PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alessio Legionarius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and RIP Evan Tanner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tanner has chosen Tornado of Souls - Megadeth as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Legionarius
vs
Evan Tanner

185 cm
24
192 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

180 cm
26
195 lbs
16 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Steel Terror-Trition: Video Proven 160Q+Laundry!
Steel Terror-Trition: Video Proven 160Q+Laundry!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alessio Legionarius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, RIP Evan Tanner!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shirou Masuda and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Legionarius lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Tanner has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Tanner and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Tanner has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Tanner there as he acknowledges the shot.
Tanner thows a body shot but no joy.
Legionarius closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Legionarius fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Tanner.
Tanner misses with a wild body shot.
Legionarius jabs Tanner to the body, keeping him at a distance.
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!
Legionarius feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tanner's calf.
Tanner misses with an uppercut
and Legionarius connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Legionarius ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tanner moves away.
Tanner shoots in for a takedown but Legionarius shows good takedown defense.
Legionarius misses with a low kick as Tanner jumps back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanner defending well as Legionarius loads up on a big left hand.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Legionarius.
Legionarius tries a head kick but it misses.
Tanner throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Legionarius counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tanner. Legionarius does a little dance to reset his feet.
Legionarius looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Tanner ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Legionarius moves away.
Jab, jab by Tanner - just one landing.
Legionarius moves in looking to clinch but Tanner pushes him off.
Legionarius scoring well with a low kick there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Legionarius darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Tanner wants to control but Legionarius is keeping busy.
Legionarius winds up and cracks Tanner with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Legionarius not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tanner trying to control but Legionarius postures up.
Legionarius winds up and cracks Tanner with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Tanner is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Legionarius throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legionarius is taking a breather. Tanner says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Legionarius slips a nice elbow through Tanner's hands, connecting with Tanner's forehead.
Legionarius looks to land a strike but Tanner avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Legionarius missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Legionarius has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Legionarius working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Legionarius being controlled here momentarily.
Tanner working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Legionarius trying to control but Tanner is working from the bottom.
Legionarius working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tanner is trying to control the position but Legionarius postures up.
Legionarius showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tanner blocks a low kick nicely.
Tanner takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Legionarius avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Tanner checks the leg kick.
Legionarius misses with a takedown attempt - Tanner sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Legionarius connects with a solid leg kick.
Legionarius just misses with a punch to the body.
Tanner has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Tanner moves out of range as Legionarius strikes.
Tanner misses with a few strikes there.
Tanner checks a leg kick.

Tanner pushes Legionarius up against the cage in a clinch.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Legionarius drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A frustrated look appears on Tanner's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Tanner is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Legionarius gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Tanner tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Alessio Legionarius has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of RIP Evan Tanner.
Tanner cracks Legionarius with a nice body shot.
Tanner holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Legionarius lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tanner backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Legionarius lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Tanner can't find room to land a body shot as Legionarius controls the action.
Tanner struggles to land a body shot inside as Legionarius controls his hands.
Legionarius prevents a body shot from Tanner.
Tanner tries to pull guard but Legionarius forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Tanner struggles to land a body shot inside as Legionarius controls his hands.

Tanner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Legionarius scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Legionarius shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Tanner on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Legionarius slips under a jab from Tanner.
The fighters circle momentarily. Legionarius darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Legionarius connects with a body shot.
Legionarius misses with a takedown attempt - Tanner sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Legionarius lands a nice looking body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tanner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tanner checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Legionarius misses with a head kick.
Legionarius misses with a body shot.
Legionarius throws a predictable looking body shot
and Tanner counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Legionarius scores with a hook.
Tanner on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Legionarius. Legionarius obviously looking to wear him down.
Tanner fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tanner looks to land a combination but Legionarius avoids it well.
A good leg kick by Legionarius.
Legionarius uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tanner.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Tanner lands a really nice looking cross but Legionarius seems unphased.
Legionarius throws a one two combo.
Legionarius throws a leg kick which misses Tanner's front leg but catches the back leg as Tanner tries to avoid it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Legionarius.
Legionarius throws a nice looking combination but Tanner bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Good work by Tanner as he checks the leg kick.
Legionarius motions for Tanner to come forward. Legionarius throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A nice leg kick lands there from Legionarius.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nice body kick from Legionarius.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Legionarius lands the left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alessio Legionarius dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tanner's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Legionarius connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Tanner scrambles back to his feet.
Tanner tries to clinch but Legionarius moves away
and Legionarius counters with a nice uppercut.

Tanner is rocked!
Tanner misses with a body shot
and Legionarius counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tanner is still on wobbly legs! Can Legionarius finish him?

Oh, that's a big right hand from Legionarius and Tanner goes tumbling to the canvas! Legionarius follows him to the ground and looks to finish from half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tanner keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Tanner on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Legionarius is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Tanner blocking the ground and pound attempt from Legionarius.
Tanner is refusing to be controlled, as Legionarius sits in half guard.
Nice strikes from Legionarius there.

Tanner looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanner is refusing to be controlled, as Legionarius sits in half guard.
Tanner seems to have recovered his senses.
Tanner gets back to full guard.
Legionarius trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Legionarius in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Legionarius trying to control but Tanner is working from the bottom.
Tanner throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Legionarius with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tanner looking to control.
Legionarius tries to stand but Tanner is controlling from the bottom.
Tanner punching from the bottom - just letting Legionarius know he's still in a fight.
Legionarius is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tanner can do to turn this around?
Legionarius working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legionarius is in close to Tanner's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Tanner is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tanner utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Legionarius postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Legionarius trying to control but Tanner is working from the bottom.
Alessio Legionarius overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tanner is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up. RIP Evan Tanner was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Tanner misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Legionarius.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Legionarius takes a swing at Tanner's ribcage but misses.
Tanner lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Legionarius at a distance.
Legionarius swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tanner blocks a leg kick.
Legionarius lands a nice looking body shot.
Legionarius cracks Tanner with a good jab.
Legionarius lands with a good body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tanner on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Legionarius. Legionarius obviously looking to wear him down.
Legionarius displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tanner throws out the jab.
Alessio Legionarius is winning the standup battle so far.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Legionarius lands a nice looking body shot.
Tanner is breathing heavily.
Legionarius fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Tanner has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Legionarius fails with an attempt to clinch.
Legionarius connects with a looping right hand.
Legionarius thows a body shot but no joy.
Legionarius tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tanner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Legionarius misses with a leg kick.
Legionarius 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.
Tanner fails with an attempt to clinch.
No joy there for Tanner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Legionarius misses with a telegraphed body shot
enabling Tanner to counter with a crisp jab.
Tanner checks a leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tanner misses with a looping right.
Legionarius feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tanner's calf.
Alessio Legionarius seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Legionarius feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Tanners jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Legionarius lands a head kick. Tanner smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Legionarius scores with a hook to the body. Tanner takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Tanner shoots in for a double leg but Legionarius sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Legionarius lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Tanner misses the target.
Legionarius lands with a shot to the body.
Tanner on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A nice inside leg kick there by Legionarius. That's going to slow Tanner down.
Tanner takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Legionarius drops Tanner with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Tanner looks back up at him and smiles so Legionarius waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
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!
Legionarius pushes Tanner away with a front kick.
Legionarius closes the distance and lands a vicious right hand that drops Tanner! Legionarius dives in looking to finish! Tanner is still trying to defend himself but he's taking too many shots and the referee has no choice but to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 7:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alessio Legionarius!
In his post fight interview, Alessio Legionarius started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.