PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dj Dolnaoh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergio Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dolnaoh
vs
Tanaka

164 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
145 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dj Dolnaoh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sergio Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanaka shoots in but Dolnaoh avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Dolnaoh misses with a wild body shot.
Dolnaoh misses with a takedown attempt
and Tanaka counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Dolnaoh has closed the distance and engaged Tanaka in a clinch.
Dolnaoh swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Tanaka pulls guard.
Dolnaoh tries to free his leg and advance position but Tanaka is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tanaka has his foot on Dolnaoh's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dolnaoh works his way back into a safe position though.
Dolnaoh pushing down on Tanaka's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Tanaka striking from half guard on the bottom.
Dolnaoh is trying to control. Tanaka wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dolnaoh trying to control the pace.
Dolnaoh thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tanaka's head.
Dolnaoh is keen to just control but Tanaka is a slippery customer.
Tanaka regains full guard. Nicely done.
Dolnaoh trying to control the position from guard on top but Tanaka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Dolnaoh decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Tanaka, up you get!
Tanaka throws a series of punches but Dolnaoh avoids them all with ease.
Tanaka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dolnaoh tries to avoid it but Tanaka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dolnaoh to the ground. Dolnaoh escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Dolnaoh misses.
Tanaka lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Dolnaoh misses with a body kick.
Dolnaoh throws a shot from downtown. Tanaka moves away and avoids it.
Dolnaoh shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Tanaka sprawls well. Tanaka wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dolnaoh gets slowly back to his feet.
Tanaka throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dolnaoh's waist but Dolnaoh gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tanaka off to one side.
Dj Dolnaoh has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sergio Tanaka.
Tanaka fails with the takedown.
Tanaka tries for a takedown but Dolnaoh sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Dolnaoh throws a big counter combination but Tanaka scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tanaka gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Dolnaoh with a nice head shot there.
Tanaka tries to strike from the bottom.
Dolnaoh trying to control but Tanaka is working from the bottom.
Dolnaoh throwing strikes from guard but Tanaka blocks nicely.
Tanaka keeping moving, preventing Dolnaoh from controlling successfully.
Dolnaoh trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tanaka's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tanaka thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

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

Dolnaoh gets the takedown into side control.

Tanaka sneaks out the side door and pushes Dolnaoh away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dolnaoh shoots in and drives through. Tanaka sprawls well.
Tanaka lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Dolnaoh tries to clinch up.

Tanaka looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Dolnaoh is adopting a defensive guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sergio Tanaka will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tanaka throws a wild body kick that Dolnaoh sees coming a mile off.
Tanaka takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Dolnaoh tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tanaka swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A punch combination from Tanaka misses.
Dolnaoh misses with a kick to the body

and Tanaka counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Dolnaoh!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tanaka wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dolnaoh keeps working.
You can see the frustration on Dolnaoh's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dolnaoh is trying to improve his position.
Tanaka lands a few punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Dolnaoh can't do much from the bottom here.

Tanaka is trying to get an arm triangle but Dolnaoh is defending well.
Check out the look on Tanaka's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Sergio Tanaka has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dolnaoh throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Tanaka trying to control the action but Dolnaoh is working from the bottom.
Dolnaoh stuck in half guard on the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Tanaka thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Dolnaoh misses with a strike from the bottom.
Dolnaoh is looking for a sweep.
Tanaka in side control lands a decent elbow.
Dolnaoh misses with a strike from the bottom.

Tanaka tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tanaka has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Dolnaoh manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Tanaka trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Dolnaoh has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Dolnaoh decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Tanaka, up you get!
Dolnaoh wants to clinch.
Dolnaoh looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tanaka is fending him off so far but Dolnaoh persists. Nope, Tanaka circles away and we're back to standing.
Dolnaoh misses with an attempted mid kick.
Tanaka swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Dolnaoh throws a jab when Tanaka was well out of range.
Dolnaoh fakes the leg kick and cracks Tanaka in the body.
A combination from Tanaka does no damage.

Dolnaoh feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Tanaka kicks Dolnaoh off and gets to his feet.
Dj Dolnaoh is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dolnaoh connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Dolnaoh stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dolnaoh wants it to stay on the feet.
Dolnaoh shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Tanaka counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Dolnaoh keeping moving, preventing Tanaka from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergio Tanaka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Tanaka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dolnaoh tries to avoid it but Tanaka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dolnaoh to the ground. Dolnaoh escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dolnaoh attempts a counter takedown but Tanaka avoids it well and moves away.
Dolnaoh tries to clinch but Tanaka is having none of it.
Dolnaoh shoots in for a takedown but Tanaka shows good takedown defense.
Dolnaoh fails with a takedown attempt.
Tanaka shapes to counter with a head kick.
Tanaka checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Dolnaoh tries to clinch up but Tanaka circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dolnaoh misses the jab.
Tanaka throws a half hearted mid kick.
Tanaka shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dolnaoh but Dolnaoh pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dolnaoh is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Tanaka's half guard.

Tanaka kicks off Dolnaoh and gets to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
No joy there for Tanaka, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Dolnaoh clinches up with Tanaka and pushes him back against the cage.
Dolnaoh's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Dolnaoh looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dj Dolnaoh. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dolnaoh stalling in the clinch.

Tanaka drags the fight down to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dolnaoh won't allow Tanaka to sweep him here.
Dolnaoh trying to control but Tanaka is working from the bottom.
Dolnaoh keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tanaka's head.
Tanaka keeping moving, preventing Dolnaoh from controlling successfully.
Tanaka bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dolnaoh's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dolnaoh throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Tanaka cracks Dolnaoh with a solid left hand.
Tanaka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Tanaka drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tanaka jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tanaka scoring with some ground and pound.
Dolnaoh looking to control.

Dolnaoh working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tanaka doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tanaka manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tanaka tries to free his leg and advance position but Dolnaoh is retaining full guard.
Tanaka postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tanaka drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tanaka jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Dolnaoh is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tanaka defends well.
Tanaka slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tanaka lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tanaka advances position into side control!

Tanaka tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tanaka has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergio 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29

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