PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Eddie Ever (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenshii Tanamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tanamoto comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Slipknot - Wait and Bleed kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Kenshii Tanamoto told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Ever
vs
Tanamoto

185 cm
18
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

177 cm
22
154 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Eddie Ever!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenshii Tanamoto!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ever fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Tanamoto looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Tanamoto on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Kenshii Tanamoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ever misses with a wild combination.
Tanamoto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Ever pushes Tanamoto up against the cage in a clinch.

Ever turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Tanamoto regains half guard there - taking advantage of Ever's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

Ever stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Tanamoto to get to his feet.
Tanamoto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ever as he jumps to the side.

Ever changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Tanamoto looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ever tries to score with some ground and pound. Tanamoto controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Ever decides to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ever.
Tanamoto tries to clinch up
and Ever counters with a head kick.
Tanamoto throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ever on the side of the head.
Tanamoto cracks Ever with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Ever is rocked!

It looks like Eddie Ever has been cut.
Tanamoto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ever fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ever misses with a takedown attempt - Tanamoto sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ever is breathing heavily.
Tanamoto misses with a takedown attempt

and Ever counters with a single leg into guard. Tanamoto didn't expect that.
Ever has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Tanamoto is proving hard to escape from.
Tanamoto being controlled here, momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tanamoto wants to get back to his feet but Ever is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ever trying to control but Tanamoto is working from the bottom.
Ever sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tanamoto's guard.

Tanamoto pushes Ever off and gets back to his feet.

Tanamoto has managed to clinch.
Tanamoto with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tanamoto tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Tanamoto throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tanamoto with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ever drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tanamoto gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eddie Ever. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tanamoto tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanamoto looking to throw knees to the head but Ever is blocking nicely.
Tanamoto throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ever tries to stall but Tanamoto uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Tanamoto misses with a knee strike.
Ever wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tanamoto has him pressed against the cage.

Ever has picked Tanamoto up - he's going for a ride! Ever dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Ever postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Tanamoto to stand up.
Tanamoto wants to clinch up but Ever keeps it at a distance.

Tanamoto gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tanamoto misses with a knee to the head.
Tanamoto with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tanamoto throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tanamoto with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ever pushes off an throws an elbow but Tanamoto leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Ever with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ever tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tanamoto throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ever blocks it with crossed arms.
Ever can't break the clinch.
Tanamoto tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ever tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tanamoto smiles and moves away.
Tanamoto tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ever paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Ever scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Tanamoto is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ever moves into full mount! Tanamoto won't be happy about that!
Ever controlling the position easily from mount.
Tanamoto wants to try and get back to his feet.
Ever wants to control the pace but Tanamoto is squirming around nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ever sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddie Ever dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Eddie Ever's cut.
That's time! Ever's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tanamoto thuds his right hand into Ever's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Tanamoto lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Oh Ever is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Tanamoto rushes Ever and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tanamoto tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Tanamoto with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ever seems to have got his legs back now.
Tanamoto misses with a knee strike.
Tanamoto throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tanamoto tries to land a knee to the head but Ever blocks with his arms.
Tanamoto throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ever takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ever misses with the head strike.
Tanamoto looking to throw knees to the head but Ever is blocking nicely.
Tanamoto using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ever has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tanamoto tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Tanamoto gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ever.
Tanamoto connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ever's face.
Tanamoto throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tanamoto tries to land a knee to the head but Ever blocks with his arms.
Tanamoto tries to land a knee to the head but Ever blocks with his arms.
Ever tries to pull guard but Tanamoto holds him up against the cage and eventually Ever drops back down to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tanamoto tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tanamoto looking to throw knees to the head but Ever is blocking nicely.
Tanamoto misses with a knee strike.
Tanamoto misses with a knee strike.
Tanamoto tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tanamoto with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ever tries to pull guard but Tanamoto won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eddie Ever. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ever jumps into guard, dragging Tanamoto to the mat.
Ever lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Tanamoto!
Ever content just to control the position here.
Tanamoto is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Ever wants to control the pace but Tanamoto is squirming around nicely.
Tanamoto is trying to stand.

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.
Ever looking to control but Tanamoto is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ever controlling his opponent.
Ever trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ever sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ever misses with some ground and pound and Tanamoto recovers position to half guard.
Ever throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ever not doing much here.

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.

Ever is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tanamoto doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ever.
Tanamoto is trying to stand up here but Ever is controlling him well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ever missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenshii Tanamoto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Eddie Ever's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Tanamoto clinches.
Tanamoto looking to throw knees to the head but Ever is blocking nicely.
Tanamoto using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ever has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tanamoto tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Tanamoto with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tanamoto misses with a knee to the head.

Ever has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Tanamoto uses from the top position.

Ever looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ever throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tanamoto stands up from Ever's guard - Tanamoto perhaps looking for a knockout.
Tanamoto paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Tanamoto has his takedown stuffed

and Ever counters with a nice double leg into side control. Tanamoto won't be happy with that.
Ever wants to control but Tanamoto is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanamoto is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Ever is controlling him well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ever throws a strike aimed at the side of Tanamoto's head but Tanamoto avoids it well.
Tanamoto is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Ever remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Ever seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Tanamoto for as long as he can get away with.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tanamoto tries to escape but Ever is in control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Ever drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Ever is looking to take a break and control but Tanamoto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tanamoto is trying to get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Tanamoto's face as Ever controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ever stands up and beckons Tanamoto to his feet.
Ever shoots for a takedown but Tanamoto saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Tanamoto takes the fight into the clinch.
Tanamoto misses with a knee to the head.
Tanamoto misses with a knee to the head.
Tanamoto tries to land a knee to the head but Ever blocks with his arms.
Tanamoto tries to land a knee to the head but Ever blocks with his arms.
Ever'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.
Tanamoto throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ever blocks it with crossed arms.
Ever tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tanamoto using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ever has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ever wants to break the clinch but can't.
Tanamoto scores with a knee to the head.
Tanamoto throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tanamoto looking to throw knees to the head but Ever is blocking nicely.
Tanamoto using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ever has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tanamoto prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eddie Ever. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tanamoto with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Ever tightens his grip and picks Tanamoto up, before dumping him to the ground. Tanamoto manages to land in guard.
Ever trying to control but Tanamoto is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ever is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Ever forces his way into half guard.

Ever is working for a submission of some sort.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eddie Ever showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ever has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eddie Ever!