PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gordon Miles (ranked 6184 p4p, 657 weight class) and Masahiro Tanaka (ranked 8234 p4p, 723 weight class). Miles comes to the cage accompanied by Clubbed To Death. Tanaka comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Takyon kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Miles
vs
Tanaka

184 cm
20
167 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
180 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Freebok (85% Laundry)
IniTech Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Gordon Miles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Masahiro Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Joseph Jones and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tanaka rushes Miles and presses him up against the cage.
Miles misses with a punch on the inside.
Tanaka with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tanaka gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Miles.
Tanaka tries to land a knee to the head but Miles blocks with his arms.
Tanaka dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Tanaka landing knees to the head.
Tanaka with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tanaka with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Miles looking for a takedown.
Tanaka tries to land a knee to the head but Miles blocks with his arms.
Tanaka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanaka lands a knee to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Tanaka just leaning against Miles, taking a breather.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Tanaka.
Tanaka misses with a knee strike.

Tanaka pulls guard effortlessly.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka tries to clinch up.
Tanaka throws a combination that misses
and Miles counters with a series of strikes. Tanaka will be more careful next time no doubt.

Tanaka clinches.

Miles pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miles has a closed guard, preventing Tanaka from standing up.

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

Tanaka has managed to clinch.
Miles wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gordon Miles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tanaka with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tanaka with a knee to the head.
Tanaka looks winded!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Tanaka.
Tanaka scores with a knee to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A knee to the head by Tanaka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miles misses with a body punch.
Tanaka misses with a knee strike.
Miles is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Tanaka to keep the fight standing.

Tanaka breaks from the clinch.
Tanaka falls off balance throwing a combination
and Miles connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Miles slips a jab and a cross from Tanaka.

Miles has closed the distance and engaged Tanaka in a clinch.
Miles drops down looking for an ankle pick but Tanaka pulls his leg out and moves away.
Tanaka wants to clinch
letting Miles counter with a right hand.

Tanaka gets in close and instigates a clinch.

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

Tanaka moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tanaka looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Tanaka lands a nice knee to the body.
Tanaka misses with a knee strike.

Miles lands a takedown into guard.

Tanaka is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Miles being controlled against the cage.
Miles 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.
Tanaka gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Miles takes a knee right on the jaw!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Tanaka lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Tanaka decides to stand and escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tanaka instigates a clinch.
Tanaka lands with a light punch inside.

Tanaka successfully pulls guard.
Miles throws a strike but Tanaka rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Miles looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Miles is working an open guard so Tanaka takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Tanaka clinches.

Tanaka tightens his grip and picks Miles up, before dumping him to the ground. Miles manages to land in guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Tanaka gets to his feet. Miles looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Tanaka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masahiro Tanaka dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Miles stuffs the takedown attempt from Tanaka. Tanaka gets slowly back to his feet.

Tanaka tries to keep at a distance but Miles has taken the fight into the clinch.
Tanaka is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Tanaka misses with a knee to the head.
Tanaka landing knees to the head.
Miles changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tanaka fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Tanaka keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tanaka moves into the clinch.
Tanaka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Miles has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka connects with a knee to the head.
Tanaka connects with a knee to the head.
Tanaka landing knees to the head.
Tanaka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Miles is working for takedown but Tanaka is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gordon Miles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tanaka misses with a knee to the head.
Tanaka trying to land knees to the body.
Miles has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tanaka avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Tanaka pulls guard effortlessly.
Miles trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Tanaka uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Tanaka connects with a high kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Miles misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka misses with a jab, cross combination.

Tanaka takes the fight into the clinch.
Tanaka has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Miles after a bit of a struggle.
Tanaka tries to pull guard but Miles forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Tanaka misses with a knee to the head.

Miles has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Tanaka regains guard immediately.

Tanaka pushes Miles off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Miles scores with a takedown into Tanaka's guard.

Tanaka is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Miles closes the distance and clinches.
Tanaka utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Tanaka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tanaka misses with a takedown
and Miles makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Miles.

Tanaka gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Miles has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Miles is working for takedown but Tanaka is calmly controlling the position for now.
Tanaka connects with a knee to the head.
Tanaka landing knees to the head.
Miles tries to pull guard but Tanaka won't allow it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tanaka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Miles goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tanaka prevents it.
A knee to the head by Tanaka.
Miles wants to take the fight to the mat but Tanaka manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Tanaka lands an elbow inside that Miles shrugs off.
Masahiro Tanaka seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Tanaka drags the fight down to the ground.
Miles has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Tanaka is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Miles presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Tanaka working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masahiro Tanaka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Tanaka wants to clinch.
Miles went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Miles is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Tanaka.
Tanaka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Miles swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tanaka fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanaka with a poor takedown
and Miles counters with a two punch combo.
Tanaka wants to clinch
and Miles counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Miles forces Tanaka back against the cage and clinches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tanaka.
Tanaka working Miles over with knees to the body.
Tanaka is trying to break free.
Tanaka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Miles blocks it with crossed arms.
Tanaka throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Tanaka with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Miles tries to pull guard but Tanaka holds him up against the cage and eventually Miles drops back down to his feet.
Miles trying to land knees to the body.
Miles has Tanaka pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tanaka manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tanaka with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tanaka tries a knee to the head but Miles blocks it.

Miles is trying to trip Tanaka. He has hold of a leg but Tanaka is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Miles persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Tanaka kicks Miles off and gets to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tanaka tries to clinch but Miles moves away

and Miles counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Tanaka makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tanaka closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Tanaka manages to break the clinch.

Miles instigates a clinch.
Tanaka lands a knee to the head.
Tanaka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Tanaka breaks from the clinch.
Tanaka closes the distance but Miles moves to the side
and Miles counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Tanaka throws a left and a right that both miss

and Miles counters with a takedown into side control.

Tanaka sneaks out the side door and pushes Miles away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Tanaka shoots in for a takedown but Miles shows good takedown defense.
Tanaka fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Miles tries to keep at a distance but Tanaka has taken the fight into the clinch.
Tanaka with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Miles 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 Gordon Miles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tanaka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Miles has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Miles has Tanaka pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tanaka manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nice elbow from Tanaka.
Tanaka with a knee to the head.
Tanaka prevents a takedown attempt there.
Tanaka lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Miles goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tanaka prevents it.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Tanaka throws a head kick that misses.

Tanaka fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Miles, pushing him back against the cage.
Gordon Miles has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tanaka stalling the fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Miles jumps guard.

Miles looking for a guillotine here but Tanaka defends easily.

Tanaka gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Masahiro Tanaka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Masahiro Tanaka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tanaka winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Masahiro Tanaka!
Masahiro Tanaka thanked the fans post fight for their support.