PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Derek Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Larry Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Williams
vs
Tanaka

181 cm
26
215 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
211 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Demon Clothing Company and Laundy

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Derek Williams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Larry Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanaka pivots, looking for a leg kick but Williams is out of range and Tanaka settles back down.
Williams fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Williams blocks a jab.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Tanaka - that will leave a mark!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Williams.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Williams lands some shots froms side control.
Tanaka defending against the ground and pound.
Tanaka regains half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Williams misses with a head shot. Tanaka uses the momentum to regain guard.
Williams postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Williams throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tanaka working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Williams.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Williams postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Williams throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tanaka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Williams is looking to work some ground and pound but Tanaka has wrist control.
Williams postures up in Tanaka's guard and throws a big left but Tanaka blocks it.
Williams working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Williams with a flurry of punches that miss.
Williams missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tanaka utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Williams is breathing heavily.
Williams postures up in Tanaka's guard and throws a big left but Tanaka blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Williams.
Tanaka wants to sweep but no luck.
Williams throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Williams postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Williams throwing strikes but missing.
Williams is looking to work some ground and pound but Tanaka has wrist control.
Tanaka utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Williams stopping the sweep attempt from Tanaka.
Williams postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Williams throwing strikes but missing.
Tanaka is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Williams stands up over Tanaka, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Williams missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Williams with a flurry of punches that miss.
Williams in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tanaka avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Williams throwing strikes from guard but Tanaka blocks nicely.
Williams throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams throws an elbow that misses. Tanaka uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Williams's guard. Nice move by Tanaka!

Tanaka got a little sloppy there for a moment and Williams has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tanaka has managed to get both his arms back between Williams's legs - danger averted.
Williams keeping moving, preventing Tanaka from controlling successfully.

Williams is looking for a triangle here but Tanaka uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Williams is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Williams dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A jab from Tanaka misses.
Tanaka looks to throw the jab but Williams is out of range.
Tanaka throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Williams counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Williams.
Williams prevents a body shot from Tanaka.
Tanaka is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Tanaka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tanaka lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Williams backwards.
Williams is working for takedown but Tanaka is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka tries to work over Williams's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tanaka misses with a body punch.
Tanaka can't find room to land a body shot as Williams controls the action.
Tanaka throws a punch but it's blocked by Williams.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Williams.
Tanaka tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tanaka working aggressively here.
Tanaka has a couple of punches blocked by Williams.
Tanaka misses with the head strike.
Tanaka doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tanaka misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka struggles to land a body shot inside as Williams controls his hands.
Tanaka trying to control the position but instead, Williams has worked for underhooks and has pushed Tanaka into the cage.
Tanaka is pressed up against the cage. Williams has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tanaka down to the mat. Tanaka avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Tanaka throws a right and a left that Williams avoids nicely.
Williams checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Tanaka gets caught napping as Williams dives in and scores a takedown. Tanaka manages to retain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Williams with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tanaka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Williams throwing strikes from guard but Tanaka blocks nicely.
Tanaka trying to keep a closed guard but Williams is proving a slippery customer.
Tanaka lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Williams!
Williams working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Williams is working hard here to advance position.
Williams on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Williams tries to get out of the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tanaka wants to control the pace but Williams is squirming around nicely.
Williams throwing hammer fists to the chest of Tanaka. What's that going to do exactly?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Larry Tanaka will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Tanaka motions for Williams to come forward. Tanaka throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Tanaka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tanaka throws a right hand that Williams ducks under and follows up with a left that Williams also avoids with ease.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tanaka. Williams does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tanaka throws a right hand that misses
and Williams counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tanaka shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Tanaka swings for the body but Williams moves out of range.
Tanaka falls off balance throwing a combination

and Williams counters by moving into the clinch.
Tanaka can't find room to land a body shot as Williams controls the action.

Williams has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Tanaka clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams misses with punches from the back.
Can Tanaka hold on?! Williams is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Williams misses with a punch to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Williams throwing damaging strikes from the back! Tanaka could be in trouble here!
Williams is throwing strikes by Tanaka counters by rolling into a better position. After a scramble, Tanaka regains half guard.
Williams working the head and body with strikes.
Williams throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Williams with the ground and pound but Tanaka uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tanaka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tanaka is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Williams is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tanaka working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Williams.
Tanaka is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Tanaka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Williams postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Williams throws a strike but Tanaka rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Derek Williams overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Williams working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tanaka doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tanaka manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka is pushing down on Williams's leg trying to pass to half guard. Williams is fighting to maintain full guard but Tanaka has managed to sneak the leg through.
Williams slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Tanaka wants to control from the top but Williams keeps moving.

Williams has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Tanaka is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Williams.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka wants to control but Williams is keeping him busy.
Tanaka is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Williams is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derek Williams showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Williams 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derek Williams!