PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Taka Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don Dirst (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tanaka comes to the cage accompanied by Muse - Citizen Erased. Taka Tanaka has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Tanaka
vs
Dirst

196 cm
19
205 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
200 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Prefers ground

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Taka Tanaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Don Dirst!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Tiny Johnson and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanaka gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Dirst.
Dirst looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Tanaka pushes Dirst up against the cage in a clinch.
Dirst changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tanaka fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Dirst lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Dirst lunges at Tanaka with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Tanaka's hand.
Dirst looks to land a right hand but Tanaka moved out of range.
Dirst throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Tanaka takes the fight into the clinch.
Tanaka lands an elbow that stopped Dirst in his tracks for a moment.
Dirst is trying to drag Tanaka to the mat but Tanaka just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dirst has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tanaka is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Taka Tanaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Don Dirst.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka prevents the takedown attempt.
Tanaka prevents the takedown attempt.
Dirst fails to pull guard.
Dirst tries to pull guard but Tanaka holds him up against the cage and eventually Dirst drops back down to his feet.
Dirst wants to break free but Tanaka has control.
Dirst has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tanaka is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A knee to the head by Tanaka.
Dirst changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tanaka fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Dirst misses with a series of wild punches.
Tanaka uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dirst.
Dirst looks to throw the jab but Tanaka is out of range.

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.

Dirst tries to keep at a distance but Tanaka has taken the fight into the clinch.
Dirst tries to score a body lock takedown but Tanaka shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Dirst has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tanaka is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Dirst looks gassed!
Dirst wants to break free but Tanaka has control.
Tanaka stalling in the clinch.
Dirst can't get the takedown.
Tanaka stalling in the clinch.
Dirst swings wildly with an uppercut but Tanaka uses good head movement to avoid it.

Dirst lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Tanaka is holding on to half guard well.
Dirst with the ground and pound but Tanaka uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Dirst throws a big right hand that misses.
Dirst must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dirst is fighting to break Tanaka's control of his arms but Tanaka is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Tanaka on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Tanaka tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dirst throwing strikes but missing.
Tanaka has Dirst pulled in close to control his posture.
Tanaka being controlled here, momentarily.
Tanaka bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dirst's guard.

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 is stalling in the full guard.

Dirst is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Dirst controls Tanaka momentarily but Tanaka frees himself.
Tanaka controlling from the top position.
Dirst is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Dirst 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.

Dirst throws a jab when Tanaka was well out of range.
Dirst misses with an uppercut.
Dirst swings for the body but Tanaka moves out of range.
Dirst looks to land a combination but Tanaka avoids it well.
A combination from Dirst does no damage.
Don Dirst seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dirst lands with a hook. Tanaka tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Dirst 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.
Dirst fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tanaka manages to avoid it.
Dirst fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tanaka manages to avoid it.
Dirst looks to throw the jab but Tanaka is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dirst throws a hook but Tanaka blocks it.
Tanaka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A combination from Dirst does no damage.
Dirst misses with a wild combination.
Dirst throws out a loose jab but Tanaka uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dirst shoots in and drives through. Tanaka sprawls well.
Dirst is breathing heavily.
Nice defenses there by Tanaka.
Dirst might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Tanaka fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tanaka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Some wild striking there from Dirst.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Tanaka closes the distance and pushes Dirst back into the cage.
Dirst throws a head punch that misses.
Dirst drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tanaka gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Tanaka with a knee to the head.
Dirst goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tanaka prevents it.
Taka Tanaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Don Dirst.
Tanaka scores a nice knee to the body.

Tanaka has clasped his hands together around Dirst's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Dirst is trying to improve his position.
Dirst can't do much from the bottom here.
Tanaka happy to just control the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tanaka decides to stand back up.
Dirst looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Tanaka instigates a clinch.
Dirst tries for a takedown. No joy.
Dirst tries for a takedown but Tanaka manages to get underhooks.
Tanaka lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Dirst can't get the takedown.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka connects with a knee to the head.
Dirst is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Tanaka gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Tanaka breaks from the clinch.

Tanaka has closed the distance and engaged Dirst in a clinch.
Tanaka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Dirst blocks it with crossed arms.
Tanaka looking to throw knees to the head but Dirst is blocking nicely.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dirst.
Tanaka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Dirst wants to break the clinch but can't.
Dirst is looking to break free of the clinch but Tanaka has double underhooks.
Dirst changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tanaka fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Tanaka shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Tanaka showed some decent athleticism there.
Tanaka seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taka Tanaka dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Dirst avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dirst tries to bum rush Tanaka with a series of wild strikes but Tanaka uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tanaka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dirst swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tanaka just misses with a punch to the body.
Tanaka moves out of range of the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dirst scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Dirst with the ground and pound but Tanaka regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

Dirst is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Tanaka is just riding it out for now. Dirst eventually gives up the hold.
Dirst takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dirst looks to land a strike but Tanaka avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Tanaka trying to keep a closed guard but Dirst is proving a slippery customer.
Tanaka is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

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.
Dirst throws a big right hand that misses.
Dirst looking to pass the guard.

Dirst has gone for a leg lock! Tanaka slips out almost immediately though and dives into Dirst's guard.
Dirst is trying to keep Tanaka in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dirst wants to sweep but no luck.

Dirst is looking for a triangle here but Tanaka uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Tanaka controlling the position from side mount.
Tanaka's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dirst tries to bench press Tanaka off him but Tanaka keeps the position.
Dirst is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Dirst is trying to control Tanaka's posture but Tanaka avoids it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dirst is looking to regain half guard here but Tanaka keeps moving and retains side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Taka Tanaka.
I think Tanaka has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taka Tanaka!