PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Azrael Arkane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiromitsu Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Arkane
vs
Tanaka

195 cm
27
180 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

185 cm
31
175 lbs
7 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

DTK Designs (Laundry)

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Azrael Arkane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiromitsu Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tanaka gets a double leg takedown into Arkane's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Arkane utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tanaka has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tanaka stops Arkane from standing up.
Tanaka lands a couple of elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Arkane keeping full guard, as Tanaka tries to pass.
Tanaka won't allow Arkane to get back to his feet.
Tanaka lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Tanaka working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Tanaka prevents Arkane from getting back to his feet.
Tanaka working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tanaka throws an elbow that misses. Arkane uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tanaka's guard. Nice move by Arkane!
Arkane is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arkane stopping the sweep attempt from Tanaka.
Arkane wants to control from the top but Tanaka keeps moving.
Tanaka wants to get back to his feet but Arkane is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Arkane trying to control the position from guard on top but Tanaka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Arkane showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Tanaka has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tanaka defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Arkane.
Arkane has his takedown stuffed
and Tanaka counters with an outside leg kick.

Arkane darts in and clinches Tanaka up against the cage.
Arkane on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Arkane tries to score a body lock takedown but Tanaka shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Azrael Arkane. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tanaka tries to break free but Arkane pushes him back against the cage.
Arkane has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tanaka avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Tanaka is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Arkane drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tanaka gets the underhooks and prevents it.
With the fighters up against the cage, Tanaka throws an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arkane tries to pull guard but Tanaka forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Arkane has Tanaka pressed against the cage, preventing Tanaka from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Tanaka has hold of one of Arkane's legs. Arkane is fighting the takedown attempt but Tanaka gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Arkane keeping moving, preventing Tanaka from controlling successfully.
Arkane is looking to stand up but Tanaka isn't so interested in that idea.
Tanaka missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tanaka won't allow Arkane to sweep him here.
Tanaka working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tanaka postures up in Arkane's guard and throws a big left but Arkane blocks it.
Tanaka works over Arkane with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka throws a big right hand that misses.
Tanaka is looking to work some ground and pound but Arkane has wrist control.

Arkane pushes Tanaka off and scrambles back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Tanaka closes the distance and clinches.
Tanaka connects with a knee to the head.
Tanaka looking to slow down the pace here.
Come on Tanaka - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Arkane wants to take the fight to the mat but Tanaka manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tanaka leaning his opponent against the cage.
Arkane wants a takedown but no success here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiromitsu Tanaka dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Tanaka lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Arkane shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tanaka as he avoids it easily.

Tanaka closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Tanaka is fighting off a takedown attempt but Arkane is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Tanaka to the mat. Tanaka regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Arkane postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Tanaka looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Arkane is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Tanaka wants to sweep but no luck.
Arkane prevents Tanaka from getting back to his feet.
Tanaka is trying to control the position but Arkane postures up.
Tanaka is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arkane trying to control the position from guard on top but Tanaka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Azrael Arkane.
An inside leg kick lands from Tanaka.

Tanaka rushes Arkane and presses him up against the cage.
Arkane can't get the takedown.
Arkane is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Tanaka is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Azrael Arkane. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Arkane has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Tanaka is trying to keep an underhook but Arkane manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Arkane stalling.
Tanaka is trying to stand.
Arkane is trying to control the action in half guard but Tanaka is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arkane controlling the pace.

Azrael Arkane has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Tanaka throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Arkane tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Tanaka is in Arkane's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tanaka in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tanaka missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tanaka accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Arkane has control of Tanaka's left arm, preventing Tanaka from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tanaka scoring with punches to the head and body.
Tanaka passes into half guard.
Tanaka working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Arkane's thigh. Arkane counters though and makes it back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arkane wants to get back to his feet but Tanaka is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Arkane has momentary wrist control but Tanaka slips an elbow through the middle.
Tanaka working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Arkane really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Tanaka throwing strikes from guard but Arkane blocks nicely.
Tanaka working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka throwing strikes from guard but Arkane blocks nicely.
Tanaka postures up in Arkane's guard and throws a big left but Arkane blocks it.
Tanaka with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tanaka throws a big right hand that misses.
Tanaka won't allow Arkane to sweep him here.
Tanaka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Arkane is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Tanaka presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Arkane gets a trip takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tanaka trying to control from the bottom.
Tanaka slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hiromitsu Tanaka will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Tanaka displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Arkane.
Arkane leaves Tanaka with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Arkane shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Arkane was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Arkane happy to just control the position for now.
Arkane wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tanaka keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka wants to control but Arkane postures up.
Tanaka is looking for a sweep.
Tanaka is not content to let Arkane control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Tanaka is trying to improve his position.
Tanaka takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Arkane creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Tanaka sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arkane scores with punches from side control.
Tanaka tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Arkane wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Arkane working the ground and pound.
Tanaka struggling a bit here.
Tanaka is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Arkane asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Arkane is putting a hurting on Tanaka here, landing some big shots from side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Arkane 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arkane wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tanaka keeps working.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Tanaka is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Arkane has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Tanaka is looking to regain half guard here but Arkane keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Arkane is keen to just control but Tanaka is a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Azrael Arkane wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Tanaka looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Arkane avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tanaka lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tanaka postures up and lands a big shot to Arkane's brow.
Tanaka wants to control from the top but Arkane keeps moving.

Arkane is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Tanaka presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Azrael Arkane showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tanaka has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Hiromitsu Tanaka!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Hiromitsu Tanaka!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Hiromitsu Tanaka!

Hiromitsu Tanaka wins by unanimous decision!
Hiromitsu Tanaka really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Global Empire MMA Gear logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.