hashimoto is having none of it.
Chuck looking for a sweep but Hashimoto has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Chuck gets back to half guard.
Hashimoto not doing much here.
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 Takeshi Hashimoto will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Hashimoto blocks a head kick by Chuck.
Hashimoto moves forwards but Chuck connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Chuck moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A jab from Chuck finds it's way through Hashimoto's defenses.
Hashimoto blocks a head kick by Chuck.
Hashimoto changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Chuck throws a sloppy head kick

and Hashimoto counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hashimoto wants to stand but Chuck has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Hashimoto seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hashimoto would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hashimoto is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Chuck looking for a sweep. Not yet Chuck, not yet.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hashimoto is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Chuck can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Chuck looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Hashimoto puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Hashimoto trying to control from half guard but Chuck is working away.
Hashimoto slows the pace down in half guard.
Chuck is looking to improve his position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rock Chuck has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chuck throws the left hand but Hashimoto avoids the punch easily.
Chuck shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hashimoto fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Chuck sprawls well initially but Hashimoto persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Chuck tries to roll over but Hashimoto keeps him under control.
Chuck is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hashimoto's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hashimoto's back!

Chuck is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Hashimoto is defending well though. Chuck let's go of the attempt for now.
Chuck struggling to land strikes to the head as Hashimoto covers up.
Chuck struggling to land strikes to the head as Hashimoto covers up.

Chuck is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Hashimoto has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hashimoto fending off the submission attempt from Chuck.
Chuck somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Chuck avoiding Hashimoto 's attempts to control his hands.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hashimoto rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rock Chuck.
I think Hashimoto 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takeshi Hashimoto!