PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kaoru Hanayama (ranked 5584 p4p, 3488 weight class) and Umar Khattab (ranked 482 p4p, 373 weight class). Hanayama comes to the cage accompanied by I Want To Break Free. Kaoru Hanayama has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Hanayama
vs
Khattab

189 cm
22
190
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
21
192
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kaoru Hanayama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Umar Khattab!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Chad Campbell and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Khattab gets a takedown into half guard.
Hanayama has hold of Khattab's hands but Khattab slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nice strikes from Khattab there.
Hanayama definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Nice strikes from Khattab there.
Hanayama is looking to improve his position.
Khattab looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Khattab working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Hanayama's thigh. Hanayama counters though and makes it back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khattab trying to control but Hanayama is working from the bottom.
Khattab works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Khattab lands a nice short elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hanayama won't allow Khattab to pass to mount.
Hanayama is not content to let Khattab control the position.
Khattab missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Khattab lands a nice short elbow.
Khattab looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hanayama with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Khattab has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at London MMA Club. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Khattab throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Khattab tries to pass to full mount but Hanayama defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Khattab lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Khattab lands a nice short elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khattab passes to side control.
Hanayama struggling a bit here.
Khattab creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Khattab scoring with punches from side control.
Hanayama is not content to let Khattab control the position.
Khattab looks up at the clock and then as Hanayama takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Khattab smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Hanayama is rocked!
Hanayama on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Khattab working the body and head with strikes.
Oh Hanayama is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Khattab crunches a massive hammerfist down on Hanayama - he's out! Khattab Holds back on further strikes and jumps to his feet to celebrate with the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Umar Khattab!