PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Misiek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daiki Tanimoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Misiek comes to the cage accompanied by El Picante. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Misiek
vs
Tanimoto

181 cm
27
185 lbs
14 - 13 - 1

171 cm
24
185 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

Kore Fight Nutrition [TG]

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 14 - 13 - 1, fighting out of New York, Rafael Misiek!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daiki Tanimoto!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Alan Glass and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanimoto scoring well with a low kick there.
Tanimoto looks to score with a jab to the body but Misiek is just out of range.
Tanimoto stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Misiek.
A low kick from Tanimoto misses
and Misiek counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Misiek throws a head kick that misses.
Tanimoto keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Misiek.
Misiek swinging wildly here.
Misiek throws a quick inside leg kick.
Misiek fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Tanimoto throws a head kick but Misiek moves out of range.
Misiek moves out of range of the leg kick from Tanimoto.
Tanimoto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Daiki Tanimoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Misiek throws a leg kick but Tanimoto checks it.
Tanimoto misses with a low kick as Misiek jumps back.
Tanimoto's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Misiek connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Tanimoto scrambles back to his feet.
Tanimoto takes a kick to the side of the head.
Tanimoto throws a leg kick but Misiek sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanimoto rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Misiek counters with a right hand to the body.
Tanimoto throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Misiek explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
A jab from Misiek does it's job there.
Tanimoto throws a nice inside leg kick.
Tanimoto shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Misiek as he avoids it easily.
Tanimoto shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Misiek pinned against the cage. Misiek gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Misiek fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tanimoto throws a head kick but Misiek moves out of range.
Misiek walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Tanimoto checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Tanimoto steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Some wild striking there from Misiek.
A punch lands to the side of Tanimoto 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Misiek looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanimoto shoots in but Misiek avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rafael Misiek has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daiki Tanimoto.
Tanimoto lands a body shot.
Misiek tries for a takedown but Tanimoto sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Misiek connects with a body shot that sends Tanimoto's belly button to the back.
Tanimoto looks to land a body kick but Misiek moved away.
Tanimoto feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Misiek's calf.
Misiek shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tanimoto but Tanimoto pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tanimoto looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Tanimoto misses with a head kick.
Tanimoto throws a body shot but no joy.
Tanimoto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tanimoto throws the left hand but Misiek avoids the punch easily.
A lazy body kick from Tanimoto
and Tanimoto takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Misiek swings for the body but Tanimoto moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Misiek clobbers Tanimoto with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Tanimoto takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Misiek scores with a jab to the head.

Tanimoto is rocked!
Misiek wants to clinch.
Tanimoto throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Tanimoto throws a head kick that misses
and Misiek counters with a left to the body.
A lazy left from Misiek finds it's target.
Tanimoto throws a head kick but Misiek moves out of range.
No joy there for Misiek, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Misiek is looking to land body kicks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tanimoto keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanimoto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Misiek is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tanimoto.
Misiek fails with a takedown attempt.
Tanimoto throws a leg kick
and Tanimoto takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Tanimoto throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Misiek's waist but Misiek gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tanimoto off to one side.
Misiek fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tanimoto manages to avoid it.
Tanimoto throws a half hearted mid kick.
Tanimoto plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Misiek!
Misiek changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tanimoto tries to avoid it but Misiek manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tanimoto to the ground. Tanimoto escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Tanimoto throws a fast counter high kick but Misiek manages to duck under it in time.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tanimoto throws a sloppy head kick and Misiek moves out of range easily.
Misiek is looking to clinch but Tanimoto is avoiding it.
A nice side step and Tanimoto releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Misiek tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Tanimoto defends well and Misiek ends up having to push Tanimoto into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Misiek shoots in for a double leg but Tanimoto sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tanimoto throws a chopping leg kick but Misiek manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
It looks like Misiek has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Misiek is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tanimoto can do to turn this around?
Tanimoto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Misiek is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Tanimoto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Misiek.
Tanimoto walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Misiek checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Misiek looks to land a combination but Tanimoto avoids it well.
Tanimoto unleashes a big counter combination but Misiek bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Tanimoto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Misiek is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A head kick misses from Misiek.
Tanimoto lands with a good body shot.
Misiek throws a right hand that Tanimoto ducks under and follows up with a left that Tanimoto also avoids with ease.
Tanimoto replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Misiek blocks it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Misiek throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Tanimoto looks for the body kick but Misiek saw that one coming.
Misiek wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Tanimoto misses the body punch
and Misiek cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tanimoto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Misiek swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Misiek looks to land a left hand but Tanimoto moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
That kick from Tanimoto tenderised Misiek's leg. Misiek is trying to keep his angry face on.
Misiek keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Misiek misses the target.
A head kick misses from Tanimoto.
A solid leg kick lands there for Tanimoto.
Tanimoto lands a front kick.
Tanimoto takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Misiek scoring well with a low kick there.
Tanimoto feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Misiek's calf.
Tanimoto shoots in but Misiek avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Misiek lands with a good body shot.
Misiek connects with a body shot that sends Tanimoto's belly button to the back.
Misiek takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Rafael Misiek is winning the standup battle so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Misiek has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Misiek cracks Tanimoto with an open hand slap.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanimoto tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Tanimoto throws a head kick that misses.
It looked like Misiek was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Tanimoto.
Rafael Misiek is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Misiek comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Tanimoto is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Misiek rather than just go for the knockout.
Tanimoto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tanimoto throws a sloppy head kick and Misiek moves out of range easily.
Misiek connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Misiek misses with a leg kick
letting Tanimoto counter with a right hand.
Misiek throws a shot to the body.
Misiek lands a nice hook to Tanimoto's body. Tanimoto takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Misiek misses the shot to the body.
Tanimoto feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Misiek's calf.
Misiek lands the left hand.
Tanimoto tries a head kick but it misses.
Misiek lunges at Tanimoto with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Tanimoto's hand.
Tanimoto pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Misiek lands with an uppercut that bounces Tanimoto off the cage and back into range.
Misiek lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Tanimoto is still on wobbly legs! Can Misiek finish him?
Tanimoto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Misiek moves away.
Tanimoto throws a head kick that misses.
Tanimoto seems to have recovered his senses.
Misiek looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Tanimoto 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 Misiek has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Misiek and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Tanimoto scores with a hook to the body. Misiek takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Tanimoto will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Misiek throwing a counter right hand but Tanimoto manages to avoid it.
Tanimoto misses with a hook to the body

and Misiek counters by clinching up.
Tanimoto tries to pull guard but Misiek holds him up against the cage and eventually Tanimoto drops back down to his feet.
Tanimoto wants a takedown but no success here.
Rafael Misiek has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daiki Tanimoto.
Tanimoto is breathing heavily.
Misiek slowing the pace effectively.
Tanimoto tries for a takedown. No joy.

Tanimoto breaks from the clinch.
Tanimoto takes one to the chin there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Misiek throws a push kick but Tanimoto slaps the foot to one side.
Misiek lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tanimoto takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Misiek.
Tanimoto swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Misiek missing with a left hand there. Tanimoto was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tanimoto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Misiek tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tanimoto throws a head kick that misses.
Misiek chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Tanimoto can pounce on him.
Misiek tries to clinch but Tanimoto moves out of range.
Tanimoto throws a leg kick
and Misiek counters with a one-two to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Misiek avoids the head kick by Tanimoto.
Tanimoto fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rafael Misiek will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Misiek scores with a nice head shot.
Tanimoto keeps the fight on the outside.
Tanimoto tries a quick counter leg kick but Misiek is wise to it.

Misiek clinches with his opponent.
Tanimoto has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Misiek after a bit of a struggle.
Misiek works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Tanimoto changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Misiek fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Tanimoto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Misiek manages to avoid it.
Tanimoto misses with a head kick.
Misiek lands a slapping body shot.
Misiek fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Tanimoto has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Misiek misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Misiek lands a jab.
Misiek wants to clinch.
And Tanimoto tries to counter it with a takedown but Misiek pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Tanimoto scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Misiek throws a hook to the side of Tanimoto's head but Tanimoto sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Misiek takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Misiek has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Tanimoto.
Misiek moves out of range as Tanimoto throws a body kick.
Misiek blocks a head kick by Tanimoto.
Tanimoto misses with a head kick.
Tanimoto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tanimoto throws a head kick that misses.
Tanimoto takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Tanimoto keeps the fight on the outside.
Tanimoto tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Misiek scores with a leg kick.
Tanimoto looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Tanimoto shoots in but no luck this time.
Rafael Misiek has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daiki Tanimoto.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanimoto slips a jab and a cross from Misiek.
Tanimoto swings for the body but Misiek moves out of range.
Misiek is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Tanimoto with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Misiek to score with a decent uppercut.
Misiek uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tanimoto.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tanimoto misses with a head kick.
Tanimoto takes one on the button.
Misiek swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Misiek looks to land a combination but Tanimoto avoids it well.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Misiek checks a leg kick.
Misiek lands a high kick!
Tanimoto connects with an inside leg kick.
Misiek scores with a shot to the body.
Misiek misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Tanimoto counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Misiek is lucky that one didn't land flush.

It looks like Rafael Misiek has been cut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tanimoto. Misiek does a little dance to reset his feet.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tanimoto. That's going to slow Misiek down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanimoto misses with a body kick.
Misiek will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tanimoto swings for the body but Misiek moves out of range.
Misiek ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Misiek throws out a powerful jab.
A solid leg kick lands there for Misiek.

Misiek gets a takedown into half guard.
Tanimoto is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Misiek is nestled in close to Tanimoto, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Misiek lands a nice short elbow.
Rafael Misiek is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tanimoto is trying to maintain the position but Misiek is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Misiek prevents Tanimoto from improving his position.
Tanimoto makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tanimoto.
Tanimoto not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Misiek has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Tanimoto wants to sweep but no luck.
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!
Tanimoto keeping moving, preventing Misiek from controlling successfully.
Tanimoto keeping full guard, as Misiek tries to pass.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Tanimoto looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Daiki Tanimoto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Tanimoto working for submissions but it's allowed Misiek to get to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Misiek showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Misiek has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Misiek!
A victorious Rafael Misiek thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
In defeat, Daiki Tanimoto stepped up to the mic, saying 'Proudly Supported by Team Goroshi - RVCA - Kore Fight Nutrition - Jef Li's MMA - Silent Fighting Championship'.