PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tim Lachance (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinya Imanari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Imanari has chosen Era - Ameno as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Lachance
vs
Imanari

200 cm
24
280 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

175 cm
24
245 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tim Lachance!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shinya Imanari!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lachance scores a takedown into full mount!
Imanari is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Imanari is working to get back to half guard.
Imanari sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Lachance looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Lachance is trying to control. Imanari wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Lachance throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Lachance is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Imanari sees it coming and defends easily.
Imanari is trying to get back to full guard.
Lachance is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imanari has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lachance is working away from the top position though.
Imanari tries to roll over but Lachance keeps him under control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Lachance closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Imanari trying to control but Lachance postures up.
Lachance is looking to advance position but Imanari won't allow it.
Imanari trying to control but Lachance postures up.
Imanari is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lachance's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lachance's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Imanari is trying to stick to Lachance's back but Lachance is turning into Imanari. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Imanari's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Lachance.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Imanari is on top in guard.
Lachance keeping moving, preventing Imanari from controlling successfully.
Lachance bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Imanari's guard.
Imanari trying to control the position.
Lachance works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lachance tries to pass the half guard into mount. Imanari knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Lachance is thwarting Imanari's attempts to control the position.
Lachance will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imanari keeping hold of Lachance's head, controlling as best he can.
Lachance is keen to just control but Imanari is a slippery customer.
Lachance works his foot free and advances to mount.
Lachance looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Imanari wants to control but Lachance is having none of it.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Lachance cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

It looks like Shinya Imanari has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imanari regains half guard.
Imanari wants to control but Lachance is keeping busy.
Imanari is pressing down on Lachance's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Imanari is looking for a triangle but Lachance pushes his legs off easily.
Imanari seems keen to control Lachance's posture.
Lachance pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Imanari is keeping the position for now.
Imanari bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lachance's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Lachance dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shinya Imanari's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Imanari.
Lachance sneaks back into half guard.
Lachance is refusing to be controlled, as Imanari sits in half guard.
Lachance won't allow Imanari to pass to mount.
The fighters are battling for position here. Lachance manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Lachance throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Imanari trying to control the position from guard on top but Lachance is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imanari sitting in guard here, content to control.

Lachance looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lachance keeping full guard, as Imanari tries to pass.
Imanari trying to control the position from guard on top but Lachance is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Lachance has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Imanari can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Imanari passes into half guard.
Lachance avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Imanari.
Lachance is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Imanari's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Imanari's back!
Lachance doesn't have the hooks in and Imanari manages to turn into his guard.

Lachance is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Lachance working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Imanari doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Imanari manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lachance keeping moving, preventing Imanari from controlling successfully.
Imanari is stalling in the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lachance working a defensive guard here.
Imanari slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Tim Lachance overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Despite being in the dominant position, Shinya Imanari just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Imanari shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Imanari was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Lachance is squirming around, avoiding Imanari's attempts to control the action.
Lachance really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Imanari sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinya Imanari showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Shinya Imanari's cut.
That's time! Lachance's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lachance shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Lachance tries to pass the half guard into mount. Imanari knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Lachance is thwarting Imanari's attempts to control the position.
Lachance trying to control from half guard but Imanari is working away.

Lachance wants to work for an arm triangle but Imanari is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Imanari gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imanari is trying to keep Lachance in close.
Lachance thows a big elbow that misses.
Imanari looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lachance shoots and misses

and Imanari counters with a single leg into guard. Lachance didn't expect that.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Imanari tries to free his leg and advance position but Lachance is retaining full guard.
Lachance keeping moving, preventing Imanari from controlling successfully.
Imanari tries to free his leg and advance position but Lachance is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Imanari landing some decent shots from guard.
Imanari trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Imanari throws a big right hand that misses.

Lachance looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Imanari has picked Lachance up and slammed him! Lachance can't keep hold of the triangle and Imanari manages to pass to side control!
Imanari is staying tight to Lachance's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Lachance tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Imanari wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Imanari looks up at the clock and then as Lachance takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Imanari smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Lachance is trying to escape the position but Imanari is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imanari scores with punches from side control.
Imanari wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lachance keeps working.
Imanari is working Lachance over with some ground and pound from side control.
Imanari cracks Lachance with a big right hand but Lachance just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Imanari working the head and body with strikes.
The referee asks Imanari politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Imanari prefers to stall for the moment though.
Imanari throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Lachance parries the strikes from Imanari easily there. Imanari is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Lachance to escape.
Lachance is trying to improve his position.
Imanari throws a strike aimed at the side of Lachance's head but Lachance avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lachance is trying to control Imanari's posture but Imanari avoids it.
Lachance misses with a strike from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Lachance clinches up against the cage.

Imanari pulls Lachance into guard.
Imanari manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lachance manages to get himself to full guard.

Imanari is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Lachance is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Lachance has escaped and now he's on top!

Lachance avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shinya Imanari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Imanari has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 George Francis scores the fight for Shinya Imanari!
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight for Shinya Imanari!
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight for Shinya Imanari!

Shinya Imanari wins by unanimous decision!