PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mac Hemp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hajime Arai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hemp comes to the cage accompanied by Not Afraid. Arai has chosen Hilf Mir as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Hemp
vs
Arai

189 cm
20
175 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

182 cm
25
177 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mac Hemp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hajime Arai!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Luis Engracia and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Hemp looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hemp lands a nice shot to the body.
Hemp tries to close the distance and clinch but Arai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
No luck for Arai with that takedown attempt.
Hemp slaps away a takedown attempt from Arai, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Arai avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hemp gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Arai counters with a single leg into guard. Hemp didn't expect that.
Hemp looking for a sweep. Not yet Hemp, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hemp trying to keep a closed guard but Arai is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hemp preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Arai gets to his feet - Hemp follows without any prompting.
Hemp jabs Arai right on the nose. Arai blinks but takes it well.
Hemp will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hemp doesn't manage to clinch there - Arai circles away.
Mac Hemp seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hemp lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Arai circles away quickly and effectively.

Arai closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Hemp quickly recovers to half guard.
Arai looks gassed!
Hemp is concentrating on defense, preventing Arai from advancing position.
Hemp wants to get back to his feet.
Hemp makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hemp.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Arai wants to pass the guard but Hemp is keeping the position.
Hemp is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Hemp looking to hit a scissor sweep but Arai is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hemp is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mac Hemp just wasn't active enough.
Arai checks a leg kick nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hemp is defended easily by Arai.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mac Hemp. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hemp gets caught flat footed, as Arai shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Arai keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hemp's head.
Hemp looking for a sweep. Not yet Hemp, not yet.
Arai sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arai won't allow Hemp to sweep him here.
Hemp can't keep his opponent in guard - Arai advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Arai is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Hemp!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hemp wants to control but Arai is having none of it.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Arai looking to secure an arm triangle but Hemp defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hajime Arai will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Arai shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Hemp is trying desperately to improve position.
Hemp wants to control but Arai is having none of it.
Hemp can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Arai is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Hemp can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Hemp is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hemp wants to hold on but Arai pushes him away.
Hemp throwing hammer fists to the chest of Arai. What's that going to do exactly?
Arai controlling the pace for now.

Arai jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Hemp manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Arai is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arai is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Hemp will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Arai wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hemp keeps working.
Hemp tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Arai wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Arai wants to control but Hemp is keeping him busy.
Hemp is looking for a sweep.

Arai stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hemp fails with the takedown

and Arai counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hemp's guard now.

Arai thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hemp is trying to control the position but Arai postures up.
Arai wants to pass the guard but Hemp is keeping the position.
Arai won't allow Hemp to sweep him here.
Arai trying to control the position from guard on top but Hemp is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Hajime Arai wasn't active enough on the ground.
Hemp thuds his shin into the meat of Arai's side.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hemp closes this distance looking for a takedown but Arai circles away.
Hemp tries for a takedown but Arai sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mac Hemp. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hemp shoots in looking for a takedown. Arai tries to sprawl out of it but Hemp keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Arai manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hemp.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Arai dives in and scores a takedown into Hemp's guard.
Hemp lands a decent punch to the body there.
Arai postures up.
Arai is stalling in the full guard.
Hemp controls Arai momentarily but Arai frees himself.
Hemp keeping full guard, as Arai tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arai controls from within his opponent's guard.
Arai takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Hajime Arai has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Hemp is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Arai looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Arai stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Arai wants it to stay on the feet.
Hemp is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hemp lands with a nice combination. Arai backs away looking to recover.
Hemp tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hemp tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Arai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hemp misses with a takedown attempt - Arai sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hemp throws a looping overhand right but Arai ducks down to avoid it.
Hemp tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Arai dives in and scores a takedown into Hemp's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hemp manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hemp sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Hemp goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Arai is on top in guard.
Arai showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arai passes Hemp's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Arai is trying to work for a kimura but Hemp is defending well.

Hemp looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Arai decides to return to a standing position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Hajime Arai.
I've got Arai 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hajime Arai!