PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alonso Best (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tao Kanachi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Best
vs
Kanachi

166 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
192 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alonso Best!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tao Kanachi!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Best gets caught napping as Kanachi dives in and scores a takedown. Best manages to retain guard.
Kanachi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Best has his foot on Kanachi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kanachi works his way back into a safe position though.

Kanachi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Best keeping moving, preventing Kanachi from controlling successfully.

Best throws his legs up looking for a submission but Kanachi uses it to pass to side control.
Kanachi advances nicely into full mount.
Kanachi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Best is wriggling around trying to escape.
Best is working hard here to advance position.
Kanachi throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

Kanachi looking for a guillotine from mount but Best is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Best can't escape the position.
Best wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Kanachi.
Best wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Kanachi throws some wild stikes that Best manages to avoid easily.
Kanachi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Best is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kanachi throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Poor strikes thrown by Kanachi there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Kanachi wants to control the pace but Best is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Best is wriggling around trying to escape.
Best is trying to stand but he's just given Kanachi his back.
Best rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Best is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kanachi pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kanachi looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kanachi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kanachi trying to control from half guard but Best is working away.

Best is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kanachi pulls his head out easily.
Kanachi tries to pass to full mount but Best defends it.

Best looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Best has a hand on Kanachi's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Kanachi takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Kanachi wants to control the action but instead Best gets a body lock and reverses into Kanachi's guard! Nice work!
Kanachi can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Best controls the pace.
Best could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Best trying to control but Kanachi is working from the bottom.
Best is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kanachi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kanachi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Best did well to prevent Kanachi getting side control.

Best looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Best tries to roll over but Kanachi keeps him under control.
Best moves into full guard.
Best looking for a sweep. Not yet Best, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Best has his foot on Kanachi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kanachi works his way back into a safe position though.
Best keeping moving, preventing Kanachi from controlling successfully.
Kanachi advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanachi not doing much here.
Kanachi is looking to take a break and control but Best is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Best is trying to get back to full guard.
Kanachi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kanachi looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kanachi tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Kanachi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Best does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two 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.

Best tries to keep at a distance but Kanachi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kanachi missing with knees to the body.

Kanachi works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Best had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kanachi defends it easily.

Best escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kanachi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kanachi trying to control but Best is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Best tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Best has his foot on Kanachi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kanachi works his way back into a safe position though.
Tao Kanachi has got the better of the ground game so far.

Best throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Best utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kanachi is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Kanachi wants to pass the guard but Best is keeping the position.
Kanachi trying to control but Best is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Best wants to stand and escape but Kanachi is having none of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Kanachi looking to score a takedown here. Best is defending well but Kanachi drives through and ends up in Best's guard.

Best is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kanachi defends well.
Kanachi wanted to stand there but Best had control of the position.
Kanachi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kanachi throwing strikes from guard but Best blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tao Kanachi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kanachi rushes Best and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Best manages to break the clinch.

Kanachi throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Best tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kanachi is in Best's guard.
Kanachi trying to control the position from guard on top but Best is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kanachi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Best has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Kanachi is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Best breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Best avoids the head kick by Kanachi.
Best went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Best tries to sprawl but Kanachi drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Kanachi wants to pass to mount but Best is defending the position.
Kanachi is looking to take a break and control but Best is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kanachi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Best's head.
Best is trying to stand back up but Kanachi is controlling him
Best missing with punches from the bottom.
Best wants to improve his position but Kanachi is controlling well.
Best moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kanachi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kanachi throwing strikes but missing.
Kanachi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Best had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kanachi defends it easily.
Kanachi is pushing down on Best's leg trying to pass to half guard. Best is fighting to maintain full guard but Kanachi has managed to sneak the leg through.
Best is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kanachi's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kanachi's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I would not like to be Kanachi right now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
I really don't envy Kanachi right now.