PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Adh Dah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taka Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Dah
vs
Tanaka

192 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Adh Dah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Taka Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanaka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dah tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tanaka swivels and escapes.
Tanaka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice jab there from Dah.
Tanaka moves in looking to clinch but Dah pushes him off.
Dah closes the distance looking to clinch

and Tanaka counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Dah has had enough of the clinch but Tanaka keeps him there for the moment.
Dah just leaning against Tanaka, taking a breather.
Tanaka stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Dah misses with an elbow strike.
Dah is looking to break free of the clinch but Tanaka has double underhooks.
Dah wants to break free but Tanaka has control.
The is referee keeping an eye on Dah - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dah is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Dah wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tanaka has him pressed against the cage.
Dah goes for a takedown attempt but Tanaka pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Tanaka moves out of range as Dah strikes.
Tanaka looks for a takedown but Dah sprawls well.
A nice inside leg kick there by Dah. That's going to slow Tanaka down.
Dah tries a head kick but it misses.
Tanaka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Dah as he jumps to the side.
Tanaka wants to clinch.

That's two 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.
Tanaka shoots for a takedown but Dah saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Adh Dah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taka Tanaka.
Dah throws an off balance right hand

and Tanaka counters by moving into the clinch.

Dah escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Tanaka clinches with his opponent.
Dah wants to break free but Tanaka has control.
Come on Dah - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Tanaka lands a nice elbow.
Dah keeps control of Tanaka as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Dah is looking to break free of the clinch but Tanaka has double underhooks.

Dah breaks the clinch.
Dah with a poor takedown

and Tanaka counters by clinching up.
Dah is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Tanaka gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Dah is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dah is trying to break free.
Tanaka unloads a knee to the mid-section. Dah lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Tanaka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tanaka moves in looking to clinch but Dah pushes him off.
Dah swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Tanaka holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Tanaka just leaning against Dah, taking a breather.
Dah tries to pull guard but Tanaka holds him up against the cage and eventually Dah drops back down to his feet.
Dah wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Tanaka will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Dah up against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Tanaka just misses with a elbow thrown towards Dah's brow.

Tanaka manages to break the clinch.
Dah fails with the takedown
and Tanaka counters with a head kick. That will keep Dah thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's four 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.
Tanaka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Dah as he jumps to the side.

Tanaka closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Dah trying to remain calm as Tanaka controls from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taka Tanaka dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Dah misses with a double jab.
A head kick by Dah misses
and Tanaka counters with a head kick. That will keep Dah thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Dah darts in trying to clinch

and Tanaka counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Dah!
Tanaka controlling from the full mount.
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.
Dah slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dah wants to get back to his feet.

Dah kicks Tanaka off and gets back to his feet.
Dah throws a combination that misses

and Tanaka counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Tanaka.

That's two 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.
Tanaka stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Dah tries to break the clinch but Tanaka is controlling the position.
Dah wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Dah trying to stall but Tanaka improves his position.
Tanaka looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Tanaka is pressed up against the cage. Dah has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tanaka down to the mat. Tanaka avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Tanaka gets a clinch.
Tanaka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Dah wants to break the clinch but can't.
Dah stalling in the clinch but Tanaka improves position.
Dah just leaning against Tanaka, taking a breather.
Dah jumps guard but Tanaka stands there with Dah around his waist. Dah gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tanaka controlling the action here for a moment.
Dah's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dah wants to break free but Tanaka has control.

Dah breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dah ducks right into an uppercut from Tanaka.
Tanaka avoids the head kick by Dah.
Tanaka shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dah as he avoids it easily.
Tanaka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dah paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A nice leg kick lands there from Dah.
Dah tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Tanaka makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Dah really felt that one!
Dah throws a looping overhand right but Tanaka ducks down to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tanaka misses with a body kick.
Tanaka misses with a head kick.
Dah throws a body punch but Tanaka moves out of range.
Adh Dah is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dah throws a body punch but Tanaka moves out of range.
Dah tests Tanaka's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Dah wants to clinch but Tanaka slips to the side
and Tanaka counters with a left and a right that stings Dah.
Tanaka needs to keep his hands up - Dah had a free shot at his head there.
Tanaka takes one to the chin there.
Dah shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Tanaka counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adh Dah. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tanaka trying to land knees to the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Tanaka takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Adh Dah will probably get the nod.
That's time! Dah's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Dah misses with a leg kick

and Tanaka counters with a single leg into guard. Dah didn't expect that.
Dah is trying to control the position but Tanaka postures up.
Dah trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dah is trying to control the position but Tanaka postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Tanaka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dah swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tanaka won't allow Dah to sweep him here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taka Tanaka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tanaka 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taka Tanaka!