PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Juronen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiroshi Hatayama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hatayama has chosen Hiji Zuru Style as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Juronen
vs
Hatayama

185 cm
25
199 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

178 cm
23
192 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Evil Spirit Clothing Co. (KOF partner)

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 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joe Juronen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiroshi Hatayama!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hatayama uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Juronen.
Juronen misses with a head kick.
Hatayama tries to bum rush Juronen with a series of wild strikes but Juronen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Juronen misses with a body shot.
Hatayama uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Juronen.
Juronen takes a jab right on the kisser.
Hatayama takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Juronen throws a head kick that Hatayama semi-blocks.
Hatayama dives in and grabs Juronen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Juronen pushes down on Hatayama's head and hops out.
Hatayama shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Juronen pinned against the cage. Juronen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Juronen tries to clinch but Hatayama is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Juronen tries a head kick but it misses.
Hatayama circles away from the clinch attempt.

Juronen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Juronen lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Hatayama or not.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Juronen as Hatayama tries to tie him up.
Juronen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Juronen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hatayama backwards.
Juronen works on Hatayama's body with a couple of short punches.
Juronen digs a right hand underneath Hatayama's ribcage. Hatayama let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Hatayama wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Juronen has him pressed against the ropes.

Hatayama wants the takedown. Juronen is fighting it off but Hatayama persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Juronen's guard against the ropes.
Hatayama in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Juronen wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Hatayama manages to pass to side control.
Hatayama throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Juronen is looking to escape.
Juronen tries to get to full guard but Hatayama has control of the leg.
Hatayama missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Juronen is looking for a sweep. Hatayama is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Hatayama seems to be looking for submissions.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hatayama avoids the head kick by Juronen.
Hatayama fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Hatayama feints and then cracks Juronen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Juronen down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Juronen walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juronen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Hatayama paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Juronen throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Hatayama's head.
Joe Juronen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Juronen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Juronen is breathing heavily.
Hatayama checks a leg kick.
Hatayama misses with a body shot.
Hatayama checks a low kick from Juronen.
Hatayama throws a solid leg kick but Juronen takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Hatayama.
Juronen is looking to clinch but Hatayama is avoiding it.
Hatayama uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Juronen.
Nice takedown defense from Juronen. No joy for Hatayama on that attempt.
Joe Juronen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hiroshi Hatayama.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Hatayama throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Juronen was covering up waiting for the punch and Hatayama finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Juronen keeping moving, preventing Hatayama from controlling successfully.
Juronen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hatayama manages to get himself to full guard.

Hatayama working for a triangle but Juronen defends it easily.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Hatayama looking for a guillotine here but Juronen defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hiroshi Hatayama will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Juronen scoring well with a low kick there.
Nice takedown defense from Juronen. No joy for Hatayama on that attempt.
Hatayama pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hatayama throws a looping overhand right but Juronen ducks down to avoid it.
Hatayama misses with a hook. Juronen ducked under it nicely.
Juronen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hatayama's sensitive parts.
Hatayama keeps the fight on the outside.
Hatayama shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Juronen but Juronen pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Juronen thuds his shin into the meat of Hatayama's side.
Hatayama is breathing heavily.
Hatayama shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Juronen sprawls well. Juronen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hatayama gets slowly back to his feet.
Joe Juronen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hiroshi Hatayama.
Hatayama misses with a jab to the body
and Juronen counters with a head kick.
Joe Juronen is winning the standup battle so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Juronen fakes the leg kick and cracks Hatayama in the body.
Joe Juronen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hatayama on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Juronen. Juronen obviously looking to wear him down.
Hatayama takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Juronen throws a leg kick which misses Hatayama's front leg but catches the back leg as Hatayama tries to avoid it.
Juronen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Juronen just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Juronen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Juronen walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Hatayama checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Hatayama sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Juronen throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Hatayama keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Juronen cracks Hatayama with a good jab.
Hatayama has his takedown stuffed
and Juronen counters with an outside leg kick.
Juronen misses with the body kick

and Hatayama counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Juronen is trying to stand.
Juronen is not content to let Hatayama control the position.

Hatayama is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hatayama sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Juronen defending well though.

Hatayama is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Juronen is just riding it out for now. Hatayama eventually gives up the hold.

Hatayama is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Juronen regains full guard. Nicely done.
Juronen working a defensive guard here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Juronen moves away from the strike by Hatayama.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hatayama keeps the fight on the outside.
Hatayama lands a jab to the nose.
Juronen feints and then cracks Hatayama's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hatayama down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Juronen dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hatayama misses with an uppercut.
Juronen wants to clinch.
Juronen moves out of range as Hatayama strikes.
Juronen slips a jab from Hatayama.
Juronen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hatayama keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A low kick from Hatayama misses
and Juronen counters with a head kick.
Hatayama misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hatayama scores with a sloppy right hand. Juronen should have avoided that one.
Hatayama takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Juronen lands a high kick!
A big left from Hatayama misses.
Hatayama connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Juronen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hatayama.
Juronen throws a sloppy head kick and Hatayama moves out of range easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hatayama.
Hatayama stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Juronen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hatayama throws a big shot that misses.
Hatayama avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Juronen is looking to clinch but Hatayama is avoiding it.
Juronen throws a jab when Hatayama was well out of range.
Hatayama swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hatayama.
Hatayama throws a head kick that misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Juronen.
Juronen feints and then cracks Hatayama's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hatayama down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juronen misses with a body shot.
Juronen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Hatayama paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A low kick from Juronen is predictable there

and Hatayama decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Juronen's guard.
Hatayama wants to control from the top but Juronen keeps moving.
Juronen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hatayama is controlling him.

Hatayama drops back, looking for a kneebar! Juronen looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Juronen looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Juronen!
Hatayama can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hatayama is trying to improve his position.

Juronen decides to stand back up. Juronen steps back and let's Hatayama get back to his feet.
Hatayama bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hatayama throws a series of punches but Juronen avoids them all with ease.
Juronen doesn't manage to clinch there - Hatayama circles away.
Juronen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Joe Juronen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hiroshi Hatayama.
Hatayama throws a combination that misses
and Juronen counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Juronen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Juronen 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Juronen!