PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nobunaga Tanaka (ranked 560 p4p, 26 weight class) and Trevor McDonald (ranked 1186 p4p, 59 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tanaka
vs
McDonald

170 cm
24
140 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

176 cm
22
140 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Cipher Nutrition

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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nobunaga Tanaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Trevor McDonald!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanaka wants to clinch
and McDonald cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McDonald misses with a hook. Tanaka ducked under it nicely.
Tanaka throws a big counter combination but McDonald scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tanaka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tanaka tries to clinch but fails miserably
and McDonald cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Tanaka clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tanaka.
Tanaka blocks a punch to the side of the head.
McDonald tries to work over Tanaka's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
McDonald displaying some good clinch control by pressing Tanaka up against the cage.
McDonald tries to stall but Tanaka uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for Tanaka to work.
A frustrated look appears on McDonald's face as he tries to break the clinch.

McDonald breaks the clinch.
McDonald has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
McDonald keeps the fight on the outside.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Tanaka misses with a punch to the body.
Tanaka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McDonald's elbow.

Tanaka has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics McDonald uses from the top position.
McDonald is stalling in the full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tanaka is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tanaka accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tanaka trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
McDonald is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Tanaka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tanaka postures up in McDonald's guard and throws a big left but McDonald blocks it.
Tanaka trying to control the position from guard on top but McDonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tanaka wants to pass the guard but McDonald is keeping the position.
McDonald looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tanaka drops back looking for a leg! McDonald is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and McDonald manages to kick Tanaka off! Tanaka jumps back into McDonald's guard.
Tanaka wants to control from the top but McDonald keeps moving.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if McDonald can do anything to dispel that myth.
Tanaka looking to pass the guard.
McDonald wants to stand up but Tanaka is controlling him.
Tanaka throwing strikes from guard but McDonald blocks nicely.
McDonald really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tanaka. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tanaka trying to control but McDonald is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tanaka staying out of range there.

Tanaka instigates a clinch.
McDonald's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Tanaka pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tanaka looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Tanaka had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. McDonald defends it easily.

Tanaka looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nobunaga Tanaka dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

McDonald throws a shot from downtown. Tanaka moves away and avoids it.

Tanaka clinches with his opponent.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, McDonald creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Tanaka is trying to drag McDonald to the mat but McDonald just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
McDonald lands with a short head shot on the inside.
McDonald fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tanaka is trying to pull guard but McDonald has him pressed against the cage.
McDonald displaying some good clinch control by pressing Tanaka up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanaka has McDonald pressed against the cage, preventing McDonald from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Tanaka lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short uppercut from Tanaka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Tanaka tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
McDonald misses with a hook from the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Tanaka as McDonald tries to tie him up.
Tanaka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McDonald can do to turn this around?

McDonald breaks the clinch.
Tanaka wants to clinch but McDonald slips to the side
and McDonald counters with a stiff right hand.

Tanaka moves into the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by McDonald.

Tanaka pulls guard successfully.
McDonald must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tanaka looking for a sweep. Not yet Tanaka, not yet.
Tanaka is trying to control the position but McDonald postures up.
Tanaka bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McDonald's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka advances position into side control!

Tanaka wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by McDonald, who protects the arm well.
Tanaka working the head and body with strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tanaka working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Tanaka wants to control but McDonald is keeping him busy.

Tanaka looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Tanaka misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka advances to mount.
Nobunaga Tanaka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tanaka can't control as he wanted to and McDonald manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Tanaka 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.
Tanaka moves into full mount! McDonald won't be happy about that!
Tanaka dominating with strikes here.
McDonald in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tanaka moves to take his opponent's back.

Tanaka is persistently looking for the submission but McDonald is defending it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.

Tanaka looking for the RNC.
Tanaka lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
McDonald is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Tanaka off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tanaka scores with strikes from the back.
Tanaka missing with strikes from the back.
McDonald trying to control the position but Tanaka manages to sink in the hooks.

Tanaka has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, McDonald has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tanaka looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? McDonald is fending him off so far but Tanaka persists. Nope, McDonald circles away and we're back to standing.
McDonald's corner calls for a 1-2. McDonald obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Tanaka tries to clinch

and McDonald counters with a crisp right hand that drops Tanaka! McDonald lets Tanaka back up to his feet, looking for a finish!

Tanaka is rocked!
Tanaka is looking to clinch.
McDonald throws out a counter right but Tanaka avoids it with no problem.
Oh Tanaka is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Tanaka throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Tanaka is looking to clinch.
McDonald throws a right and a left that Tanaka avoids nicely.
Tanaka seems to have got his legs back now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tanaka tries to close the distance and clinch up but McDonald swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McDonald let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Tanaka closes the distance looking to clinch

and McDonald counters with a crisp right hand that drops Tanaka! McDonald lets Tanaka back up to his feet, looking for a finish!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka wants to clinch up but McDonald keeps it at a distance.
McDonald swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Tanaka wants to clinch up but McDonald keeps it at a distance.
Tanaka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tanaka tries to close the distance and clinch but McDonald swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tanaka doesn't manage to clinch there - McDonald circles away.
McDonald feints a counter leg kick.
McDonald throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Tanaka fails in his attempt to clinch.

Tanaka gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald pushes Tanaka back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
McDonald looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
McDonald tries to stall but Tanaka uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Tanaka wants to stall.
McDonald wants to break free but Tanaka has control.
Tanaka is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
McDonald taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
McDonald misses with the head strike.
A body shot lands from McDonald.
Tanaka lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tanaka.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McDonald.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald misses with the head strike.
Tanaka is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Tanaka tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
McDonald wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
McDonald lands with a short shot to the head.
Tanaka blocking some punches.
McDonald blocks a body shot from Tanaka.
Come on Tanaka - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Tanaka misses with a punch to the body.
McDonald working aggressively here.

McDonald escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tanaka tries to clinch but fails miserably
and McDonald counters with a stiff right hand.
Trevor McDonald is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Tanaka looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for McDonald!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald tries to escape but Tanaka is in control.

Tanaka working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
McDonald wants to get back to his feet but Tanaka drags him back down.
Tanaka tries to advance to mount but McDonald denies him.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Tanaka is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. McDonald knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

And that's the end of the fight!
Trevor McDonald comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tanaka has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nobunaga Tanaka!
Nobunaga Tanaka decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.