PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shuuji Hanamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabricio dos Nikkos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Fabricio dos Nikkos was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Hanamoto
vs
dos Nikkos

186 cm
23
195 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

185 cm
26
190 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shuuji Hanamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fabricio dos Nikkos!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hanamoto.
Hanamoto connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused dos Nikkos some visible discomfort.

Hanamoto tries for a kimura but dos Nikkos is defending well.
Hanamoto throws a strike aimed at the side of dos Nikkos's head but dos Nikkos avoids it well.
Hanamoto scoring with punches from side control.
Hanamoto throws a strike aimed at the side of dos Nikkos's head but dos Nikkos avoids it well.
Hanamoto working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Hanamoto thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Hanamoto lands a few punches from side control.
dos Nikkos manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
dos Nikkos tries to get to full guard but Hanamoto has control of the leg.
dos Nikkos gets back to full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hanamoto is looking to work some ground and pound but dos Nikkos has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hanamoto thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
dos Nikkos lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hanamoto!

dos Nikkos jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Hanamoto is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Hanamoto and dos Nikkos has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

dos Nikkos wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hanamoto, who protects the arm well.
Hanamoto is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

dos Nikkos looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

dos Nikkos tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no dos Nikkos has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hanamoto is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked dos Nikkos off and has taken his back!
The referee is taking a good look at dos Nikkos as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Hanamoto!
Hanamoto is punishing dos Nikkos with some ground and pound.
Hanamoto doesn't have the hooks in and dos Nikkos manages to turn into his guard.

Hanamoto pushes dos Nikkos off and scrambles back to his feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from dos Nikkos enables Hanamoto to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. dos Nikkos manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanamoto postures up in dos Nikkos's guard and throws a big left but dos Nikkos blocks it.

dos Nikkos throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Hanamoto escapes and throws dos Nikkos's legs to the side, diving into side control!
dos Nikkos looks gassed!
Hanamoto lands a few punches from side control.
Hanamoto landing strikes.
dos Nikkos takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Hanamoto wants to control but dos Nikkos is keeping him busy.

Hanamoto decides to stand up, so the ref orders dos Nikkos to his feet.

Hanamoto scores a takedown into full mount!
Hanamoto has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of dos Nikkos's face.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hanamoto breaks from dos Nikkos's wrist control and lands an elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hanamoto trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanamoto lands a big shot there that rocks dos Nikkos but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Hanamoto breaks from dos Nikkos's wrist control and lands an elbow.

dos Nikkos is rocked!
Hanamoto lands a big shot to the head and dos Nikkos winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:31 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Shuuji Hanamoto!