PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bank Tabbot (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masato Nagata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Masato Nagata was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Tabbot
vs
Nagata

185 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

184 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bank Tabbot!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Masato Nagata!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tabbot tries a low kick but Nagata avoids it.
Tabbot tries to clinch there but Nagata circles away.

Tabbot darts in and clinches Nagata up against the cage.
Nagata tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Tabbot is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Nagata is keeping busy.
Nagata tries to pull guard but Tabbot won't allow it.
Tabbot tries to land knees in the clinch but Nagata avoids the damage to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Tabbot just misses with a elbow thrown towards Nagata's brow.
Nagata has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tabbot avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Tabbot misses with an elbow strike.
Tabbot throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Nagata jumps guard.

Tabbot stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Tabbot closes the distance and clinches.
Nagata tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bank Tabbot has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Masato Nagata.

Nagata pulls Tabbot into guard.
Tabbot wanted to stand there but Nagata had control of the position.
Nagata is trying to keep Tabbot in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tabbot trying to stand up but can't free himself from Nagata's guard.
Tabbot trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tabbot stands up and waves to Nagata to follow him.
Nagata avoids the body shot from Tabbot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Tabbot is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tabbot throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Tabbot keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bank Tabbot is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tabbot looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nagata checks a low kick from Tabbot.
Tabbot is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tabbot tries to clinch but Nagata is having none of it.
Nagata has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tabbot tries to clinch up but Nagata circles away and keeps his distance.

Tabbot drives through and clinches with Nagata against the cage.
Tabbot wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nagata has him pressed against the cage.

Nagata manages to pull guard.
Nagata pulls Tabbot in to control the position.
Nagata has a closed guard, preventing Tabbot from standing up.
Tabbot is breathing heavily.

Nagata working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tabbot doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tabbot manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tabbot wants to stand but Nagata is controlling his posture from full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nagata tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tabbot wants to stand and escape but instead Nagata has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Tabbot wants to stand but Nagata is controlling the position.
Tabbot being controlled here, momentarily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nagata working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Tabbot's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nagata looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bank Tabbot will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nagata.
Bank Tabbot seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tabbot goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Tabbot moves into range and clinches up with Nagata.

Nagata breaks from the clinch.

Tabbot closes the distance and clinches.
Nagata fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tabbot connects with a knee to the head.
Nagata tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tabbot just stands there and leans against the cage.
Bank Tabbot has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Masato Nagata.
Nagata tries to pull guard but Tabbot holds him up against the cage and eventually Nagata drops back down to his feet.
Tabbot can't break the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nagata fails to pull guard.
Tabbot has had enough of the clinch but Nagata keeps him there for the moment.
Nice elbow from Tabbot.

Nagata manages to pull guard.

Tabbot stands up from Nagata's guard - Tabbot perhaps looking for a knockout.
Tabbot fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tabbot tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tabbot tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nagata swats away the attempt to clinch by Tabbot.

Nagata clinches with his opponent.
Tabbot misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Nagata successfully pulls guard.
Nagata is pulling down on Tabbot's head to control his posture.
Tabbot stands up out of Nagata's guard for a moment - Nagata manages to land a nice upkick.

Tabbot decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Nagata, up you get!
Tabbot tries to clinch

and Nagata counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Tabbot!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tabbot is trying to stand up.
Nagata controlling the position easily from mount.
Tabbot is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Nagata has taken his back!
Tabbot wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nagata wants to control the position but Tabbot frees himself and scrambles - Nagata manages to regain control in side control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Tabbot.
Tabbot clinches but Nagata breaks the clinch

and Nagata counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Tabbot is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Nagata is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Nagata is standing up over Tabbot. Tabbot looks to escape but Nagata dives into side control.
Nagata controls the position from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nagata thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Tabbot wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Nagata decides to stand back up. Nagata steps back and let's Tabbot get back to his feet.
Nagata shoots in but Tabbot avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masato Nagata showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Nagata tries for a takedown but Tabbot sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nagata circles away from the clinch attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The referee calls for Tabbot to work.
Nagata tries to pull guard but Tabbot won't allow it.
Nagata tries to pull guard but Tabbot holds him up against the cage and eventually Nagata drops back down to his feet.
Bank Tabbot has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Masato Nagata.

Tabbot breaks the clinch.
Tabbot misses with a kick to the body.
Nagata drops his hands momentarily and Tabbot takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Tabbot misses with an uppercut.
Tabbot misses the shot to the body.

Tabbot clinches with his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tabbot tries to land knees in the clinch but Nagata avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tabbot using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nagata has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nagata goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tabbot prevents it.
Tabbot doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nagata fails to pull guard.
Tabbot prevents a takedown attempt there.
Tabbot is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Nagata is keeping busy.
Nagata goes for a takedown attempt but Tabbot pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Tabbot scores with a kick to the body.
Nagata will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tabbot tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tabbot tries to clinch up but Nagata circles away and keeps his distance.
Nagata shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tabbot pinned against the cage. Tabbot gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nagata shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tabbot pinned against the cage. Tabbot gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nagata fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Tabbot gets caught flat footed, as Nagata shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Nagata stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tabbot swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nagata showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Nagata slips nicely into half guard.
Nagata takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tabbot pushes Nagata off but Nagata dives into side control.
Nagata taking a breather here.
Tabbot is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Nagata has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Tabbot throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Nagata looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Tabbot throws a sloppy head kick and Nagata moves out of range easily.
Tabbot scores with a push kick.
Nagata is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Tabbot.
Tabbot misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nagata closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Nagata lands in his opponent's guard.
Nagata stays in close to Tabbot's body and controls the position.
Tabbot is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Nagata stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tabbot swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nagata prevents Tabbot from getting back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bank Tabbot showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tabbot has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bank Tabbot!