PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shinji Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Ishikawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tanaka comes into the arena with Yuudachi blaring out of the sound system. Ishikawa has chosen mindshift genki sudo as his entrance music. Akira Ishikawa is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Tanaka
vs
Ishikawa

160 cm
30
139 lbs
14 - 12 - 1

150 cm
36
147 lbs
35 - 24 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinji Tanaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Ishikawa!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Taro Takaoka and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ishikawa is looking to clinch.
Tanaka scores with a shot to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tanaka.
Tanaka tests Ishikawa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ishikawa tries to clinch up but Tanaka circles away and keeps his distance.
Ishikawa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ishikawa gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Tanaka prevents Ishikawa from getting back to his feet.

Ishikawa looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tanaka passes into half guard.
Ishikawa is not content to let Tanaka control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ishikawa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tanaka wants to pass the guard but Ishikawa is defending well.
Tanaka wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ishikawa keeps working.
Tanaka wants to pass the guard but Ishikawa is defending well.
Tanaka is working hard here to advance position.
We've been hearing that Tanaka has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Tanaka frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Tanaka trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ishikawa prevents Tanaka from taking his back.
Ishikawa squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Tanaka can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ishikawa is looking to escape.
Tanaka sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ishikawa avoids a series of strikes thrown by Tanaka.
Tanaka avoids the attempt from Ishikawa to control.
Tanaka looking to control but Ishikawa is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ishikawa sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Tanaka trying to mount his opponent but Ishikawa defends it.
Tanaka uses his free foot to push down on Ishikawa's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Ishikawa.
Ishikawa tries to hold on but Tanaka pushes him away.
Ishikawa has given up his back here. Will Tanaka look for the submission or keep pounding away?

Tanaka has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Tanaka keeps control of the position easily here as Ishikawa tries to buck him off.
Ishikawa is in bad spot here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ishikawa trying to control the hands but Tanaka won't let him.
Tanaka lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ishikawa preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Tanaka.

Tanaka looking for the choke but no joy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ishikawa tries to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinji Tanaka dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ishikawa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tanaka swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tanaka is looking to counter the offense by Ishikawa and move into the clinch.
Ishikawa tries to clinch there but Tanaka circles away.
Ishikawa is looking to clinch but Tanaka is avoiding it.
Tanaka fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ishikawa is looking to clinch.
As Ishikawa backs away, Tanaka returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Tanaka getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Akira Ishikawa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ishikawa is looking to clinch.

Ishikawa pushes Tanaka up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ishikawa lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Tanaka or not.
Ishikawa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tanaka blocks it with crossed arms.
Ishikawa lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Tanaka stalling in the clinch.
Tanaka tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ishikawa smiles and moves away.
Ishikawa tries to clinch but Tanaka is having none of it.
Tanaka swats away the attempt to clinch by Ishikawa.
Tanaka feinted with a counter takedown.
Tanaka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ishikawa can do to turn this around?
Ishikawa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tanaka feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Tanaka digs a good body shot into Ishikawa's ribs.
Tanaka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ishikawa wants to clinch up but Tanaka keeps it at a distance.
Tanaka tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ishikawa swivels and escapes.
Ishikawa looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinji Tanaka. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ishikawa has managed to clinch.
Nice elbow from Ishikawa.
Ishikawa landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ishikawa creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Tanaka avoids a wild elbow strike from Ishikawa.
Ishikawa tries a knee to the head but Tanaka blocks it.
Ishikawa connects with a knee to the head.
Ishikawa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tanaka has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ishikawa leaning his opponent against the cage.
Tanaka is trying to pull guard but Ishikawa has him pressed against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Ishikawa scores with a shoulder strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ishikawa looking to throw knees to the head but Tanaka is blocking nicely.
Tanaka misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ishikawa looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Tanaka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tanaka tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ishikawa smiles and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ishikawa sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ishikawa wants to counter the offense by Tanaka and move into the clinch position.
Ishikawa takes one on the button.
Ishikawa moves in looking to clinch but Tanaka pushes him off.

Ishikawa darts in and clinches Tanaka up against the cage.
Tanaka digs a right hand into Ishikawa's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ishikawa's gas tank.
Ishikawa throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Ishikawa looking to slow down the pace here.

Ishikawa breaks from the clinch.
Akira Ishikawa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ishikawa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tanaka manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
It appears Tanaka was looking to counter with a kick there.
Tanaka tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Ishikawa counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Shinji Tanaka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka wants to improve his position but Ishikawa is controlling well.
Ishikawa is keen to just control but Tanaka is a slippery customer.
Ishikawa is just content to waste time from the top position. Tanaka takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Ishikawa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tanaka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tanaka throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Tanaka looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Ishikawa has picked Tanaka up and slammed him! Tanaka can't keep hold of the triangle and Ishikawa manages to pass to side control!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tanaka is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Ishikawa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ishikawa tries to clinch but Tanaka moves out of range.

Ishikawa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Tanaka misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ishikawa landing knees to the head.
Tanaka blocks the elbow strike.
Akira Ishikawa seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ishikawa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tanaka has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tanaka can't find room to land a body shot as Ishikawa controls the action.

Tanaka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tanaka keeps the fight on the outside.
Ishikawa tries to clinch up but Tanaka circles away and keeps his distance.
A counter left hand to the body from Tanaka misses its target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ishikawa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tanaka is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Ishikawa lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Ishikawa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tanaka swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Ishikawa instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ishikawa lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Ishikawa taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Ishikawa lands a good knee to the midsection. Tanaka won't want to take too many of those.
Ishikawa lands an elbow that stopped Tanaka in his tracks for a moment.
Ishikawa tries to land a knee to the head but Tanaka blocks with his arms.
Ishikawa throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tanaka avoiding damage as Ishikawa throws knees to the body.
Tanaka has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ishikawa avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ishikawa misses with a knee to the head.
Ishikawa tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tanaka avoids it.
Tanaka tries to work over Ishikawa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Ishikawa just misses with a elbow thrown towards Tanaka's brow.

Tanaka jumps into guard, dragging Ishikawa to the mat.
Tanaka is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Ishikawa looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tanaka is looking for a triangle here but Ishikawa uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Tanaka gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Tanaka regains half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tanaka is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tanaka wants to control but Ishikawa is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka moves into full guard.
Tanaka utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tanaka working a defensive guard here.
Ishikawa wants to control from the top but Tanaka keeps moving.
Ishikawa slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ishikawa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tanaka keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Tanaka gets back to half guard.
Tanaka trying to control but Ishikawa postures up.
Tanaka is trying to get back to full guard.
Tanaka makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tanaka.
Ishikawa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tanaka is keeping the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tanaka is trying to control the position but Ishikawa postures up.
Tanaka is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akira Ishikawa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ishikawa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akira Ishikawa!
Akira Ishikawa made sure to mention his sponsor, Kemists ↑ 5x160Q in his post fight interview.