PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Takuma Tachibana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zack Cardona (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cardona is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Oh Radio. This should be fireworks!

Tachibana
vs
Cardona

185 cm
25
184 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

180 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 1

Great wrestler
Basic striking
KO power

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

BioPharm Nutrition

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Takuma Tachibana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 1, fighting out of New York, Zack Cardona!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Bruno Lombardi and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tachibana closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Cardona tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tachibana throwing strikes but Cardona manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Tachibana manages to get back to half guard.
Cardona is looking to advance position but Tachibana won't allow it.
Cardona tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Tachibana.
Tachibana has his hands clasped together around Cardona's back. He's all about the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tachibana pushes Cardona off and gets back to his feet.
Cardona tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tachibana paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cardona tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tachibana paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cardona darts in trying to clinch

and Tachibana counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardona utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tachibana lands a couple of digs.
Tachibana postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cardona really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tachibana. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Tachibana with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tachibana wants to control from the top but Cardona keeps moving.
Tachibana postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tachibana landing some decent shots from guard.
Tachibana loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tachibana cracks Cardona with a solid left hand.
Tachibana tries to free his leg and advance position but Cardona is retaining full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tachibana's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Tachibana throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tachibana controls from within his opponent's guard.
Tachibana stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cardona swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tachibana is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tachibana throwing strikes from guard but Cardona blocks nicely.
Cardona can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Tachibana controls the pace.
Tachibana is in close to Cardona's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cardona can't keep his opponent in guard - Tachibana advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Tachibana stops Cardona from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardona taking some punishment here, with Tachibana in his half guard.
Tachibana moves into full mount! Cardona won't be happy about that!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tachibana lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Cardona is rocked!
BOOM! Tachibana connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Cardona is still in real trouble! Can Tachibana finish him?
Cardona takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Tachibana's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Takuma Tachibana!