PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Taka Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rockin Rolla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tanaka comes to the cage accompanied by Muse - Citizen Erased. Rockin Rolla has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tanaka
vs
Rolla

196 cm
20
205 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

188 cm
24
215 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Malicious Intent Fight Gear - The Pit Inc

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Taka Tanaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rockin Rolla!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanaka dodges the punch combination from Rolla.
Rolla looks for a takedown but Tanaka sprawls well.
Rolla finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Rolla tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Tanaka is able to avoid easily.
Tanaka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rolla lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tanaka circles away quickly and effectively.
Rolla wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rolla misses with a double jab.
Rolla shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rolla throws a series of punches but Tanaka moves out of range.
A combination from Rolla does no damage.
Rolla looks gassed!
Rolla tries to close the distance and clinch but Tanaka swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tanaka lands a head kick. Rolla smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Tanaka scores with a sloppy right hand. Rolla should have avoided that one.
Rolla throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tanaka.
Rockin Rolla seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tanaka throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Rolla changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tanaka tries to avoid it but Rolla manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tanaka to the ground. Tanaka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Taka Tanaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rockin Rolla.

Tanaka closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rolla is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rolla is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Tanaka has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rolla tries to get to full guard but Tanaka has control of the leg.
Tanaka takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Rolla is trying to get back to full guard.

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.
Rolla trying to hold on to Tanaka's head to control him but Tanaka postures up.
Rolla scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Tanaka manages to mount him!
Tanaka tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taka Tanaka dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tanaka looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rolla gets full guard.
Rolla tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tanaka prevents Rolla from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rolla striking off his back but it's not causing Tanaka any problems.
Rolla is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rolla wants to sweep but no luck.
Tanaka is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rolla is trying to keep Tanaka in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Tanaka clinches.

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 jumps guard and drags Rolla to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Tanaka tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rolla would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rolla throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tanaka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tanaka has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Rolla has passed into side control.
Tanaka wants to control but Rolla postures up.
An elbow from Rolla crashes against the mat.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rolla throws a series of punches but Tanaka avoids them all with ease.

Rolla tries to keep at a distance but Tanaka has taken the fight into the clinch.

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.

Tanaka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rolla has his takedown stuffed

and Tanaka counters by clinching up.
Tanaka unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rolla lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Tanaka is stalling here.
Tanaka lands an elbow just above Rolla 's eye.

It looks like Rockin Rolla has been cut.
Tanaka tries for a takedown but Rolla manages to get underhooks.
Rolla wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Rolla swings wildly with an uppercut but Tanaka uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taka Tanaka dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rockin Rolla's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Tanaka scores with a push kick.
Rolla tries for a takedown but Tanaka circles away easily
and Tanaka counters with a body kick.

Tanaka clinches up with Rolla and pushes him back against the cage.

Tanaka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rolla swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Tanaka moves into the clinch.
A knee to the head by Tanaka.
Rolla can't break the clinch.
Rolla takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rolla takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rolla being controlled against the cage.
Tanaka scores with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Tanaka seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.

Tanaka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tanaka throws a head kick that Rolla semi-blocks.
Rolla wants to clinch but Tanaka slips to the side
and Tanaka counters with an outside leg kick.
Rolla clinches but Tanaka breaks the clinch

and Tanaka counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Rolla throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Rolla looks like he's trying to stand up.
Rolla flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Tanaka perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Tanaka stops Rolla from getting back to his feet.
Rockin Rolla has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taka Tanaka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Tanaka seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rolla for as long as he can get away with.
Rolla makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rolla.
Rolla tries to strike from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Rolla throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tanaka looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rolla tries to strike from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taka Tanaka showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tanaka has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taka Tanaka!