PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tautoru Tui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Illianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Illianenko has chosen Only God Can Judge Me as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Tui
vs
Illianenko

162 cm
23
225 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

195 cm
21
245 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tautoru Tui!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ivan Illianenko!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Hirohito Nitta and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Tui with that takedown attempt.
Tui avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tui fails with a takedown attempt.
Tui shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Illianenko pinned against the cage. Illianenko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tautoru Tui. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tui moves out of range as Illianenko throws a body kick.
Illianenko connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Illianenko shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Tui manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Tui keeping full guard, as Illianenko tries to pass.
Tui not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tui avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Tui had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Illianenko is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Tui Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Illianenko's back instead.
Illianenko is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Illianenko looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tui tries to get the hooks in deep but Illianenko pushed the leg off.
Illianenko manages to reverse the position and now he's in Tui's guard. Nice work there by Illianenko.

Illianenko is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Illianenko scores with a one two! Tui had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Illianenko drives through and clinches with Tui against the cage.
Tui tries to pull guard but Illianenko holds him up against the cage and eventually Tui drops back down to his feet.
Illianenko comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Tautoru Tui has been cut.
Illianenko throws an elbow that misses.
Tui blocks an elbow strike.
Tui drops down looking for an ankle pick but Illianenko pulls his leg out and moves away.
Tui is breathing heavily.
Illianenko with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Illianenko works over Tui's head and body with a nice combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Illianenko lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Illianenko rushes Tui and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Illianenko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Illianenko smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Illianenko gets the takedown into side control.
Illianenko lands a nice forearm strike.

Illianenko wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tui, who protects the arm well.
Tui tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Illianenko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Tui on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Tui tries to get out of the position.

Illianenko thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Illianenko working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Illianenko in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
The ground and pound from Illianenko seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Illianenko thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Tui tries to buck Illianenko off but Illianenko is having none of it.
Illianenko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Illianenko lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Tui down.

Illianenko has hold of Tui's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Tui seems comfortable defending it but Illianenko has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Tui is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Tui is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Illianenko couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:31 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Ivan Illianenko!