PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dave Sherk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Larry Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sherk comes to the cage accompanied by Divinations by Mastodon. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sherk
vs
Tanaka

185 cm
19
209 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

185 cm
19
211 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dave Sherk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Larry Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Gwen Towbar and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sherk throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Tanaka was covering up waiting for the punch and Sherk finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Sherk trying to control but Tanaka is working from the bottom.
Tanaka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sherk is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Sherk loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dave Sherk wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sherk shoots for a double leg takedown but Tanaka sprawls well. He's pushed Sherk's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka throws a hook to the side of Sherk's head but Sherk sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sherk tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Larry Tanaka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Tanaka prevents a takedown attempt there.
Tanaka misses with a punch on the inside.
Sherk wants to take the fight to the mat but Tanaka manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Sherk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tanaka tries to throw a body punch but Sherk avoids it by throwing Tanaka back against the cage.
Tanaka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sherk creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Tanaka swings wildly with an uppercut but Sherk uses good head movement to avoid it.
Come on Sherk - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Tanaka is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sherk breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tanaka moves out of range of the body kick.

Sherk shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Tanaka's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Sherk gets to his feet. Tanaka looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Tanaka throws out a loose jab but Sherk uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sherk shoots in but no luck this time.
Tanaka dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tanaka throws a shot from downtown. Sherk moves away and avoids it.
Tanaka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tanaka throws a body punch but Sherk moves out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sherk.
Tanaka throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Sherk.
Sherk avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tanaka. Sherk does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tanaka bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Tanaka avoids the head kick by Sherk.
Sherk shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Tanaka sprawls well. Tanaka wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sherk gets slowly back to his feet.
Tanaka throws a body punch but Sherk moves out of range.
Sherk fails with a takedown attempt.
Sherk does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Sherk shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Tanaka eats them both and turns towards Sherk to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
A right-left combo lands from Tanaka.

It looks like Dave Sherk has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tanaka swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tanaka gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sherk wants to pass the guard but Tanaka is keeping the position.
Tanaka is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sherk wants to control from the top but Tanaka keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Dave Sherk will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dave Sherk's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tanaka throws a shot to the body.

Sherk scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Tanaka sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Sherk is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sherk tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tanaka knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sherk prevents Tanaka from improving his position.
Sherk is stalling here. Tanaka is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Sherk seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Tanaka has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
We've been informed that Tanaka has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherk gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Sherk works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sherk is looking to sweep but instead, Tanaka has passed into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka controlling the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sherk is pressing down on Tanaka's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Tanaka trying to control the position from guard on top but Sherk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka stopping the sweep attempt from Sherk.
Sherk on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sherk tries to get out of the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Sherk not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sherk moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Sherk slips under a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sherk moves away.
Sherk checks a low kick from Tanaka.
Dave Sherk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sherk shoots in and drives through. Tanaka sprawls well.

Sherk forces Tanaka back against the cage and clinches.
Sherk blocks an uppercut.
Sherk with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sherk looking for a takedown.
Sherk has Tanaka pressed against the cage.
Tanaka working aggressively here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sherk wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Sherk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Sherk gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Tanaka regains guard.
Tanaka wants to sweep here but Sherk controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Sherk dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dave Sherk's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sherk fails in his attempt to clinch.
A low kick from Tanaka misses

and Sherk counters by moving into the clinch.
Sherk has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Tanaka after a bit of a struggle.
Tanaka lands a nice uppercut.
Tanaka gets underhooks to prevent Sherk's takedown attempt.
Tanaka can't find room to land a body shot as Sherk controls the action.
Tanaka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sherk's elbow.

Sherk drags the fight down to the ground.
Sherk is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Tanaka trying to control but Sherk is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Larry Tanaka hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Sherk keeps the fight on the outside.
Sherk fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Sherk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tanaka throws a quick inside leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tanaka lands a nice looking kick to the body. Sherk takes a step back to recover.
Sherk slips under a jab.
Tanaka scores with a kick to the body.
Tanaka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tanaka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tanaka fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sherk manages to avoid it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tanaka dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sherk. That did some damage!
Tanaka throws a leg kick which misses Sherk's front leg but catches the back leg as Sherk tries to avoid it.
Larry Tanaka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Tanaka.
Sherk takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tanaka misses with a body shot.
Tanaka swings for the body but Sherk moves out of range.
Tanaka wants to clinch up but Sherk keeps it at a distance.
Tanaka lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sherk's sensitive parts.
Larry Tanaka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tanaka turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Tanaka throws an overhand right that lands on Sherk's shoulder, as Sherk tries to avoid the shot.
Tanaka is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Sherk rather than just go for the knockout.
Tanaka doesn't manage to clinch there - Sherk circles away.
Sherk defending well as Tanaka loads up on a big left hand.
Nice uppercut lands for Tanaka. That snapped Sherk's head back.
Tanaka checks a low kick from Sherk.
Tanaka uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sherk.
Tanaka throws a jab but it's blocked by Sherk.

Sherk gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Come on Sherk - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Sherk is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Tanaka doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tanaka lands a body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Tanaka fails to land.
Tanaka lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sherk or not.
Sherk looking for a takedown.
Tanaka goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tanaka lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Tanaka misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Dave Sherk is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sherk is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tanaka pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sherk prevents a body shot from Tanaka.
Tanaka throws a head punch that misses.
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 tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tanaka throws a punch but it's blocked by Sherk.
Tanaka swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tanaka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tanaka prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sherk tries to score a body lock takedown but Tanaka shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tanaka is looking to control Sherk's arms but Sherk gets an underhook and turns him. Now Tanaka has his back to the cage.
Tanaka swings away with an uppercut that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Larry Tanaka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sherk 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 29:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Dave Sherk!
After winning the bout, Dave Sherk thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.