PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lygmantas Daunotas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Larry Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Larry Tanaka has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Daunotas
vs
Tanaka

190 cm
19
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
211 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
KO power

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lygmantas Daunotas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Larry Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Chris Downing and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Daunotas!
Daunotas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tanaka has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Tanaka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Daunotas.
Nice uppercut lands for Daunotas. That snapped Tanaka's head back.
Daunotas fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Tanaka 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.
Daunotas slips a jab from Tanaka.
Daunotas takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Daunotas swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Tanaka counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tanaka is looking to clinch.
Tanaka scores with a jab to the head.
Daunotas buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Daunotas jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

Daunotas moves into the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Tanaka misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Tanaka.
Daunotas trying to land knees to the body.
Daunotas softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Tanaka dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Tanaka struggles to land a body shot inside as Daunotas controls his hands.
Tanaka is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Daunotas breaks from the clinch.
Daunotas looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Daunotas slips a jab from Tanaka.
Daunotas misses with a head kick.
A slow jab from Tanaka misses its intended target.
A head kick misses from Daunotas.
A slapping leg kick lands for Daunotas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Daunotas takes the fight into the clinch.
Tanaka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Daunotas's elbow.
Tanaka throws a head punch that misses.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Daunotas takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Daunotas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Daunotas feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tanaka's calf.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Daunotas walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Daunotas staying out of range there.
Tanaka steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Daunotas.
Daunotas tries to work over Tanaka's front leg with a kick but Tanaka checks it.
Daunotas takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Daunotas is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
A slapping body kick lands there for Daunotas.
Tanaka throws the left hand but Daunotas avoids the punch easily.
Daunotas doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Daunotas moves away.
Tanaka misses the shot to the body.
Daunotas moves out of range of the strikes.
Tanaka chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Daunotas can pounce on him.
Daunotas is looking to clinch.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Daunotas.
Tanaka displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Daunotas throws out the jab.
A solid leg kick lands there for Daunotas.
Daunotas scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Tanaka checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Daunotas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Daunotas is breathing heavily.
Daunotas tries to bum rush Tanaka with a series of wild strikes but Tanaka uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tanaka looks to land a left hand but Daunotas moved out of range nicely.
Tanaka cracks Daunotas with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tanaka is looking to slow Daunotas down with leg kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka scores with a sloppy right hand. Daunotas should have avoided that one.
Tanaka thows a body shot but no joy.
Tanaka throws a half hearted mid kick.
Daunotas throws a leg kick that misses.
Tanaka misses with a body shot.
Daunotas takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Tanaka cracks Daunotas with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Tanaka has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Daunotas to stand back up!

Daunotas is rocked!
Daunotas checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Oh Daunotas is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Daunotas shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Tanaka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tanaka scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Daunotas seems to have got his legs back now.
Tanaka misses with a low kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tanaka misses the shot to the body.
Tanaka scores with a jab to the body.
Tanaka throws a jab but it's blocked by Daunotas.
Tanaka jabs at Daunotas's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry Tanaka dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The fighters circling - Tanaka throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tanaka throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Daunotas on the side of the head.
Daunotas chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sloppy strikes from Tanaka. Those never looked like landing.
Daunotas slips under a jab from Tanaka.

Daunotas closes the distance and clinches.
Tanaka misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Daunotas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tanaka avoids the head kick by Daunotas.
Daunotas checks the leg kick.
Tanaka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tanaka lands an overhand right.
Daunotas lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
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 throws out a loose jab but Daunotas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Daunotas tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Tanaka is able to avoid easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka lands a two punch combo.
Daunotas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tanaka.
Tanaka throws out a leg kick but Daunotas moves out of range and Tanaka only half commits.
Daunotas on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Tanaka cracks Daunotas with an uppercut from hell and Daunotas crumples to the canvas, he's out! Oh no, he's recovered and he's grabbed one of Tanaka's legs and pulled him into guard. The ref thought about stopping it there but he's let it go - good reffing!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Daunotas trying to keep a closed guard but Tanaka is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Daunotas throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Tanaka advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka taking a breather here.
Daunotas is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Tanaka in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka trying to control the action but Daunotas is working from the bottom.
Daunotas tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Daunotas is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Larry Tanaka.
Tanaka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tanaka darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Tanaka moves away from the strike by Daunotas.
Daunotas tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Tanaka is able to avoid easily.
Tanaka takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tanaka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Daunotas.
Tanaka changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Daunotas uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Tanaka has time to react.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry Tanaka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Daunotas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A looping hook to the body misses from Daunotas. Tanaka does a little dance to reset his feet.
Daunotas throws a shot from downtown. Tanaka moves away and avoids it.
Daunotas lands with a thumping leg kick.
Daunotas uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tanaka.
Daunotas tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Lygmantas Daunotas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tanaka swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Daunotas tries a head kick but it misses.
Daunotas misses the shot to the body.
Daunotas lands a head kick!
Daunotas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tanaka tries to clinch up.
Daunotas staying out of range there.
Larry Tanaka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Daunotas slips a straight right by Tanaka.
Tanaka finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Daunotas steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tanaka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Daunotas moves away.
Tanaka circles away from the clinch attempt.
Daunotas wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Tanaka scores with a jab to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Daunotas throws a quick inside leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Tanaka.
Daunotas throws a head kick that misses.
Daunotas fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Tanaka has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Tanaka lands a jab to Daunotas's midsection.
Tanaka uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Daunotas has time to react.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Tanaka 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 Daunotas has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Daunotas and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Tanaka misses with a low kick.
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 scores with a hook to the body. Daunotas takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Tanaka scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka thows a body shot but no joy.
Tanaka scores with a body shot.
Tanaka's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Tanaka throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Daunotas on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Daunotas bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Tanaka, as that shot connected.

Tanaka closes the distance and pushes Daunotas back into the cage.
Tanaka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Daunotas is trying to break the clinch but Tanaka has him pressed against the cage.
Daunotas blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short uppercut from Tanaka.
Tanaka tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Daunotas misses with a knee to the head.
Tanaka avoiding damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka trying to stall but Daunotas improves his position.
Daunotas landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Tanaka throws a head punch that misses.
Tanaka swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tanaka looking to slow down the pace here.
Daunotas controlling the action here for a moment.
Larry Tanaka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Daunotas tries a knee to the head but Tanaka blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daunotas leaning against his opponent.
A head punch on the inside from Daunotas fails to land.
Tanaka blocking some punches.
Daunotas misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tanaka misses with a punch on the inside.
Tanaka blocks an uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Daunotas stalling in the clinch.
Lygmantas Daunotas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A battle for position here, against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Larry Tanaka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tanaka winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

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