PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Taras Shevchenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ken Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Shevchenko
vs
Tanaka

190 cm
28
265 lbs
23 - 2 - 0

200 cm
23
300 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Hellbent
Sully's Bar & Grill

Aspire Clothing
Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Taras Shevchenko!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ken Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, William Gold and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shevchenko moves out of range as Tanaka strikes.
Shevchenko drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

It looks like Taras Shevchenko has been cut.

Tanaka darts in and clinches Shevchenko up against the cage.
Shevchenko tries to pull guard but Tanaka won't allow it.
Tanaka misses with a hook to the ribs.
Shevchenko stalls.
Tanaka misses with a punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shevchenko blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Shevchenko fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tanaka tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Tanaka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka tries to work over Shevchenko's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tanaka goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tanaka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Shevchenko's elbow.
Tanaka just leaning against Shevchenko, taking a breather.
Tanaka misses with some punches.

Shevchenko pulls guard successfully.
Tanaka preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tanaka seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Shevchenko throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Tanaka is pushing down on Shevchenko's leg trying to pass to half guard. Shevchenko is fighting to maintain full guard but Tanaka has managed to sneak the leg through.
Shevchenko has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka prevents Shevchenko from improving his position.
Tanaka controlling the pace.
Shevchenko's coaches at Russian Top Team Elite Gym have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Shevchenko is refusing to be controlled, as Tanaka sits in half guard.

Shevchenko is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tanaka pulls his head out easily.
Shevchenko regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Tanaka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shevchenko swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Shevchenko looking for a guillotine here but Tanaka defends easily.
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.

Shevchenko is looking for a triangle but Tanaka pushes his legs off easily.
Tanaka controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Tanaka must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Shevchenko looking for a guillotine here but Tanaka defends easily.
Shevchenko is trying to control the position but Tanaka postures up.

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.
Tanaka trying to stand up but can't free himself from Shevchenko's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tanaka stays in close to Shevchenko's body and controls the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Tanaka trying to control but Shevchenko is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Shevchenko moves out of range as Tanaka strikes.
Shevchenko was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Tanaka doesn't manage to clinch there - Shevchenko circles away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shevchenko moves away from the strike by Tanaka.
Shevchenko throwing a counter right hand but Tanaka manages to avoid it.
Tanaka waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shevchenko.
Shevchenko feinted with a counter takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ken Tanaka dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Taras Shevchenko's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Shevchenko uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tanaka.
Shevchenko changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A swing and a miss from Tanaka.
Tanaka doesn't manage to clinch there - Shevchenko circles away.
Shevchenko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanaka swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Shevchenko is looking to counter punch.
Tanaka throws a big shot that misses.
Shevchenko shoots in looking for a takedown. Tanaka tries to sprawl out of it but Shevchenko keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tanaka manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Tanaka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tanaka misses with a straight right.
Shevchenko looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taras Shevchenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good standup being displayed there by Tanaka as he connects with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shevchenko has his takedown stuffed
and Tanaka counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A jab from Tanaka misses.
Shevchenko is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Tanaka swinging wildly here.
Tanaka scores with a decent looking hook.

Taras Shevchenko's cut is getting worse.
Ken Tanaka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shevchenko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ken Tanaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tanaka clobbers Shevchenko with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Shevchenko bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
It looked like Shevchenko wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Shevchenko avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tanaka fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Shevchenko looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Tanaka has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Tanaka 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 missing with a left hand there. Shevchenko was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tanaka misses with a double jab

and Shevchenko counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Shevchenko.

Tanaka has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Shevchenko has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Shevchenko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tanaka misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tanaka stalls.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shevchenko blocks a body shot from Tanaka.
Tanaka gets through Shevchenko's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ken Tanaka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Taras Shevchenko's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tanaka jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Tanaka throws a right and a left that Shevchenko avoids nicely.
Shevchenko feinted with a counter takedown.

Tanaka feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Shevchenko sprawling to the canvas! Shevchenko rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Tanaka finish him?!

Taras Shevchenko's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Shevchenko looks up at the clock. Bad move! Tanaka lands a right hand from hell, dropping Shevchenko. Tanaka pounces and finishes the fight with a flurry of punches and elbows.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ken Tanaka!
Ken Tanaka is the new super heavyweight champion!