PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Richard Dawkins (ranked 4192 p4p, 4021 weight class) and Kida Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 392 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Dawkins
vs
Tanaka

170 cm
25
155
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
150
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Richard Dawkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kida Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Alexandre Firmino and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanaka lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Dawkins circles away quickly and effectively.
Tanaka misses with a jab, cross combination.
Tanaka scores with a jab to the body.

Dawkins throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Tanaka was covering up waiting for the punch and Dawkins finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Tanaka has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Dawkins has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Tanaka crunches a lovely knee into Dawkins's ribcage.

Dawkins gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Tanaka regains guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Dawkins thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Dawkins drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dawkins jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Dawkins postures up and lands a big shot to Tanaka's brow.
Dawkins pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tanaka is keeping the position for now.
Dawkins is pushing down on Tanaka's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tanaka is fighting to maintain full guard but Dawkins has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka has hold of Dawkins's hands but Dawkins slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Dawkins is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Dawkins seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Dawkins wants to work for an arm triangle but Tanaka is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Dawkins is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Tanaka is just riding it out for now. Dawkins eventually gives up the hold.

Tanaka is defending against the submission attempts here by Dawkins.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka is trying to stand up here but Dawkins is controlling him well.
Well, if Dawkins is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Dawkins has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Dawkins 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.

Dawkins is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tanaka doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dawkins.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Dawkins scores with a couple of nice shots.

Dawkins is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Dawkins perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Dawkins is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Tanaka as he works his way to full guard.
Dawkins scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dawkins is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Dawkins tries to free his leg and advance position but Tanaka is retaining full guard.
Dawkins sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Tanaka wants to stand up but Dawkins is controlling him.
Dawkins not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Dawkins is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dawkins sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tanaka's guard.
Dawkins takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Dawkins dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tanaka connects with an inside leg kick.

Dawkins closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Dawkins is working to tighten his grip on Tanaka's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Tanaka has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Dawkins is really squeezing tight and eventually Tanaka passes out! Dawkins breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Richard Dawkins!