PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shuuji Hanamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lasse Willemoes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hanamoto's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Am I Evil?. Willemoes has chosen Who Let the Dogs out??- Baha men as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hanamoto
vs
Willemoes

186 cm
29
194 lbs
21 - 15 - 0

185 cm
29
202 lbs
19 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

[CBK] LEGAL HIGHS « SFL ↑ 5x160Q

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 21 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shuuji Hanamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Lasse Willemoes!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hanamoto uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Willemoes.

Willemoes has Hanamoto up against the cage in a clinch.

Hanamoto manages to pull guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hanamoto working a defensive guard but Willemoes passes into half guard.

Hanamoto is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Willemoes pulls his head out easily.
Willemoes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hanamoto keeps working.
Willemoes with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hanamoto is looking for a sweep. Willemoes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Willemoes wants to work for an arm triangle but Hanamoto is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Willemoes wants to pass the guard but Hanamoto is defending well.
Hanamoto is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanamoto won't allow Willemoes to pass to mount.

Hanamoto has one foot on Willemoes's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Hanamoto tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Willemoes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Shuuji Hanamoto has been cut.
Hanamoto on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Willemoes throws a leg kick that misses.
Willemoes throws a jab when Hanamoto was well out of range.
Willemoes throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hanamoto looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Hanamoto shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hanamoto showed some decent athleticism there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Willemoes is pressing down on Hanamoto's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Willemoes has his foot on Hanamoto's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hanamoto works his way back into a safe position though.
Hanamoto wants to control from the top but Willemoes keeps moving.
Hanamoto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Willemoes is keeping the position for now.
Hanamoto postures up in Willemoes's guard and throws a big left but Willemoes blocks it.
Hanamoto has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hanamoto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Willemoes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Willemoes controlling the position.
Willemoes working a defensive guard here.

Willemoes is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hanamoto is aware though and is defending well.

Willemoes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hanamoto gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Willemoes looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Hanamoto puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Hanamoto is working for a kimura but Willemoes is defending it quite comfortably.
Hanamoto tries to pass the half guard into mount. Willemoes knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Willemoes makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Willemoes.

Willemoes looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Willemoes looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hanamoto trying to control but Willemoes is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Willemoes keeping full guard, as Hanamoto tries to pass.
Willemoes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Willemoes tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Willemoes has his foot on Hanamoto's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hanamoto works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Willemoes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hanamoto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Willemoes is keeping the position for now.

Willemoes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hanamoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Willemoes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Hanamoto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Willemoes swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Willemoes looking for a guillotine here but Hanamoto defends easily.
Hanamoto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Willemoes is trying to control the position but Hanamoto postures up.
Hanamoto stands and throws Willemoes's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Willemoes can't do much from the bottom here.
Willemoes manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Hanamoto is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Willemoes wants to control but Hanamoto is keeping him busy.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Hanamoto wants to improve his position but Willemoes is controlling well.
Willemoes not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hanamoto moves into full guard.

Hanamoto looking for subs off his back but Willemoes has passed one foot through into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Willemoes passes to full mount!
Hanamoto is looking to get to half guard.
Willemoes trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hanamoto is bucking up trying to escape but Willemoes cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Hanamoto slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Hanamoto tries to roll over but Willemoes keeps him under control.
Willemoes is trying to control. Hanamoto wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Willemoes sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Willemoes takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hanamoto is not content to let Willemoes control the position.
Hanamoto works his way to full guard. Good work.
Willemoes cracks Hanamoto with a solid left hand.
Willemoes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Willemoes trying to control the position from guard on top but Hanamoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hanamoto wants to sweep but no luck.
Willemoes advances to half guard.
Hanamoto wants to improve his position but Willemoes is controlling well.
Hanamoto gets full guard.
Willemoes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hanamoto is keeping the position for now.
Willemoes with a flurry of punches that miss.

Hanamoto working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Willemoes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Willemoes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Willemoes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hanamoto is keeping the position for now.
Hanamoto punching from the bottom - just letting Willemoes know he's still in a fight.
Hanamoto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Hanamoto can't keep his opponent in guard - Willemoes advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Willemoes looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Willemoes passes to full mount!
The referee warns Hanamoto that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Hanamoto is working to get back to half guard.
Hanamoto regains half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Willemoes in particular looking to stall.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hanamoto regains full guard. Nicely done.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Willemoes wants to pass the guard but Hanamoto is keeping the position.
Hanamoto looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lasse Willemoes dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shuuji Hanamoto's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Willemoes scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hanamoto tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Willemoes counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hanamoto's guard now.
Willemoes stopping the sweep attempt from Hanamoto.
Hanamoto throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Hanamoto has his foot on Willemoes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Willemoes works his way back into a safe position though.
Willemoes lands a couple of digs.
Hanamoto is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Willemoes cracks Hanamoto with a solid left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hanamoto can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Willemoes controls the pace.
Willemoes stopping the sweep attempt from Hanamoto.
Willemoes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Willemoes trying to control but Hanamoto is working from the bottom.
Hanamoto tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Willemoes is looking to work some ground and pound but Hanamoto has wrist control.
Willemoes wants to control from the top but Hanamoto keeps moving.
Hanamoto working a defensive guard here.
Willemoes preventing the sweep.
Hanamoto keeping full guard, as Willemoes tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Willemoes lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Hanamoto tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hanamoto fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hanamoto closes the distance but Willemoes moves to the side
and Willemoes makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Willemoes scores with a jab. Hanamoto acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Shuuji Hanamoto's cut is getting worse.
Hanamoto ducks under a wild hook from Willemoes.
Willemoes scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hanamoto in his tracks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Willemoes shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hanamoto but Hanamoto pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hanamoto tries to clinch but Willemoes moves away

so Willemoes counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Hanamoto tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hanamoto is working hard here to advance position.
Hanamoto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hanamoto keeping moving, preventing Willemoes from controlling successfully.
Willemoes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hanamoto is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Willemoes connects with a couple of short punches.

Hanamoto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Willemoes stopping the sweep attempt from Hanamoto.
Willemoes wants to control from the top but Hanamoto keeps moving.

Hanamoto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Willemoes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Willemoes with a nice head shot there.
Willemoes passes into half guard.
Willemoes seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hanamoto taking some punishment here, with Willemoes in his half guard.
Hanamoto is refusing to be controlled, as Willemoes sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Willemoes tries to pass to full mount but Hanamoto defends it.
Willemoes works his foot free and advances to mount.
Hanamoto is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Willemoes putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Willemoes controlling his opponent.
Willemoes landing shots from mount.

Hanamoto is rocked!

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Hanamoto sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Oh Hanamoto is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hanamoto is looking to improve his position.
Willemoes is looking to take a break and control but Hanamoto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hanamoto seems to have got his legs back now.
Willemoes working the head and body with strikes.
Willemoes trying to mount his opponent but Hanamoto defends it.
Willemoes trying to control the action but Hanamoto is working from the bottom.
Willemoes works his foot free and advances to mount.
Lasse Willemoes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hanamoto tries to reverse the position but Willemoes maintains control.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Willemoes trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hanamoto sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Willemoes looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hanamoto is not content to let Willemoes control the position.

Willemoes is looking for a kimura here.
Hanamoto wants to improve his position but Willemoes is controlling well.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Willemoes works his way into full mount!
Willemoes scoring with strikes but Hanamoto is staying in there.

Shuuji Hanamoto's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Willemoes can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hanamoto is looking to escape.
Willemoes working the ground and pound effectively.

Jeez, Shuuji Hanamoto's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Shuuji Hanamoto's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 7:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Lasse Willemoes!
In his post fight interview, Lasse Willemoes gave a big smile as he said 'Who let the DOGS out? Who, who, who, who!!!???!!!'.