PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Papa Legba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kiyoshi Tanabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Legba
vs
Tanabe

166 cm
22
147 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

169 cm
25
135 lbs
3 - 2 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Papa Legba!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Kiyoshi Tanabe!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Legba wants to clinch.
Legba misses with a two punch combination.
Legba wants to clinch up but Tanabe keeps it at a distance.
Legba tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tanabe misses with a combination
and Legba counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Legba fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tanabe swats away the attempt to clinch by Legba.
Tanabe lets loose with a powerful body kick. Legba will feel that in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legba fails with an attempt to clinch.
Legba tries to clinch up.
Legba tries to clinch up but Tanabe circles away and keeps his distance.
Legba tries to close the distance and clinch but Tanabe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Papa Legba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tanabe throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Legba.
Tanabe rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Legba moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tanabe keeps the fight on the outside.
Legba lands a jab to Tanabe's midsection.

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.
Legba doesn't manage to clinch there - Tanabe circles away.
Legba looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tanabe is fending him off so far but Legba persists. Nope, Tanabe circles away and we're back to standing.
Tanabe sizes up Legba with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A slow jab from Legba misses its intended target.
Kiyoshi Tanabe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Legba tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tanabe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Legba tries to clinch there but Tanabe circles away.
Legba moves out of range as Tanabe strikes.
Legba slips a jab and a cross from Tanabe.
Legba misses with a takedown attempt - Tanabe sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legba looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tanabe is fending him off so far but Legba persists. Nope, Tanabe circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Papa Legba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Legba tries to close the distance and clinch but Tanabe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Legba is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tanabe throws a left and a right that both miss

and Legba counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Legba wants to pass the guard but Tanabe is keeping the position.
Tanabe preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Legba wants to pass the guard but Tanabe is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Legba throwing strikes from guard but Tanabe blocks nicely.
Legba stopping the sweep attempt from Tanabe.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Legba throwing strikes from guard but Tanabe blocks nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tanabe is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Papa Legba dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tanabe clobbers Legba with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Legba slips under a jab.
Legba is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tanabe stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tanabe wants it to stay on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanabe throws a right and a left that both miss.
Legba doesn't manage to clinch there - Tanabe circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Tanabe. No joy for Legba on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legba doesn't manage to clinch there - Tanabe circles away.
Legba throws a shot from downtown. Tanabe moves away and avoids it.
Legba tries to close the distance and clinch but Tanabe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Legba cracks Tanabe with a right hand to the side of the head.
Legba wants to clinch up but Tanabe keeps it at a distance.
Legba tries to clinch there but Tanabe circles away.
Tanabe steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Legba.
Legba has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Papa Legba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tanabe misses with a combination
enabling Legba to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Legba tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tanabe sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Legba somewhat.
Legba tries to clinch but Tanabe is having none of it.
Legba doesn't manage to clinch there - Tanabe circles away.
Legba is looking to clinch.
No joy there for Tanabe, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Legba tries to clinch up but Tanabe circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legba shoots in for a double leg but Tanabe sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Legba tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tanabe slips under a jab.
Tanabe circles away from the clinch attempt.
Legba misses with a double jab
and Tanabe cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A punch combination from Tanabe misses.
Tanabe throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

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.
Legba fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tanabe throws a left and a right that both miss

and Legba counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Legba trying to control the position from guard on top but Tanabe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Legba postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tanabe really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Legba. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Tanabe looking for a sweep. Not yet Tanabe, not yet.
Legba postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Legba has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Legba content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Tanabe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Papa Legba dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tanabe throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Legba decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tanabe's guard.
Tanabe working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Legba.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Legba wants to control from the top but Tanabe keeps moving.
Legba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tanabe is keeping the position for now.
Tanabe keeping moving, preventing Legba from controlling successfully.
Tanabe looking for a sweep. Not yet Tanabe, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legba throws a big right hand that misses.
Legba postures up in Tanabe's guard and throws a big left but Tanabe blocks it.
Legba sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tanabe's guard.
Legba thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tanabe's head.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Legba misses with a double jab
and Tanabe counters with a stiff right hand.
Legba throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Tanabe counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Legba throws out a loose jab but Tanabe uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Legba tries to clinch but Tanabe moves out of range.
Legba wants to clinch
letting Tanabe counter with a right hand.
Tanabe slips under a jab.
Legba tries to clinch but Tanabe moves out of range.
Tanabe moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Tanabe just misses with a punch to the body.
Legba wants to clinch
and Tanabe counters with a left and a right that stings Legba.

Legba is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legba fails with an attempt to clinch.
Legba fails in his attempt to clinch.
Legba throws a jab when Tanabe was well out of range.
Tanabe throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Tanabe swinging wildly here.
Papa Legba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Legba lands a glancing blow to the side of Tanabe's head.

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.
Legba is looking to clinch but Tanabe is avoiding it.
Legba tries to clinch but Tanabe moves away
and Tanabe counters with a nice body shot.
Tanabe throws a nice looking combination but Legba bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tanabe stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tanabe wants it to stay on the feet.
Tanabe misses with a body kick.
Tanabe misses with a combination
and Legba counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Legba tries for a takedown but Tanabe circles away easily
and Tanabe counters with a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kiyoshi Tanabe really 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.

Legba tries to clinch but Tanabe is having none of it.
Legba doesn't manage to clinch there - Tanabe circles away.
Tanabe swats away the attempt to clinch by Legba.
Legba misses the shot to the body.
Tanabe tries to bum rush Legba with a series of wild strikes but Legba uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Legba tries to clinch but Tanabe is having none of it.
No luck for Legba with that takedown attempt.
Tanabe chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legba lands a jab to the nose.
Legba fails with an attempt to clinch.
Legba tries to clinch but Tanabe moves out of range.
Legba misses with a double jab
and Tanabe counters with a nice body kick.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Tanabe throws a series of punches but Legba moves out of range.
Legba shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanabe avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tanabe delivers a nice body kick.
A left and a right from Tanabe both land. Nice combination.
Tanabe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Legba moves away.
Legba tries to clinch but Tanabe moves out of range.
Tanabe falls off balance throwing a combination
and Legba counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Legba tries to clinch up but Tanabe circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legba shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Papa Legba. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Legba drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Tanabe tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Legba throws an elbow but Tanabe slips to the side and avoids it well.
Legba throws an elbow but Tanabe slips to the side and avoids it well.
Tanabe wants to control but Legba postures up.
Legba throws a strike aimed at the side of Tanabe's head but Tanabe avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Legba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tanabe keeps working.
Tanabe is looking to regain half guard here but Legba keeps moving and retains side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Legba.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Legba doesn't manage to clinch there - Tanabe circles away.
Legba fails in his attempt to clinch.
Legba tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tanabe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kiyoshi Tanabe dominated that fourth round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Legba tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tanabe paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tanabe connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Legba's hands.
Tanabe is looking to land body kicks.
The fighters circling - Legba throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tanabe looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Tanabe throws a lazy right hand but Legba sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Legba misses with a jab to the body
and Tanabe connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tanabe swinging wildly here.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Legba.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legba slips under a jab.
Legba misses with the body kick
and Tanabe counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Legba thinking.
Tanabe thuds a left hand into Legba's body.
Legba wants to clinch but Tanabe slips to the side
and Tanabe counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Legba looks to throw the jab but Tanabe is out of range.
Tanabe tries to land a front kick but Legba steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanabe stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tanabe wants it to stay on the feet.
Tanabe rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Legba moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Legba showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tanabe.
Legba falls off balance throwing a combination
and Tanabe counters with an outside leg kick.
Tanabe takes one on the button.
Legba fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legba has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Tanabe finds it's way round the side to connect with Legba's head.
Legba jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Legba tries to clinch up
and Tanabe counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Oh Legba is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Legba misses with a straight left.
Legba seems to have got his legs back now.
Legba fails in his attempt to clinch.
Legba closes the distance but Tanabe moves to the side
and Tanabe counters with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanabe circles away from the clinch attempt.
Legba tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tanabe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Legba wants to clinch up but Tanabe keeps it at a distance.
Legba pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tanabe misses with a hook to the body
and Legba counters with a straight right hand.
Legba changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tanabe tries to avoid it but Legba manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tanabe to the ground. Tanabe escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Papa Legba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tanabe lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

And that's the end of the fight!
Kiyoshi Tanabe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tanabe 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andi Peters scores the fight 47:48
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 47:48
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kiyoshi Tanabe!
Kiyoshi Tanabe is the new bantamweight champion!