PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Kaplan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Baki Hanma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baki Hanma has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kaplan
vs
Hanma

185 cm
28
252 lbs
9 - 13 - 1

184 cm
33
228 lbs
19 - 17 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Kaplan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Baki Hanma!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Gwen Towbar and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kaplan misses with a double jab
letting Hanma counter with a right hand.
Kaplan doesn't manage to clinch there - Hanma circles away.
Kaplan wants to clinch.
Kaplan misses with a left hand
and Hanma counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Joe Kaplan has been cut.
Joe Kaplan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hanma lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kaplan throws a shot from downtown. Hanma moves away and avoids it.
Hanma scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hanma shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kaplan pinned against the cage. Kaplan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hanma takes one on the chin but seems OK.

It looks like Baki Hanma has been cut.
Kaplan misses with a hook to the body
and Hanma makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hanma shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kaplan defends it nicely.

Hanma fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kaplan sprawls well initially but Hanma persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanma looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Hanma is looking to take a break and control but Kaplan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kaplan holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Kaplan is looking to improve his position.
Kaplan trying to control from the bottom.

Hanma is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hanma scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Hanma is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kaplan sees it coming and defends easily.
Kaplan wants to control but Hanma is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hanma.
Hanma is looking to take a break and control but Kaplan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Hanma is working for a kimura but Kaplan is defending it quite comfortably.
Hanma is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kaplan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hanma.
Hanma lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Hanma is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kaplan trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanma lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hanma in particular looking to stall.
Kaplan wants to sweep but Hanma has passed to side control!
Hanma lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kaplan down.
Hanma has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kaplan is not content to let Hanma control the position.

Hanma is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Kaplan looks calm but he's in trouble here. Hanma gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Kaplan is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Hanma lets go of the hold and Kaplan can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Baki Hanma!
An out of breath and clearly excited Baki Hanma thanked Springfield HW Nutrition for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).