PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Owen McNamara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hoshi Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

McNamara
vs
Tanaka

189 cm
23
275 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

192 cm
24
245 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Owen McNamara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hoshi Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McNamara clinches up against the cage.
Tanaka is trying to break the clinch but McNamara is controlling him.

McNamara breaks from the clinch.
Tanaka shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McNamara pinned against the cage. McNamara gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tanaka tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McNamara swivels and escapes.
Hoshi Tanaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

McNamara darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Tanaka tries to get to full guard but McNamara has control of the leg.

McNamara decides to return to a standing position.
Tanaka has his takedown stuffed

and McNamara counters with a shoot takedown. Tanaka fights it but they end up in guard.
Owen McNamara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hoshi Tanaka.

Tanaka had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. McNamara defends it easily.
McNamara 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.
McNamara pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tanaka is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McNamara scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
McNamara wants to control from the top but Tanaka keeps moving.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

McNamara stands and steps away. Tanaka gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

McNamara moves into the clinch successfully.

McNamara pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tanaka tries for a takedown but McNamara circles away easily

and McNamara counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Tanaka!
Tanaka looks gassed!
Tanaka is looking to get to half guard.

McNamara jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Tanaka manages to avoid the submission attempt.

McNamara decides to stand up, so the ref orders Tanaka to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka doesn't succeed with the takedown

so McNamara counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McNamara stays in close to Tanaka's body and controls the position.
McNamara looking to pass the guard.
McNamara pushes down on Tanaka's leg and manages to get into half guard.
McNamara looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
McNamara seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tanaka does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McNamara moves nicely into side control.
Tanaka is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka is not content to let McNamara control the position.
Tanaka is trying to get back to half guard.

McNamara is trying to get an arm triangle but Tanaka is defending well.
Tanaka is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Tanaka takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
McNamara trying to control the position but Tanaka is working away.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

McNamara changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Tanaka looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McNamara lands an elbow.

McNamara decides to stand up, so the ref orders Tanaka to his feet.

Tanaka scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Tanaka swings around for an armbar but McNamara sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Tanaka's guard.

McNamara stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Tanaka tries for a takedown but McNamara circles away easily

and McNamara counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by McNamara.
Tanaka is trying to break free.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McNamara keeps control of Tanaka as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
McNamara works on Tanaka's body with a couple of short punches.
McNamara misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tanaka.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Owen McNamara dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Tanaka gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Tanaka keeping moving, preventing McNamara from controlling successfully.
Owen McNamara overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McNamara postures up in Tanaka's guard and throws a big left but Tanaka blocks it.
Tanaka wants to sweep but no luck.
McNamara postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Tanaka is looking for a triangle but McNamara pushes his legs off easily.
McNamara pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tanaka is keeping the position for now.
McNamara 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.
McNamara keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tanaka's head.

Tanaka looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
McNamara trying to control the position from guard on top but Tanaka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tanaka has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McNamara can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
McNamara 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.
McNamara wants to control from the top but Tanaka keeps moving.
Tanaka looking for a sweep. Not yet Tanaka, not yet.

McNamara gets to his feet - Tanaka follows without any prompting.

McNamara gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A body shot lands from McNamara.
McNamara throws an elbow that misses.
McNamara lands a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McNamara scores with a hook to the body.
Tanaka gets underhooks to prevent McNamara's takedown attempt.

McNamara breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McNamara lands a high kick!

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

McNamara stands up.
A head kick from McNamara lands but Tanaka takes it in his stride.
Tanaka misses with a takedown
and McNamara counters with a series of strikes. Tanaka will be more careful next time no doubt.

McNamara shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Tanaka manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McNamara showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tanaka is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McNamara is aware though and is defending well.
McNamara not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
McNamara stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tanaka swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McNamara's corner is telling him to maintain position.
McNamara trying to control the position from guard on top but Tanaka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tanaka wants to sweep but no luck.

Tanaka looking for submissions from the bottom but instead McNamara passes into side control.
Tanaka is trying to improve his position.

That's four 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

McNamara shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Tanaka looking for submissions off his back.
Tanaka is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

McNamara is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
McNamara trying to control the action but Tanaka is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Owen McNamara dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

McNamara lands a two punch combo.
Tanaka fails with the takedown

and McNamara holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

McNamara manages to break the clinch.
Tanaka showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McNamara.

McNamara shoots in and bounces Tanaka off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Tanaka escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McNamara gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
McNamara is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Tanaka working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. McNamara doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. McNamara manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McNamara gets to his feet - Tanaka follows without any prompting.
McNamara lands a two punch combo.

Tanaka gets caught flat footed, as McNamara shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Tanaka looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
McNamara trying to control but Tanaka is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka looking for a sweep. Not yet Tanaka, not yet.

Tanaka throws his legs up looking for a submission but McNamara uses it to pass to side control.

McNamara has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

McNamara looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Tanaka!
Tanaka tries to get back to half guard but can't.
McNamara trying to control but Tanaka is having none of it.
Tanaka is looking to improve his position but McNamara isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McNamara wants to take his opponent's back but Tanaka doesn't allow it.

McNamara is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

McNamara looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Tanaka!
Tanaka tries to get back to half guard but can't.

McNamara stands up from mount. Strange move.
Tanaka misses with a takedown attempt

and McNamara counters with a nice double leg into guard.
McNamara slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Tanaka tries to improve position but can't.
McNamara wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tanaka keeps working.
Tanaka manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tanaka actively working from the bottom here.
Tanaka is staying active underneath McNamara, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

McNamara is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Tanaka moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
McNamara trying to control the position from guard on top but Tanaka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hoshi Tanaka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Owen McNamara is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tanaka doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Owen McNamara showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McNamara has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Owen McNamara!