PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tomas Fury (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Tanaka (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.

Fury
vs
Tanaka

178 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent knees
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tomas Fury!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Akira Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Dmitry Maklakov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fury forces Tanaka back against the cage and clinches.
Knees to the body from Tanaka.
Fury tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tanaka avoids it.
Fury blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Tanaka trying to land knees to the body.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Fury working hard to break the clinch.
Fury is trying to break free.
Tanaka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Fury avoids it.
Knees to the body from Fury.
Fury can't break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Tanaka as Fury tries to tie him up.
Fury blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Fury fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tanaka blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Fury blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fury breaks the clinch.
Akira Tanaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tanaka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fury swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tanaka doesn't manage to clinch there - Fury circles away.
Fury goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Fury takes a swing at Tanaka's ribcage but misses.
Nice takedown defense from Fury. No joy for Tanaka on that attempt.
Tanaka tries to clinch up.
Fury changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Tanaka gets caught napping as Fury dives in and scores a takedown. Tanaka manages to retain guard.
Tanaka can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Fury controls the pace.
Fury has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Fury'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 two minutes gone in the round.
Fury sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tanaka's guard.

Fury is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tanaka doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Fury.
Fury sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fury is thwarting Tanaka's attempts to control the position.
Tanaka wants to get back to his feet.
Fury trying to pass the guard but Tanaka defending well.
Fury sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fury swinging wildly here.
Tanaka uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fury.

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.
Nice sprawl there from Fury as Tanaka shoots in.
Tanaka keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Fury avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tanaka tries to close the distance and clinch but Fury swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fury tried to counter with a leg kick but Tanaka avoided it.
Tanaka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fury paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fury throws a quick counter kick to the body but Tanaka avoids it.

Fury feints and as Tanaka raises his hands in defense, Fury changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Tanaka wriggles free and stands up.
Tanaka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fury swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice sprawl there from Fury as Tanaka shoots in.
Tomas Fury has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Tanaka.
Fury tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tanaka swivels and escapes.
Fury is breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Tanaka instigates a clinch.
Tanaka landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Fury takes an elbow to the temple.
Tanaka is pressed up against the cage. Fury has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tanaka down to the mat. Tanaka avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tomas Fury will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Fury misses with a body kick.
Tanaka unleashes a big counter combination but Fury bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Fury pushes Tanaka up against the cage in a clinch.
Fury is working for takedown but Tanaka is calmly controlling the position for now.
Tanaka utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Tanaka unloads a knee to the mid-section. Fury lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A knee to the head by Tanaka.
Tanaka crunches a lovely knee into Fury's ribcage.
Tanaka is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Tanaka scores a nice knee to the body.
Tanaka stalling in the clinch but Fury improves position.
Knees to the body from Tanaka.
Tanaka utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
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!
Tanaka lands a good knee to the midsection. Fury won't want to take too many of those.
Tanaka lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fury takes a knee to the side of the body.
Tanaka putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Fury in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Tanaka landing knees to the body.
Tanaka lands a knee to the body.
Tanaka missing with knees to the body.
Fury managing to block the knees to the body from Tanaka.
Tanaka blocks an uppercut.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Tanaka unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Fury is trying to break the clinch but Tanaka has him pressed against the cage.
Tanaka softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Fury is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Tanaka missing with knees to the body.
Tanaka putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Fury in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Tanaka.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fury blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Fury tries for a takedown but Tanaka manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tomas Fury. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tanaka unloads a knee to the mid-section. Fury lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Tanaka working Fury over with knees to the body.
Tanaka utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Tanaka using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Tanaka unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Akira Tanaka seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Tanaka scores a nice knee to the body.
Tanaka putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Fury in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fury wants to get back to striking at distance but Tanaka won't allow it.
Tanaka landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Tanaka lands a nice knee to the body.
Fury goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Fury gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Tanaka regains guard.
Fury throws a strike but Tanaka rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Tanaka decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Fury, up you get!

Tanaka closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Come on Tanaka - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Tanaka landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Tanaka unloads a knee to the mid-section. Fury lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
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!
Tanaka landing knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka lands an elbow just above Fury 's eye.
Tanaka landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Tanaka missing with knees to the body.
Fury managing to block the knees to the body from Tanaka.
Fury has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Tanaka after a bit of a struggle.
Tanaka tries to land knees in the clinch but Fury avoids the damage to the body.

Fury drags the fight down to the ground.

Tanaka decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Tanaka moves into range and clinches up with Fury.
Tanaka looking to stall.
Tanaka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Fury is defending well for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Tanaka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Fury darts in and clinches Tanaka up against the cage.
Tanaka crunches a lovely knee into Fury's ribcage.
Tanaka unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Fury tries to land a knee to the head but Tanaka blocks with his arms.
Tanaka putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Fury in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Tanaka scores a nice knee to the body.
Tanaka manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Tanaka comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanaka lands a knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Tanaka obliges.
A knee to the head by Tanaka.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tanaka gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Tanaka crunches a lovely knee into Fury's ribcage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka lands an elbow inside.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tanaka is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Tanaka crunches a lovely knee into Fury's ribcage.
Knees to the body from Tanaka.
Tanaka putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Fury in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Tanaka with a knee to the head.
Fury working hard to break the clinch.
Tanaka lands an elbow inside.
Fury looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Fury on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Tanaka landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Tanaka lands a nice knee to the body.
Fury jumps guard but Tanaka turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Tanaka scores a nice knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Fury tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tanaka just stands there and leans against the cage.
Fury is trying to break the clinch but Tanaka has him pressed against the cage.
Tanaka putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Fury in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Tanaka putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Fury in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Fury decides to pull guard.
Tanaka with a nice head shot there.

Fury looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fury wants to sweep here but Tanaka controlling him for the moment.
Fury looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka slips nicely into half guard.
Tanaka wants to pass to mount but Fury is defending the position.
Fury is trying to stand back up but Tanaka is controlling him
Tanaka missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tanaka seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Fury does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Tanaka decides to stand up.
Tanaka is looking to clinch but Fury is avoiding it.
Fury throws a big counter combination but Tanaka scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Tanaka moves into the clinch successfully.
Fury drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tanaka gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tomas Fury. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tanaka tries to land knees in the clinch but Fury avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Fury has Tanaka pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tanaka manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Fury blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Tanaka using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Fury avoiding damage as Tanaka throws knees to the body.
Fury is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Tanaka unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Tanaka gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Fury takes an elbow to the forehead.
Fury wants to break the clinch but can't.
Tomas Fury has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Akira Tanaka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fury misses with a hook to the ribs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akira Tanaka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tanaka has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight for Akira Tanaka!
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight for Akira Tanaka!
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight for Akira Tanaka!

Akira Tanaka wins by unanimous decision!