PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mustafa Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tanaka's entrance music is This is why i'm hot. A fine choice. Alves comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Big Sh!t Popping kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Thiago Alves has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tanaka
vs
Alves

186 cm
19
175 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
23
184 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

THE STEEL PENN NUTRITION

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mustafa Tanaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Thiago Alves!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alves fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tanaka fails to land with a series of punches.
Alves wants to clinch.
Alves wants to clinch up but Tanaka keeps it at a distance.
Tanaka throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Alves.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tanaka.
Tanaka takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Thiago Alves seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alves moves in looking to clinch but Tanaka pushes him off.
Tanaka throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Alves on the side of the head.
A combination from Tanaka does no damage.
Tanaka fails with a takedown attempt.
Tanaka displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Tanaka rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Alves moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Alves misses with a takedown

and Tanaka counters with a nice double leg into side control. Alves won't be happy with that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tanaka tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Alves is looking to regain half guard here but Tanaka keeps moving and retains side control.
Tanaka will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves sneaks back into half guard.
Tanaka tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Alves.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Tanaka with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves wants to get back to his feet.
Tanaka is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Alves keeping hold of Tanaka's head, controlling as best he can.
Tanaka trying to mount his opponent but Alves defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Alves is trying to control but can't.
Tanaka wants to stand up but Alves has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Alves trying to control from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Alves tries to clinch up but Tanaka circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mustafa Tanaka dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Alves fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tanaka connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Alves shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Tanaka counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Tanaka wants to pass to mount but Alves is defending the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tanaka takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Tanaka is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Alves has managed to free his arm - good work.
Alves wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves is refusing to be controlled, as Tanaka sits in half guard.
Tanaka is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Tanaka has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Alves is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Tanaka gets to his feet. Alves looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Alves lands an elbow just above Tanaka 's eye.

It looks like Mustafa Tanaka has been cut.
Alves is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Tanaka is keeping busy.
Tanaka tries for a takedown but Alves manages to get underhooks.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Tanaka as Alves tries to tie him up.
Tanaka taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka tries to circle away but Alves has him pinned against the cage.
Tanaka can't break the clinch.
Tanaka trying to land knees to the body.
Tanaka tries for a takedown. No joy.
Alves creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tanaka's defenses.
Alves stalling in the clinch but Tanaka improves position.

Tanaka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Alves closes the distance and clinches.
Alves taking a breather.
Alves throws an elbow but it misses.
Alves trying to control the position but instead, Tanaka has worked for underhooks and has pushed Alves into the cage.
Alves wants a takedown but no success here.
Mustafa Tanaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Alves.

Tanaka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tanaka tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Alves swivels and escapes.
A telegraphed right hand from Tanaka misses the target.

Tanaka closes the distance and clinches.

Tanaka breaks the clinch.
Alves closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tanaka circles away.
Alves tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves fails to land the takedown.
Alves is breathing heavily.
A decent looking cross lands there for Tanaka.
Nice shot by Tanaka.
Tanaka looks to land a combination. Alves sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Tanaka scores with a three punch combo!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Tanaka closes the distance and clinches up with Alves, looking for a takedown. Tanaka pushes Alves against the cage but Alves circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tanaka misses with the combination.
Tanaka is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Some wild striking there from Tanaka.
Tanaka fails to land with a series of punches.
Tanaka is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Tanaka throws a good cross that connects.
Alves shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tanaka pinned against the cage. Tanaka gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tanaka throws a nice looking combination but Alves bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Tanaka fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Alves sprawls well initially but Tanaka persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tanaka performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mustafa Tanaka dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mustafa Tanaka's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Alves is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tanaka throws a right hand that Alves ducks under and follows up with a left that Alves also avoids with ease.

Tanaka takes the fight into the clinch.
Tanaka's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Tanaka lands an elbow just above Alves 's eye.
Alves is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Alves has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Tanaka clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Tanaka manages to reverse the position and now he's in Alves's guard. Nice work there by Tanaka.
Tanaka is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka prevents Alves from getting back to his feet.

Tanaka gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
A punch combination from Tanaka misses.
Tanaka scores with a decent looking hook.

Tanaka has closed the distance and engaged Alves in a clinch.
Alves wants to stall.

Tanaka successfully pulls guard.
Tanaka lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Alves!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka controlling the position easily from mount.
Alves tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Tanaka content just to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tanaka tries to control but Alves wriggling away.
Thiago Alves has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Tanaka controlling the position easily from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mustafa Tanaka showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tanaka 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

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