PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Manuel Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akuma Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Velasquez comes into the arena with Megadeth - Trust blaring out of the sound system. Akuma Tanaka has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Manuel Velasquez's chin.

Velasquez
vs
Tanaka

188 cm
19
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
199 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 Tokyo, Manuel Velasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akuma Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanaka misses with a body kick.
Velasquez attempts a counter takedown but Tanaka avoids it well and moves away.

Velasquez closes the distance and clinches.
Tanaka is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Velasquez pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Velasquez lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Velasquez leaning his opponent against the cage.
Tanaka wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Velasquez has him pressed against the cage.
Velasquez lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Tanaka breaks the clinch.

Velasquez has closed the distance and engaged Tanaka in a clinch.

Velasquez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Velasquez throws a head kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velasquez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Velasquez closes the distance and clinches.
Velasquez utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Tanaka looks winded!
Velasquez lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Akuma Tanaka has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Velasquez ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Velasquez no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka prevents Velasquez from getting back to his feet.
Velasquez wants to sweep but no luck.
Tanaka tries to free his leg and advance position but Velasquez is retaining full guard.
Velasquez wants to get back to his feet but Tanaka is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Velasquez pulls Tanaka in close to prevent any damage.
Velasquez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Velasquez darts in and clinches Tanaka up against the cage.

Tanaka breaks the clinch.

Tanaka has closed the distance and engaged Velasquez in a clinch.
Tanaka wants to take the fight to the mat but Velasquez manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Velasquez tries to pull guard but Tanaka holds him up against the cage and eventually Velasquez drops back down to his feet.
A shot in the inside from Velasquez.
Velasquez controlling the action here for a moment.
Tanaka throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Tanaka tries to break the clinch but Velasquez is controlling the position.

Velasquez breaks the clinch.

Velasquez closes the distance and pushes Tanaka back into the cage.
Velasquez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tanaka has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Velasquez defending well as Tanaka loads up on a big left hand.

Velasquez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tanaka, pushing him back against the cage.
Velasquez displaying some good clinch control by pressing Tanaka up against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Velasquez.
Tanaka takes a shot to the head.

Velasquez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tanaka circles away from the clinch attempt.
Velasquez fails with an attempt to clinch.

Velasquez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Tanaka misses with an elbow over the top.
A short left from Velasquez.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Velasquez.
Velasquez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Velasquez is trying to pull guard but Tanaka turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka tries to pull guard but Velasquez won't allow it.
Manuel Velasquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akuma Tanaka.
Velasquez slowing the pace effectively.
Velasquez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Velasquez lands a right hand.
Velasquez lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Velasquez working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Tanaka blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Tanaka looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Velasquez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Tanaka clinches up with Velasquez and pushes him back against the cage.
Velasquez looking for a takedown.
Tanaka wants to break the clinch but can't.

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

Velasquez tries to keep at a distance but Tanaka has taken the fight into the clinch.
Tanaka is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tanaka throws a quick inside leg kick.

Tanaka clinches up against the cage.
Velasquez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tanaka is defending well for now.
Velasquez lands with a right to the head.
Tanaka is trying to pull guard but Velasquez has him pressed against the cage.

Velasquez pulls guard.
Tanaka prevents Velasquez from getting back to his feet.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Velasquez manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Velasquez breaks the clinch.
Tanaka has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Velasquez is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Manuel Velasquez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Velasquez has managed to clinch.
Tanaka tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Velasquez smiles and moves away.
Tanaka is breathing heavily.

Velasquez rushes Tanaka and presses him up against the cage.
Tanaka is looking for a takedown.
Manuel Velasquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akuma Tanaka.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Velasquez stalls.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Velasquez is stalling here.
Velasquez keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Tanaka's efforts to push away.
A nice right hand lands inside from Velasquez.
Velasquez scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Tanaka wants to get back to striking at distance but Velasquez won't allow it.
A bit of stalling here from Velasquez.

Velasquez manages to pull guard.
Velasquez lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Velasquez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tanaka has closed the distance and engaged Velasquez in a clinch.

Velasquez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Velasquez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tanaka, pushing him back against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Velasquez.
Velasquez controlling the action here for a moment.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Velasquez blocks a body shot from Tanaka.

Velasquez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Velasquez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Velasquez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tanaka gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Velasquez lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Tanaka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Tanaka.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez forces Tanaka back against the cage and clinches.
Velasquez prevents Tanaka from breaking the clinch.

Velasquez drags the fight down to the ground.

Tanaka decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
A punch combination from Tanaka misses.
Tanaka throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Velasquez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Tanaka sprawls well. Tanaka wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Velasquez gets slowly back to his feet.

Velasquez instigates a clinch.

Velasquez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Velasquez has managed to clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Velasquez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Velasquez lands a hook that snaps the head of Tanaka backwards.
Velasquez connects with a nasty looking knee right to Tanaka's face.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Velasquez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Velasquez moves into the clinch.
Velasquez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Tanaka pulls his leg out and moves away.

Tanaka has managed to clinch.

Velasquez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A jab from Velasquez does it's job there.
Velasquez wants to clinch.
Velasquez tries to clinch up.
Tanaka displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Velasquez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manuel Velasquez dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Akuma Tanaka's cut.
That's time! Velasquez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Velasquez moves into the clinch.
A short right from Velasquez on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Tanaka's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Tanaka jumps guard but Velasquez stands there with Tanaka around his waist. Tanaka gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Velasquez manages to break the clinch.

Tanaka closes the distance and clinches.
Velasquez lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Velasquez softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Velasquez jumps into guard, dragging Tanaka to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velasquez wants to get back to his feet but Tanaka is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Velasquez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tanaka can do to turn this around?
Tanaka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka looking to pass the guard.

Velasquez has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Tanaka is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Velasquez lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Tanaka wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Velasquez has him pressed against the cage.
Velasquez keeps control of Tanaka as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Velasquez lands with a light punch inside.
Tanaka is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Velasquez to keep the fight standing.

Velasquez manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Velasquez pushes Tanaka off and gets back to his feet.
Velasquez fails with a takedown attempt.
Tanaka unleashes a big counter combination but Velasquez bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka throws a big shot that misses.
Velasquez darts in trying to clinch
and Tanaka counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Tanaka darts in and clinches Velasquez up against the cage.
Velasquez has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Tanaka after a bit of a struggle.

Velasquez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Velasquez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

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

Velasquez forces Tanaka back against the cage and clinches.

Velasquez jumps guard and drags Tanaka to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Velasquez wants to stand but Tanaka is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Tanaka misses with the combination.
Velasquez throws a head kick that misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Velasquez gets a clinch.
Tanaka lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Velasquez backwards.
Velasquez slows down the pace here.
Velasquez tries a knee to the head but Tanaka blocks it.
Tanaka blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Velasquez jumps guard and drags Tanaka to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Tanaka working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Velasquez's head.
Tanaka passes Velasquez's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Tanaka slows the pace down in half guard.

Tanaka stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manuel Velasquez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Velasquez, 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manuel Velasquez!
Manuel Velasquez decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.