PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Draymond Green (ranked 3865 p4p, 2503 weight class) and Daichi Tanaka (ranked 342 p4p, 238 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.

Green
vs
Tanaka

176 cm
27
151
3 - 3 - 0

166 cm
27
145
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Big right hand

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

BANZAI NUTRITION

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Draymond Green!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Daichi Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tanaka shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Green's guard.
Tanaka looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Green preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tanaka sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Tanaka stopping the sweep attempt from Green.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Tanaka misses with a two punch combination.

Tanaka gets caught napping as Green dives in and scores a takedown. Tanaka manages to retain guard.

Tanaka isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Green stacks Tanaka on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Green!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Green has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Tanaka!
Tanaka is squirming around, avoiding Green's attempts to control the action.
Tanaka tries to hold on but Green postures up.
Tanaka really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Green has hold of Tanaka's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Tanaka manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Green looking to control but Tanaka is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Green get's back to his feet.
A punch combination from Green misses.

Tanaka shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Green scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Tanaka manages to mount him!
Tanaka controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka lands a big elbow.
Tanaka throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Green because Tanaka loaded up on that one.
Tanaka takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Green in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tanaka landing strikes from the mount and Green is in trouble!
Tanaka working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tanaka content just to control the position here.
Tanaka trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Daichi Tanaka will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tanaka tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Green was well out of range. Poor timing from Tanaka.

Green throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Tanaka tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Green is in Tanaka's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tanaka has control of Green's left arm, preventing Green from doing any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tanaka is on top in guard.

Tanaka trying to control but Green is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Green being controlled here, momentarily.
Green wants to stand and escape but Tanaka is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Green trying to keep a closed guard but Tanaka is proving a slippery customer.
Tanaka looking to pass the guard.
Green working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tanaka.
Green pulls Tanaka in close to his closed guard and prevents Tanaka from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Tanaka slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
A slow jab from Tanaka misses its intended target.
Tanaka throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Green sees it coming and avoids it easily.
It looked like Green was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Green seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Tanaka lands with a hook. Green tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Tanaka throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Green tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Tanaka is in Green's guard.
Tanaka passes Green's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Green tries to roll over but Tanaka keeps him under control.
Green looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Green wants to sweep but Tanaka has passed to side control!
Green wants to get back to his feet but Tanaka is dominant here and he's now got Green's back!

Tanaka is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Green knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Green for a finish.
Tanaka tries to get the hooks in deep but Green pushed the leg off.

Green is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka has good solid back control here.
Tanaka gets his hands free as Green looks to control.
Tanaka lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Tanaka.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
I would not like to be Green right now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Daichi Tanaka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Tanaka looks to throw the jab but Green is out of range.
Green moves out of range as Tanaka strikes.
Green tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Tanaka manages to circle out of the way.
Tanaka lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Green circles away quickly and effectively.

Green gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Tanaka seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Green controls Tanaka momentarily but Tanaka frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka controls from within his opponent's guard.
Green is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Tanaka looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Tanaka trying to control from the bottom.

That's two 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.

Green is looking for a kimura but Tanaka is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Green to get the leverage.
Tanaka manages to get to full guard.
Tanaka keeping moving, preventing Green from controlling successfully.
Tanaka working a defensive guard here.
Green wants to control from the top but Tanaka keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Green gets a clinch.

Green jumps guard and drags Tanaka to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Green keeping full guard, as Tanaka tries to pass.
Green wants to stand up but Tanaka is controlling him.
Tanaka looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tanaka postures up.
Daichi Tanaka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tanaka controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Tanaka swings for the body but Green moves out of range.

Tanaka gets a double leg takedown into Green's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tanaka sitting in guard here, content to control.
Green is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tanaka is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daichi Tanaka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tanaka winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

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