PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frane Vinkovic (ranked 506 p4p, 359 weight class) and Kaito Tanaka (ranked 65 p4p, 44 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Vinkovic
vs
Tanaka

195 cm
27
265
10 - 3 - 0

190 cm
26
270
12 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Frane Vinkovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kaito Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Dirk Anderson and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanaka misses with a straight right.
Tanaka throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Frane Vinkovic has been cut.
Vinkovic throws a body punch but Tanaka moves out of range.
Tanaka lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Tanaka slips under a jab.
Tanaka moves away from the strike by Vinkovic.
Tanaka moves out of range of the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanaka defending well as Vinkovic loads up on a big left hand.
Tanaka is looking for the big counter here.
Tanaka looks to land a right hand but Vinkovic moved out of range.
Vinkovic is looking to counter punch.
Tanaka rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Vinkovic counters with a nice uppercut.
Tanaka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vinkovic moves away.
Vinkovic appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vinkovic on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Tanaka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vinkovic stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

It looks like Kaito Tanaka has been cut.
Vinkovic with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Tanaka to score with a decent uppercut.
Vinkovic lands a nice looking body shot.
Vinkovic misses with an uppercut
and Tanaka connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Vinkovic swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Tanaka to counter with a crisp jab.
Vinkovic misses with an uppercut
and Tanaka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tanaka with a body punch. A glancing blow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vinkovic cracks a nice hook into Tanaka's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Frane Vinkovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A swing and a miss from Vinkovic.
A swing and a miss from Vinkovic.
Tanaka looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Vinkovic throws a body shot but no joy.
Vinkovic misses with a lunging right hand
and Tanaka counters with a nice uppercut.
Vinkovic ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tanaka moves away.
Tanaka is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Vinkovic throws a right hand that misses
and Tanaka counters with a straight right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vinkovic. Tanaka does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vinkovic moves out of range of the strikes.
It looked like Vinkovic wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Tanaka throws a head kick that Vinkovic semi-blocks.
Vinkovic scores with a hook.
Vinkovic misses the jab.
Tanaka throws a head kick that misses
and Tanaka takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Tanaka swings widly with a right hand
and Vinkovic counters with a nice uppercut.
Tanaka digs a good hook to Vinkovic's body.
Vinkovic throws a poor cross that misses
and Tanaka counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Vinkovic definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Vinkovic ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vinkovic throws a body punch but Tanaka moves out of range.
Vinkovic shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Vinkovic throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tanaka swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Tanaka ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Vinkovic is breathing heavily.
Sloppy strikes from Vinkovic. Those never looked like landing.
Tanaka circles to his right before unloading a perfect head kick! Vinkovic drops to the canvas, hurt badly! Tanaka follows Vinkovic to the ground and unloads with a series of strikes that force the referee to step in and end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:42 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kaito Tanaka!
An out of breath Kaito Tanaka thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.