PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kazuhiko Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joey Belcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joey Belcher is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Tanaka
vs
Belcher

172 cm
21
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

164 cm
23
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kazuhiko Tanaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joey Belcher!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Eliza Hachem and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belcher keeps the fight on the outside.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tanaka. That's going to slow Belcher down.
Tanaka doesn't manage to clinch there - Belcher circles away.

Belcher moves into the clinch.

Belcher pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Belcher motions for Tanaka to come forward. Belcher throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Tanaka scores with a push kick.
Tanaka scores with a head kick. Belcher tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Tanaka fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tanaka wants to clinch.

Belcher has managed to clinch.
Tanaka scores with a knee to the head.
Belcher blocks an elbow strike from Tanaka.
Belcher is trying to pull guard but Tanaka has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belcher on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Tanaka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Belcher blocks it with crossed arms.
Tanaka creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Belcher lands a nice knee to the body.
Belcher blocks an elbow strike.
Tanaka avoiding damage as Belcher throws knees to the body.
Tanaka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The referee is keeping an eye on Belcher - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Tanaka with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Belcher gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Tanaka is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Belcher is controlling him.
Belcher's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belcher looking to pass the guard.
Belcher looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Joey Belcher wasn't active enough on the ground.
Belcher fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belcher dodges the punch combination from Tanaka.
Belcher avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Belcher feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Belcher decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Belcher throws a nice inside leg kick.
Tanaka tries to clinch but Belcher is having none of it.
Belcher circles away from the clinch attempt

and Belcher moves into the clinch.
Tanaka tries a knee to the head but Belcher blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belcher blocks the elbow strike.
Tanaka throws an elbow that misses.
Belcher tries to pull guard but Tanaka won't allow it.
Kazuhiko Tanaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joey Belcher.

Belcher pulls guard successfully.
Tanaka trying to stand up but can't free himself from Belcher's guard.
Tanaka is breathing heavily.
Belcher wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Belcher seems keen to control Tanaka's posture.
Tanaka tries to stand but Belcher is controlling from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Belcher kicks Tanaka off and gets to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Belcher dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Belcher fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Belcher closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Belcher lands in his opponent's guard.
Belcher is stalling in the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka is looking to stand up but Belcher isn't so interested in that idea.
Belcher in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Joey Belcher hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Belcher checks a leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tanaka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kazuhiko Tanaka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice sprawl there from Tanaka as Belcher shoots in.
Belcher tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Tanaka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Belcher paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Joey Belcher.

Tanaka gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Belcher working some strikes from top position.
Tanaka can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Belcher controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belcher is pushing down on Tanaka's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tanaka is fighting to maintain full guard but Belcher has managed to sneak the leg through.
Belcher controlling the action here.
Belcher passes to side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tanaka being controlled for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Belcher 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! This is the final round!

Tanaka misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tanaka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Belcher paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Belcher throws a head kick but Tanaka moves out of range.

Belcher feints and as Tanaka raises his hands in defense, Belcher changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Belcher is standing up over Tanaka. Tanaka looks to escape but Belcher dives into side control.
You can see the frustration on Tanaka's face as Belcher controls the position.

Belcher is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Tanaka is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belcher just content to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joey Belcher was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tanaka.
Belcher misses with a body shot.
Kazuhiko Tanaka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
An inside leg kick lands from Tanaka.

Belcher clinches with his opponent.
Tanaka misses with a knee strike.
Tanaka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Belcher stalling the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Belcher pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Belcher takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Belcher keeps the fight on the outside.
Tanaka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tanaka tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Belcher counters with a nice double leg into side control. Tanaka won't be happy with that.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Belcher landing a few strikes.
Belcher controlling the position.

Belcher in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Tanaka is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Joey Belcher!