PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Paul Murhaa (ranked 732 p4p, 40 weight class) and Nobunaga Tanaka (ranked 582 p4p, 33 weight class). Paul Murhaa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Murhaa
vs
Tanaka

169 cm
31
144 lbs
23 - 7 - 2

170 cm
31
140 lbs
21 - 11 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 23 - 7 - 2, fighting out of New York, Paul Murhaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nobunaga Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanaka moves forwards but Murhaa connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Murhaa will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A nice inside leg kick there by Murhaa. That's going to slow Tanaka down.
Murhaa walks forward, straight into a front kick from Tanaka.
Tanaka misses with a takedown attempt - Murhaa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tanaka keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A clash of legs there as Tanaka blocks the low kick.
Good exchange - Tanaka coming out on top.
Nobunaga Tanaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tanaka cracks Murhaa with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Tanaka gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Murhaa lands with a thumping leg kick.
Murhaa misses with a low kick as Tanaka jumps back.
Tanaka thumps Murhaa with a low kick.
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!
Murhaa uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Murhaa throws a leg kick
and Tanaka finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Tanaka pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tanaka avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Tanaka wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Nice body kick there by Murhaa.
Murhaa throws a jab but it's blocked by Tanaka.
Murhaa throws a body punch but Tanaka moves out of range.
Murhaa swings for the body but Tanaka moves out of range.
Tanaka scores with a leg kick.
Nice jab there from Murhaa.
Murhaa is looking to clinch.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Tanaka has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Tanaka feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Murhaa's calf.
Tanaka throws a leg kick
and Murhaa counters with a nice body shot.
Murhaa uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Tanaka has time to react.
Murhaa blocks the body kick.
Tanaka connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tanaka darts in looking for a takedown but Murhaa gets double underhooks and turns Tanaka into the cage.
A quick step to the side and Murhaa tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tanaka keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Murhaa.
Murhaa scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tanaka doesn't seem bothered though.

Murhaa closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka stalling in the clinch but Murhaa improves position.
A short right from Murhaa on the inside.
Murhaa lands a hook that snaps the head of Tanaka backwards.
Murhaa's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Murhaa lands a hook that snaps the head of Tanaka backwards.
Still in the clinch, Tanaka scores with a nice short uppercut.
Murhaa throws a punch but it's blocked by Tanaka.
Tanaka misses with a punch to the body.
Tanaka tries a body shot but Murhaa blocks it.
Murhaa has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Murhaa lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Murhaa lands a right hand.

Tanaka is rocked!
Murhaa gets through Tanaka's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Tanaka is still on wobbly legs! Can Murhaa finish him?
Murhaa lands a hook that snaps the head of Tanaka backwards.
Murhaa gets through Tanaka's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Tanaka successfully pulls guard.

Tanaka looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Murhaa is defending well. Tanaka quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Murhaa has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Tanaka celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Nobunaga Tanaka!
Nobunaga Tanaka thanked the fans post fight for their support.