PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Heronzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Eric Heronzo acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Tanaka
vs
Heronzo

174 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

155 cm
24
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes musicals

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Johnny Tanaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eric Heronzo!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Heronzo takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Tanaka delivers a nice body kick.
Tanaka connects with a leg kick. Heronzo looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Heronzo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Eric Heronzo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Tanaka lands a high kick to the side of Heronzo's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Tanaka dives into guard, looking to finish.

Heronzo is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tanaka trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Heronzo is still in real trouble! Can Tanaka finish him?
Tanaka advances position into side control!
Heronzo felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Tanaka passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Heronzo!
Tanaka will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Tanaka controlling the pace for now.
Heronzo is looking to improve his position but Tanaka isn't that keen on the idea.
Heronzo seems to have recovered his senses.
Tanaka takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heronzo is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Heronzo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Heronzo should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Heronzo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

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.
Tanaka wants to control the pace but Heronzo is squirming around nicely.
Heronzo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Heronzo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tanaka tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Tanaka looking to control but Heronzo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Heronzo tries to hold on but Tanaka pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heronzo is looking to get to half guard.
Tanaka controlling his opponent.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Heronzo can't escape the position.
Heronzo tries to hold on but Tanaka postures up.
Tanaka trying to control but Heronzo is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Heronzo sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Tanaka dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tanaka keeps the fight on the outside.
Tanaka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Heronzo can do to turn this around?
Heronzo stalks Tanaka and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Tanaka's face. Tanaka staggers backwards, shaken.
Nice defenses there by Heronzo.
Heronzo tries to clinch but Tanaka moves out of range.
We've been told by Tanaka's head coaches at White's ELITE Fitness Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Heronzo is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Tanaka.

Heronzo closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Tanaka did well to prevent Heronzo getting side control.

Heronzo is looking for a kimura but Tanaka is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Heronzo to get the leverage.
Tanaka wants to get back to his feet.
Johnny Tanaka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Heronzo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Tanaka kicks Heronzo off and gets back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Heronzo tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heronzo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tanaka defends it nicely.
Heronzo tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Tanaka makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Heronzo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tanaka avoids it really well and circles away.
Heronzo is breathing heavily.

Tanaka drops Heronzo with a left right combo! Tanaka follows him down to the ground into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tanaka stands up and we're back to a striking position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Horrible takedown attempt by Heronzo or perhaps it was just good defense by Tanaka, which made it look bad.
Johnny Tanaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Heronzo.
Tanaka looks to land a combination but Heronzo avoids it well.
Heronzo tries to clinch up
and Tanaka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tanaka scoring well with a low kick there.
Tanaka fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnny Tanaka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The fighters circle, before Tanaka throws a beautiful high kick that crashes into Heronzo's neck, sending him stumbling to the floor! Tanaka lands more strikes and forces a referee stoppage! That one ended in an instant!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Kick & Punches). Johnny Tanaka!