PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shoma Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alen Zalac (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Tanaka
vs
Zalac

186 cm
25
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Shoma Tanaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alen Zalac!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Elvis Blanc and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanaka scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Tanaka leaves Zalac with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A jab from Tanaka does it's job there.
Zalac swings widly with a right hand
enabling Tanaka to counter with a crisp jab.
Tanaka scores with a nice head shot.
Zalac wants to clinch
enabling Tanaka to counter with a crisp jab.
Tanaka is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Zalac.

It looks like Shoma Tanaka has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zalac throws the left hand but Tanaka avoids the punch easily.
Zalac throws a hook to the side of Tanaka's head but Tanaka sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zalac throws a poor cross that misses
and Tanaka counters with a stiff right hand.
No joy there for Zalac, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
As Zalac looks to move away, Tanaka throws a big counter combo but Zalac just gets out of the way.
Zalac shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Tanaka counters with a left and a right that stings Zalac.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zalac doesn't manage to clinch there - Tanaka circles away.
Tanaka was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Zalac misses with an uppercut
and Tanaka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Zalac throws a leg kick
and Tanaka counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A jab lands there for Tanaka.
A punch lands to the side of Zalac 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Zalac shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Tanaka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Shoma Tanaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alen Zalac.
Tanaka throws a nice looking combination but Zalac bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zalac misses with a combination
letting Tanaka counter with a right hand.
Alen Zalac seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tanaka ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tanaka is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Zalac rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Tanaka cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zalac throws a poor cross that misses
and Tanaka cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Zalac moves into the clinch successfully.
Tanaka is trying to stall.

Zalac escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zalac takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Zalac misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Zalac rushes Tanaka and presses him up against the cage.
Tanaka is trying to break the clinch but Zalac has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zalac breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Zalac gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Zalac wants to take the fight to the mat but Tanaka manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Tanaka wants to stall.
Zalac 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.
Tanaka gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Zalac.

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.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Tanaka slowing the pace effectively.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Shoma Tanaka.
Zalac needs to keep his hands up - Tanaka had a free shot at his head there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shoma Tanaka dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shoma Tanaka's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tanaka bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Zalac's head backwards.
A cross from Zalac lands.
Zalac throws a right hand that misses
and Tanaka counters with a stiff right hand.
The fighters circle momentarily. Zalac darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Zalac dives in for a single leg takedown but Tanaka sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Nice uppercut lands for Tanaka. That snapped Zalac's head back.
Zalac misses with a right hand
and Tanaka cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zalac throws a poor cross that misses
and Tanaka counters with a left and a right that stings Zalac.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tanaka lands a jab to the head.
Zalac fails with a takedown attempt.
Shoma Tanaka is winning the standup battle so far.
Tanaka lands a lovely overhand right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Zalac misses with a takedown
letting Tanaka counter with a right hand.
Shoma Tanaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alen Zalac.
Zalac is looking to clinch.
Zalac misses with a hook. Tanaka ducked under it nicely.
Tanaka scores with the left hand. Zalac knows he should have avoided that one.
Shoma Tanaka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tanaka jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Zalac misses with an uppercut
and Tanaka cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tanaka connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Zalac misses with a takedown attempt
and Tanaka cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zalac throws an off balance right hand
and Tanaka counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Tanaka there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zalac lands a jab to the nose.
Good shot there by Tanaka.
Tanaka goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Zalac takes one on the button.
Zalac throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tanaka sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zalac misses with a combination
and Tanaka counters with a nice uppercut.
Zalac is breathing heavily.
Zalac moves out of range of the strikes.
Zalac throws a poor cross that misses
and Tanaka counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Tanaka keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka throws the left hand but Zalac avoids the punch easily.
Zalac gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Tanaka counter with a right hand.
Tanaka stuns Zalac with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Zalac blocks a jab.
Zalac misses with a looping right.
Tanaka throwing a counter right hand but Zalac manages to avoid it.
Zalac falls off balance throwing a combination
and Zalac takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Tanaka scores with a jab to the jaw.
Zalac tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zalac misses with a lunging right hand
and Tanaka counters with a left to the body.
Tanaka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zalac can do to turn this around?
Zalac is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tanaka sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zalac has his takedown stuffed
and Tanaka counters with a straight right hand.
Tanaka goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zalac has a takedown stuffed.
A quick step to the side and Tanaka tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Tanaka.
Zalac walks into a jab.
Zalac fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tanaka avoids it really well and circles away.
Tanaka punishes Zalac's body with a nice straight punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shoma Tanaka dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Shoma Tanaka's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Zalac walks into a left hand.
Zalac misses with a takedown attempt
and Tanaka counters with a right hand to the body.
Zalac throws a lazy uppercut
and Tanaka counters with a three punch combo that has Zalac backing up. Zalac nods at Tanaka to acknowledge the strikes.
Zalac doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Tanaka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A jab lands there for Tanaka.
Zalac wants to clinch
and Tanaka counters with a three punch combo that has Zalac backing up. Zalac nods at Tanaka to acknowledge the strikes.
Zalac has his takedown stuffed
and Tanaka counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Shoma Tanaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alen Zalac.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tanaka lands with a nice body punch.
Zalac takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zalac fails with the takedown
and Tanaka counters with a one-two to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zalac throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Tanaka counter with a right hand.
Zalac has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Tanaka is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Zalac is trying desperately to land a takedown but Tanaka is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Zalac.
Tanaka scores with a three punch combo!
Tanaka misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Zalac misses with the combination.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Tanaka scores with a three punch combo!
Alen Zalac is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tanaka cracks Zalac with a good jab.
Tanaka scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Zalac doesn't seem bothered though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tanaka closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Tanaka lands a really nice looking cross but Zalac seems unphased.
Zalac throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Tanaka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tanaka misses with a straight left.
Zalac only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Zalac misses with a takedown attempt
and Tanaka counters with a nice uppercut.
Zalac moves to clinch but Tanaka breaks away
and Tanaka counters with a straight right hand.
Tanaka wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Zalac slips a straight right by Tanaka.
Tanaka is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Zalac tries to close the distance and clinch but Tanaka swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tanaka displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zalac closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Tanaka's guard.

Tanaka is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Zalac looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Zalac pulls guard successfully.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Tanaka's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Zalac controls Tanaka momentarily but Tanaka frees himself.
Tanaka controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shoma Tanaka showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tanaka, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

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