PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Baki Hanma (ranked 2858 p4p, 2170 weight class) and Kuroda Atsushi (ranked 154 p4p, 118 weight class). Hanma comes to the cage accompanied by B-Complex - Beautiful Lies. Baki Hanma has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Hanma
vs
Atsushi

175 cm
24
145
7 - 8 - 0

150 cm
24
136
4 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

PWNAGEâ„¢
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 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Baki Hanma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kuroda Atsushi!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, David Schapiro and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hanma throws a body punch but Atsushi moves out of range.
Hanma throws a hook but Atsushi avoids it easily.
Atsushi lands with a straight right. Hanma didn't see that one coming.
A leg kick checked by Hanma.
Hanma connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Baki Hanma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Atsushi throws the left hand but Hanma avoids the punch easily.
Hanma misses with a hook. Atsushi ducked under it nicely.
Hanma dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hanma throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Atsushi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hanma misses with a hook.
Hanma throws a jab when Atsushi was well out of range.
Atsushi scores with a leg kick.
Hanma tests Atsushi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
That kick from Atsushi tenderised Hanma's leg. Hanma is trying to keep his angry face on.
Hanma lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hanma misses with a body shot.
Atsushi with a nice calf kick.
Hanma misses with a body shot
and Atsushi counters with a stiff right hand.
Atsushi with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hanma to score with a decent uppercut.
Atsushi ducks under a wild hook from Hanma.
Hanma rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Atsushi counters with a body kick that stops Hanma in his tracks momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Hanma misses
and Atsushi counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Baki Hanma has been cut.
Jab from Atsushi.
Baki Hanma is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice defenses there by Hanma.
Atsushi lands with a straight right. Hanma didn't see that one coming.

Atsushi closes the distance and clinches.
Atsushi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hanmas head.

Atsushi lands a takedown into guard.
Atsushi trying to control the position from guard on top but Hanma is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Atsushi passes Hanma's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hanma is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hanma manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Atsushi with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Atsushi looking to pass the guard.
Atsushi is still trying to improve position.

Hanma had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Atsushi defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atsushi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hanma is keeping the position for now.
Hanma trying to control the position.
Atsushi sitting in guard here, content to control.
It looks like Atsushi might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Hanma keeping moving, preventing Atsushi from controlling successfully.
Atsushi working some strikes from top position.
Hanma keeping moving, preventing Atsushi from controlling successfully.
Atsushi controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hanma pulls Atsushi in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanma trying to control the position.
Hanma wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Atsushi is now in half guard.
Atsushi trying to control the action but Hanma is working from the bottom.
Atsushi is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Atsushi is trying to control the action in half guard but Hanma is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hanma has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Atsushi is working away from the top position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Atsushi is trying to control the action in half guard but Hanma is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Atsushi is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Atsushi is nestled in close to Hanma, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Atsushi slips a nice elbow through Hanma's hands, connecting with Hanma's forehead.
Atsushi landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hanma trying to control here.
Hanma on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Atsushi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Atsushi working Hanma over with strikes.
Atsushi not doing much here.
Atsushi trying to control from half guard but Hanma is working away.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Atsushi connects with a nice short shot to Hanma's temple.
Hanma trying to control from the bottom.
Hanma taking some punishment here, with Atsushi in his half guard.

Atsushi is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hanma wants to control but Atsushi is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kuroda Atsushi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Baki Hanma's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Atsushi catches Hanma with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Atsushi ducks under a wild hook from Hanma.
Hanma throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Atsushi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hanma misses with an uppercut.
Atsushi only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Atsushi shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A left lands for Hanma.
Atsushi ducks under a wild hook from Hanma.
Atsushi tries to clinch up but Hanma circles away and keeps his distance.
Atsushi loads up on a big right hand but Hanma slips the punch.
A little feinted left hand from Hanma on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Atsushi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hanma looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A jab from Atsushi misses.
Hanma lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kuroda Atsushi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hanma walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Hanma throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Atsushi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Atsushi connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hanma. Hanma circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Atsushi needs to keep his hands up - Hanma had a free shot at his head there.
Hanma moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Hanma misses with a straight right.
Hanma looks to land a right hand but Atsushi moved out of range.
Atsushi takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atsushi bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Atsushi loads up on a big right hand but Hanma slips the punch.
Hanma lands a jab to the head.
Hanma fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Atsushi manages to avoid it.
Hanma misses the body punch
and Atsushi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hanma scores with a jab. Atsushi acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Hanma throws out a loose jab but Atsushi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hanma has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Atsushi finds it's way round the side to connect with Hanma's head.
Hanma misses with a left hand
and Atsushi counters with a straight right hand.
Hanma missing with a left hand there. Atsushi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nice uppercut there from Hanma.
Hanma misses with a hook. Atsushi ducked under it nicely.
Despite the aggression on Atsushi's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Atsushi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hanma looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Atsushi creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Hanma taking a bit of punishment here - Atsushi scoring with strikes.
Atsushi working the ground and pound.
Atsushi is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Atsushi lands a few punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Hanma's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Atsushi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Atsushi working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Hanma is trying to control Atsushi's posture but Atsushi avoids it.
Hanma is trying to improve his position.
Hanma tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Atsushi easily slips into full mount!
Hanma tries to hold on but Atsushi postures up.
Hanma is in a horrible position here. Atsushi smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Atsushi working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Atsushi lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanma tries to hold on but Atsushi pushes him away.
Hanma is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hanma is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Atsushi landing strikes, looking to finish!
Hanma wants to control but Atsushi is having none of it.
Atsushi looking to finish Hanma with some ground and pound. This is bad for Hanma!
Hanma tries to hold on but Atsushi postures up.
Atsushi looking to control but Hanma is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kuroda Atsushi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Atsushi lands a couple of good shots and Hanma has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Atsushi connects with a big shot to the side of Hanma's head.

Hanma is rocked!
Atsushi wants to control but Hanma is keeping busy.
Well, with Atsushi on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Hanma is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Hanma just trying to survive but Atsushi is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Hanma can't escape the position.
Atsushi scores with punches and elbows.
Oh Hanma is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
I would not like to be Hanma right now.

Atsushi looking for the RNC.
Hanma seems to have got his legs back now.

Atsushi patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Atsushi connects with a big shot to the side of Hanma's head.
Atsushi gets his hands free as Hanma looks to control.
Atsushi connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Hanma to escape the position.
Hanma tries to escape but Atsushi has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Hanma trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Atsushi is persistently looking for the submission but Hanma is defending it well.
Hanma is really stuck here.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hanma trying to control but not successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kuroda Atsushi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Baki Hanma's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hanma throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Atsushi counters with a stiff right hand.
A swing and a miss from Hanma.
Hanma defending well as Atsushi loads up on a big left hand.
Hanma throws an overhand right that lands on Atsushi's shoulder, as Atsushi tries to avoid the shot.
Atsushi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hanma.
Donk. Atsushi catches Hanma right on the button with a cross.
Hanma throws a jab but it's blocked by Atsushi.
Atsushi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hanma stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A big right from Hanma misses.
Hanma scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hanma on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A big right from Hanma misses.
Hanma misses with a looping left.
Hanma throws a big shot that misses.
A little jabbing left from Atsushi on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hanma misses the shot to the body.
Hanma swings widly with a right hand
and Hanma takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Atsushi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hanma on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Atsushi lands a really nice looking cross but Hanma seems unphased.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Atsushi.
Atsushi scores with a jab. Hanma acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Atsushi slips a straight right by Hanma.
Hanma looks to score with a jab to the body but Atsushi is just out of range.
Atsushi swinging wildly here.
A big left from Hanma misses.
Atsushi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Atsushi.
Hanma fails with an attempt to clinch.
A jab from Hanma misses.

Hanma forces Atsushi back against the cage and clinches.
Hanma lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hanma misses with some punches.
Atsushi blocks a body shot from Hanma.
Hanma swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hanma goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Atsushi has picked Hanma up - he's going for a ride! Atsushi dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hanma is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Atsushi pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanma is concentrating on defense, preventing Atsushi from advancing position.
Hanma is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Atsushi stalling.
Hanma trying to control but Atsushi postures up.

Atsushi is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hanma defends it well.

Hanma looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hanma trying to control from the bottom.
Atsushi is taking a breather. Hanma says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanma is trying to control but can't.

Atsushi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Atsushi is controlling the pace.
Atsushi is looking to take a break and control but Hanma is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Atsushi looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Atsushi is looking to advance position but Hanma won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Atsushi passes the guard and advances to mount!
Hanma tries to hold on but Atsushi postures up.
Kuroda Atsushi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Atsushi controlling the pace for now.
Hanma is working to get back to half guard.
Atsushi with the ground and pound from mount.

Atsushi looking for a guillotine from mount but Hanma is having none of it.
Atsushi raining down hammerfists from mount.
Atsushi controlling the position easily from mount.
Atsushi avoids the attempt from Hanma to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kuroda Atsushi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Atsushi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kuroda Atsushi!
Kuroda Atsushi decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.