PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benny Coture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Naoki Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Coture
vs
Tanaka

190 cm
26
184 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

181 cm
25
183 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

[B2F] Born 2 Fight

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Benny Coture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Naoki Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Ren Mimura and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanaka wants to clinch.
Coture looks for a takedown but Tanaka sprawls well.
No luck for Coture with that takedown attempt.
Coture blocks a head kick by Tanaka.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Coture fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benny Coture. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Coture tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tanaka swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Coture.
Tanaka thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tanaka doesn't manage to clinch there - Coture circles away.
Coture shoots in for a takedown but Tanaka shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Coture circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tanaka throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Tanaka throws a hook but Coture avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Coture checks it well.
Good work by Tanaka as he checks the leg kick.
Coture changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tanaka tries to avoid it but Coture manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tanaka to the ground. Tanaka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Coture shoots for a double leg takedown but Tanaka sprawls well. He's pushed Coture's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Coture misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Coture misses the jab.
Tanaka connects with a leg kick. Coture looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Tanaka stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tanaka wants it to stay on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka moves out of range as Coture strikes.
Coture misses with a takedown attempt - Tanaka sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Coture drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Tanaka cracks the inside of Coture's front leg.
Tanaka throws a sloppy head kick and Coture moves out of range easily.
Coture shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tanaka defends it nicely.
Tanaka tries to clinch but Coture moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Tanaka, right into the meat.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tanaka.

Tanaka moves into the clinch successfully.
Coture drops down looking for an ankle pick but Tanaka pulls his leg out and moves away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Coture.
Coture is breathing heavily.
Coture checks a low kick from Tanaka.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naoki Tanaka dominated that round.
That's time! Coture's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tanaka connects with a crisp jab.
Tanaka wants to clinch.
Tanaka buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Tanaka stuffs the takedown attempt from Coture. Coture gets slowly back to his feet.
Tanaka turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Coture avoids a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka tries to work over Coture's front leg with a kick but Coture checks it.
Tanaka misses with an uppercut. Coture saw that one coming.
Tanaka throws a low kick but Coture avoids it.
Tanaka throws a quick inside leg kick.
Tanaka moves to clinch but Coture breaks away

and Coture counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Coture is keen to just control but Tanaka is a slippery customer.

Coture is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Tanaka defends it well.
Coture trying to control the action but Tanaka is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Coture is trying to work for a kimura but Tanaka is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Coture is pressing down on Tanaka's thigh, looking to free his foot. Tanaka is holding on for now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Tanaka can do anything to dispel that myth.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Coture seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coture trying to control from half guard but Tanaka is working away.
Tanaka tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Coture has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

Coture working for a guillotine from mount but Tanaka is in no mood to give up.
Coture misses with a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka prevents Coture from taking his back.
Coture tries to control but Tanaka wriggling away.
Tanaka tries to hold on but Coture postures up.
Coture throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Coture looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Coture swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Tanaka is now in Coture's guard. A big mistake from Coture there, giving up the dominant position!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benny Coture dominated that second 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A bone on bone clash there as Coture blocks the leg kick.
Coture on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Tanaka throws a head kick but Coture moves out of range.
Tanaka throws a hook but Coture blocks it.
Coture keeps the fight on the outside.
Tanaka tries to clinch but Coture is having none of it.
Tanaka thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Coture if he has to take too many more of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coture closes the distance and clinches up with Tanaka, looking for a takedown. Coture pushes Tanaka against the cage but Tanaka circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tanaka keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Coture.
Coture tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Tanaka tries to clinch up.
Tanaka throws a leg kick which misses Coture's front leg but catches the back leg as Coture tries to avoid it.
Coture misses with a takedown
and Tanaka counters with a thumping low kick.
Tanaka is looking to clinch but Coture is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coture closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tanaka circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benny Coture. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tanaka fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Coture checks it well.
Coture shoots in looking for a takedown. Tanaka tries to sprawl out of it but Coture keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tanaka manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Naoki Tanaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Tanaka clinches.
Tanaka gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Benny Coture has been cut.
Coture tries to score a body lock takedown but Tanaka shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Tanaka is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice elbow from Tanaka.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Tanaka.
Tanaka misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tanaka with a knee to the head.
Nice elbow from Tanaka.
Coture takes an elbow to the forehead.
Coture takes an elbow to the temple.
Tanaka gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Coture tries to pull guard but Tanaka won't allow it.
Tanaka dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Nice elbow from Tanaka.
Tanaka connects with a nasty looking knee right to Coture's face.
Tanaka lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Tanaka lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Tanaka lands a knee to the head.
Coture is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Tanaka lands a nice elbow.
Tanaka lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Coture takes a knee right on the jaw!
Tanaka effectively controlling the action here.
Coture is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tanaka pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Tanaka lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Tanaka utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Tanaka obliges.
Knees in the clinch landing for Tanaka.
Tanaka landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Tanaka lands an elbow that stopped Coture in his tracks for a moment.
Tanaka connects with a nasty looking knee right to Coture's face.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tanaka landing knees to the body.
The referee calls for Tanaka to work.
Tanaka scores a nice knee to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Naoki 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

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