PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Azevedo Souza (ranked 84 p4p, 14 weight class) and Ryo Tanaka (ranked 746 p4p, 86 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Azevedo Souza
vs
Tanaka

174 cm
27
149 lbs
12 - 0 - 0

170 cm
27
155 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Gabriel Azevedo Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ryo Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Sandra Marshall and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanaka throws a good cross that connects.
Tanaka throws a poor cross that misses
and Azevedo Souza counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Azevedo Souza has been working on his boxing with his coaches at ELITE Island Gym - 19 Elite Coaches in the buildup to the fight.
Tanaka needs to keep his hands up - Azevedo Souza had a free shot at his head there.
Ryo Tanaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Azevedo Souza showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tanaka.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Tanaka.
Tanaka throws a body shot but no joy.
An attempted straight right counter from Azevedo Souza misses the target.
Tanaka throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Azevedo Souza counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tanaka uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

It looks like Gabriel Azevedo Souza has been cut.
Tanaka swings for the body but Azevedo Souza moves out of range.
Tanaka misses with a body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Azevedo Souza ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Tanaka pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Azevedo Souza back to the cage. Tanaka follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Azevedo Souza bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Azevedo Souza slips under a jab from Tanaka.
Tanaka finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Tanaka buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka misses with a left hand
and Azevedo Souza counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tanaka misses with an uppercut
letting Azevedo Souza counter with a right hand.
Tanaka throws a hook to the side of Azevedo Souza's head but Azevedo Souza sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tanaka connects with a body shot.
Tanaka misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Azevedo Souza counters with a stiff right hand.
Good exchange - Tanaka coming out on top.
Tanaka scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Azevedo Souza doesn't seem bothered though.
Azevedo Souza scores with a jab to the body.
Jab by Azevedo Souza.
Azevedo Souza misses the shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tanaka throws out a leg kick but Azevedo Souza moves out of range and Tanaka only half commits.
Tanaka swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tanaka moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Tanaka misses with a leg kick.
A little feinted left hand from Azevedo Souza on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Tanaka scores with a jab to the jaw.
Tanaka walks into a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tanaka lands a left and a right that sends Azevedo Souza crashing to the canvas! Tanaka dives into mount looking to finish!

Azevedo Souza is rocked!

Gabriel Azevedo Souza's cut is getting worse.
Tanaka avoids the attempt from Azevedo Souza to control.
Oh Azevedo Souza is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Tanaka wants to control the pace but Azevedo Souza is squirming around nicely.

Tanaka looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Azevedo Souza seems to have got his legs back now.

Tanaka has control of Azevedo Souza's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Azevedo Souza regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Azevedo Souza sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Azevedo Souza slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Azevedo Souza is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka keeping moving, preventing Azevedo Souza from controlling successfully.
Azevedo Souza stands and throws Tanaka's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Azevedo Souza trying to control the position but Tanaka is working away.
Tanaka is trying to control Azevedo Souza's posture but Azevedo Souza avoids it.

Azevedo Souza wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tanaka, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Azevedo Souza tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Azevedo Souza has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
You can see the frustration on Tanaka's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Azevedo Souza tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Azevedo Souza has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Azevedo Souza working away.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Azevedo Souza wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tanaka, who protects the arm well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tanaka struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryo Tanaka dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gabriel Azevedo Souza's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Azevedo Souza connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Tanaka cracks the inside of Azevedo Souza's front leg.
A jab from Azevedo Souza misses.
Tanaka throws a leg kick
and Azevedo Souza connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Azevedo Souza blocks a low kick nicely.
Tanaka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tanaka lands with a cross.
Tanaka lands with an overhand left.
Tanaka misses the jab.
A jab from Tanaka misses.
Tanaka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanaka is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Azevedo Souza stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Azevedo Souza slips under a jab from Tanaka.
Tanaka throws a lazy uppercut
and Azevedo Souza makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Azevedo Souza connects with a good right hand that stumbles Tanaka. Tanaka circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Azevedo Souza gets tackled into the cage by Tanaka. Tanaka maintains the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Tanaka.
Tanaka swings wildly with an uppercut but Azevedo Souza uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tanaka blocks a body shot from Azevedo Souza.
Tanaka gets through Azevedo Souza's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Azevedo Souza lands with a left to the head.
A short right from Azevedo Souza.
Tanaka lands an uppercut.
Azevedo Souza misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tanaka lands a body punch.

Tanaka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tanaka swings widly with a right hand
and Azevedo Souza counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Azevedo Souza slips a jab from Tanaka.
Azevedo Souza tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Azevedo Souza fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tanaka misses with a two punch combination.
Tanaka lands a glancing blow to the side of Azevedo Souza's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo Souza uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tanaka.
Tanaka lands a nice hook to Azevedo Souza's body. Azevedo Souza takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ryo Tanaka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Azevedo Souza is looking to clinch but Tanaka is avoiding it.
Tanaka tries to clinch but Azevedo Souza moves out of range.
Tanaka moves forwards but Azevedo Souza connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Tanaka walks into a left hand.
Tanaka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tanaka swings widly with a right hand
and Azevedo Souza counters with a left to the body.
A jab lands there for Azevedo Souza.
Tanaka looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tanaka walks into a left hand.
Azevedo Souza lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Tanaka takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Azevedo Souza keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tanaka scoring well with a low kick there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo Souza lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A swing and a miss from Tanaka.
Tanaka tries to bum rush Azevedo Souza with a series of wild strikes but Azevedo Souza uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tanaka throws a wild body kick that Azevedo Souza sees coming a mile off.
Tanaka slips a straight right by Azevedo Souza.
Tanaka swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Tanaka misses with a jab to the body
letting Azevedo Souza counter with a right hand.
Tanaka misses with a body kick.
It looked like Azevedo Souza wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Tanaka throws a lazy right hand but Azevedo Souza sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Azevedo Souza moves away from the strike by Tanaka.
Azevedo Souza is looking to counter punch.
Tanaka misses with a left hand
and Azevedo Souza counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Azevedo Souza slips under a jab from Tanaka.
Tanaka throws an off balance right hand
and Azevedo Souza counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Azevedo Souza lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Azevedo Souza misses with a looping right.
Tanaka lands a nice shot that snaps Azevedo Souza's head back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Azevedo Souza lands a body shot.
Tanaka tries to clinch but Azevedo Souza moves out of range.
Azevedo Souza throws a jab when Tanaka was well out of range.
Azevedo Souza ducks under a wild hook from Tanaka.
Azevedo Souza thuds his right hand into Tanaka's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Tanaka throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Azevedo Souza counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Tanaka thinking.
Tanaka looks to land a body kick but Azevedo Souza moved away.
Azevedo Souza lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Tanaka throws a low kick, looking for Azevedo Souza's leg but Azevedo Souza calmly moves out of range.
Tanaka steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Azevedo Souza.
Tanaka doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Tanaka has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Azevedo Souza walks into a straight right hand from Tanaka.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tanaka cracks Azevedo Souza with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Tanaka throws a leg kick
and Azevedo Souza counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Azevedo Souza checks a leg kick nicely.
Tanaka lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Gabriel Azevedo Souza will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gabriel Azevedo Souza's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A bone on bone clash there as Azevedo Souza blocks the leg kick.
Sloppy strikes from Tanaka. Those never looked like landing.
Tanaka with a jab.
Azevedo Souza takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Azevedo Souza throws an overhand right that lands on Tanaka's shoulder, as Tanaka tries to avoid the shot.
Azevedo Souza lands a jab to Tanaka's midsection.
Tanaka swinging wildly here.
Azevedo Souza ducks under a wild hook from Tanaka.
Azevedo Souza avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanaka's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Azevedo Souza connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Tanaka scrambles back to his feet.
Tanaka walks into a straight right hand from Azevedo Souza.
Tanaka displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Azevedo Souza throws out the jab.
Tanaka appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Tanaka takes a jab right on the kisser.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Azevedo Souza avoids a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azevedo Souza ducks under a wild hook from Tanaka.
Azevedo Souza scores with a jab to the body.
Tanaka buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Tanaka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Azevedo Souza throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The fighters circling - Tanaka throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tanaka lands with a thumping leg kick.
Tanaka throws a right hand that misses
and Azevedo Souza counters with a nice uppercut.
Azevedo Souza avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tanaka throws a body shot but no joy.
Tanaka lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Good leg kick by Tanaka there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Azevedo Souza throws a lazy right hand but Tanaka sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Azevedo Souza is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gabriel Azevedo Souza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo Souza moves out of range as Tanaka throws a body kick.
Tanaka connects with a nice looking jab.
Azevedo Souza with a body punch. A glancing blow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tanaka on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Azevedo Souza staying out of range there.
Tanaka throws a lazy right hand but Azevedo Souza sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tanaka has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Tanaka misses with a straight left.
Tanaka throws a jab when Azevedo Souza was well out of range.
Azevedo Souza scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Tanaka is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Azevedo Souza is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Tanaka.
Azevedo Souza swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Tanaka.
Tanaka tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Azevedo Souza is able to avoid easily.
Tanaka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tanaka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tanaka scores with a decent looking hook.

Gabriel Azevedo Souza's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Tanaka throws a big shot that misses.
It looked like Azevedo Souza wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Azevedo Souza moves out of range as Tanaka strikes.
Azevedo Souza is looking to counter punch.
Azevedo Souza throws a body shot but no joy.
Azevedo Souza ducks under a wild hook from Tanaka.
Tanaka misses the body punch
and Azevedo Souza counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Azevedo Souza works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Azevedo Souza is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Azevedo Souza throws a hook but Tanaka avoids it easily.
Tanaka throws a hook but Azevedo Souza avoids it easily.
Tanaka displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Azevedo Souza throws out the jab.
Azevedo Souza works the jab nicely.
Azevedo Souza takes one on the button.
Azevedo Souza slips under a jab.
Azevedo Souza is looking to counter punch.
Tanaka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka misses with a body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tanaka feints and then cracks Azevedo Souza's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Azevedo Souza down.
Tanaka misses with a straight left.
Azevedo Souza scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tanaka doesn't seem bothered though.
Tanaka throws a leg kick that is checked
and Tanaka takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Tanaka connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Tanaka misses the jab.
Tanaka digs a good body shot into Azevedo Souza's ribs.
Azevedo Souza misses with a looping right.
Tanaka throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Tanaka rushes Azevedo Souza and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Azevedo Souza fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tanaka struggles to land a body shot inside as Azevedo Souza controls his hands.
A short right from Tanaka.
A head punch on the inside from Azevedo Souza fails to land.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ryo Tanaka.
I think Tanaka has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight for Ryo Tanaka!
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight for Ryo Tanaka!
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Ryo Tanaka!

Ryo Tanaka wins by unanimous decision!
Ryo Tanaka decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
Gabriel Azevedo Souza was interviewed post fight and said 'Watch me get hype farmed by some gutless loser in the main game.'.