PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shin Ichi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nobunaga Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shin Ichi has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Ichi
vs
Tanaka

163 cm
20
140 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

170 cm
20
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Determined

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shin Ichi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nobunaga Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ichi shoots in but no luck this time.
Tanaka fails to land the takedown.
Ichi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tanaka's waist but Tanaka gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ichi off to one side.

Tanaka fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ichi, pushing him back against the cage.
Tanaka will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ichi up against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Tanaka.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Ichi slowing the pace effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tanaka breaks from the clinch.

Tanaka looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Ichi!
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.
Ichi tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Tanaka wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Tanaka tries to move to mount but Ichi blocks the move with his legs.
Ichi gets back to half guard.
Tanaka is thwarting Ichi's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka trying to pass the guard but Ichi defending well.
Tanaka content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Ichi actively working from the bottom here.
Tanaka prevents Ichi from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Tanaka in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ichi looks like he's trying to stand up.

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

Tanaka drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tanaka is standing up over Ichi. Ichi looks to escape but Tanaka dives into side control.

Ichi is looking to regain half guard here but Tanaka keeps moving and retains side control.
Tanaka advances to full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka controlling the pace for now.
Ichi is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Tanaka controlling from the full mount.
Ichi wants to control but Tanaka is having none of it.
Ichi is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ichi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tanaka on the ground.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ichi reaches up to try and control the position but Tanaka seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Ichi rolls and tries to escape and now Tanaka has his back!
Tanaka controlling from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nobunaga Tanaka dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ichi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tanaka circles away.

Tanaka closes the distance and clinches.
Tanaka is struggling to control the position.
Ichi stalling the fight.
Ichi is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
The referee is keeping an eye on Tanaka - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ichi drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tanaka gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka pressing his opponent against the cage.
Ichi is trying to maintain a safe position but Tanaka gets an underhook and turns Ichi into the cage.
Tanaka pressing his opponent against the cage.
Tanaka holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tanaka slows down the pace here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Nobunaga Tanaka.

Tanaka moves into the clinch.
Ichi is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Tanaka is keeping busy.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Tanaka takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka has Ichi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ichi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tanaka wants to take the fight to the mat but Ichi manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
The referee calls for Ichi to work.
The referee calls for Tanaka to work.
Ichi is looking to control Tanaka's arms but Tanaka gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ichi has his back to the cage.
Ichi is trying to drag Tanaka to the mat but Tanaka just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shin Ichi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ichi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Come on Ichi - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Tanaka has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ichi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tanaka leaning against his opponent.
Ichi is trying to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nobunaga Tanaka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Ichi'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.

Tanaka drives through and clinches with Ichi against the cage.
Ichi stalling in the clinch.
Tanaka leaning his opponent against the cage.
Tanaka taking a breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanaka slows down the pace here.
Ichi will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Tanaka up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka is pushing Ichi up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Ichi has Tanaka pressed against the cage.
Shin Ichi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ichi is looking for a takedown.
Tanaka being controlled against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Shin Ichi.
Ichi tries to close the distance and clinch but Tanaka swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ichi throws a jab when Tanaka was well out of range.

Tanaka fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ichi, pushing him back against the cage.
Ichi slowing the pace effectively.
The referee calls for Tanaka to work.
Tanaka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tanaka slowing the pace effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka misses with a punch to the body.
Tanaka stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Ichi taking a breather.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Tanaka as Ichi tries to tie him up.
Ichi taking a breather.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Ichi has Tanaka pressed against the cage.

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.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Shin Ichi.
Ichi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tanaka has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Ichi is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Ichi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Tanaka rushes Ichi and presses him up against the cage.
Tanaka taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Tanaka is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Tanaka receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Tanaka as Ichi tries to tie him up.

Tanaka jumps guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Tanaka looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nobunaga Tanaka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Tanaka throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nobunaga Tanaka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tanaka has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nobunaga Tanaka!
After winning the bout, Nobunaga Tanaka thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.