PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Tanimoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Van Der (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paulo Tanimoto had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Tanimoto
vs
Der

180 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Tanimoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Van Der!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Seu Braga and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanimoto misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Der scores with a decent looking hook.

Der shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Der is controlling the pace.

Tanimoto is defending against the submission attempts here by Der.
Der wants to take a breather but Tanimoto is having none of it.
Der is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Der is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Der is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Tanimoto is just riding it out for now. Der eventually gives up the hold.
Tanimoto won't allow Der to pass to mount.
Der is looking to take a break and control but Tanimoto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Der keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Tanimoto is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Der's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Der's back!
Der breaks Tanimoto's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tanimoto is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Der drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Der jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Tanimoto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Der trying to control the position from guard on top but Tanimoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Der wants to pass the guard but Tanimoto is keeping the position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Der pushes down on Tanimoto's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Der is thwarting Tanimoto's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Der 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.

Der is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Tanimoto defends it well.
Der looks gassed!
Der trying to control from half guard but Tanimoto is working away.
Tanimoto wants to improve his position but Der is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Der tries to pass to full mount but Tanimoto defends it.
Tanimoto is not content to let Der control the position.
Der trying to mount his opponent but Tanimoto defends it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tanimoto rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Der moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Paulo Tanimoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tanimoto shoots and misses

and Der decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tanimoto's guard.
Der sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Van Der dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Der drives through with a takedown into guard.
Der wants to control from the top but Tanimoto keeps moving.
Der might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Tanimoto kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Der trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Der trying to control the position from guard on top but Tanimoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Der is stalling in the full guard.
Tanimoto is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Der wants to control from the top but Tanimoto keeps moving.
Tanimoto trying to control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Der shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Der seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tanimoto does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Tanimoto is looking for a sweep. Der is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Der uses his free foot to push down on Tanimoto's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Tanimoto.

Der looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Der looking to control and managing it successfully.

Der looking to secure an arm triangle but Tanimoto defends it well.
Der wants to control the pace but Tanimoto is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tanimoto tries to reverse the position but Der maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Der is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Tanimoto has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Der sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Van Der has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tanimoto is trying to escape the mount but Der keeps good control and instead manages to take Tanimoto's back.
Tanimoto trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Der controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Der is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Tanimoto is defending well though. Der let's go of the attempt for now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Der is working for the choke. He's slipped one arm under the chin. Tanimoto has to defend the other arm for all he's worth... but Der has managed to get that arm free too and he's tightening the choke! Tanimoto taps out and looks absolutely disgusted with himself. Der doesn't care though - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Van Der!