PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hanen Kam Taio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kunimitsu Tezuka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kam Taio
vs
Tezuka

160 cm
21
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

210 cm
18
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 Tokyo, Hanen Kam Taio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kunimitsu Tezuka!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tezuka shoots in but Taio avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Tezuka shoots in but Taio avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Taio closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tezuka circles away.

Taio closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Tezuka to the mat! Tezuka manages to get full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Taio wants to control from the top but Tezuka keeps moving.
Taio stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tezuka swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tezuka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tezuka trying to keep a closed guard but Taio is proving a slippery customer.

Taio decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tezuka throws a head kick but Taio moves out of range.
Tezuka shoots in but no luck this time.
Hanen Kam Taio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kunimitsu Tezuka.
Tezuka wants to clinch up but Taio keeps it at a distance.
Tezuka will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tezuka showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Taio.
Taio shoots for a double leg takedown but Tezuka sprawls well. He's pushed Taio's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tezuka shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Taio as he avoids it easily.
Taio fails with an attempt to clinch.

Taio shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Tezuka napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Tezuka is not content to let Taio control the position.
Tezuka is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Taio off and has taken his back!
Tezuka looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taio looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taio breaks Tezuka's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Tezuka keeping moving, preventing Taio from controlling successfully.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Tezuka is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taio throws a big right hand that misses.
Taio wants to control from the top but Tezuka keeps moving.

Tezuka looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Taio passes into half guard.
Still in half guard, Taio seems content to control.
Tezuka tries to roll over but Taio keeps him under control.
Taio takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taio is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Taio is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Taio is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tezuka doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Taio.
Taio content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hanen Kam Taio dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tezuka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tezuka fails to land with a series of punches.
Tezuka slips a jab and a cross from Taio.
Tezuka lands a front kick.
Tezuka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Taio manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Taio misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tezuka connects with the punch.
Taio stuffs the takedown.

Taio closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Tezuka stalls.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tezuka working aggressively here.

Taio wants the takedown. Tezuka is fighting it off but Taio persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Tezuka's guard against the cage.
Taio might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Taio trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Taio engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Tezuka pulls Taio in close to prevent any damage.
Taio passes Tezuka's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taio seems to be looking for submissions.

Taio is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Tezuka defends it well.
Tezuka is looking for a sweep. Taio is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Taio is trying to control the action in half guard but Tezuka is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tezuka trying to hold on to Taio's head to control him but Taio postures up.
Tezuka tries to roll over but Taio keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taio is looking to take a break and control but Tezuka is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Taio stops Tezuka from getting back to his feet.
Tezuka is breathing heavily.

Taio decides to stand up.
Taio dives in and grabs Tezuka's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tezuka pushes down on Taio's head and hops out.

Taio tries to keep at a distance but Tezuka has taken the fight into the clinch.
Taio avoiding damage as Tezuka throws knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Taio.
Tezuka'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.
Tezuka jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Taio walks away with a smile on his face. Tezuka gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Taio is looking to clinch.
Hanen Kam Taio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tezuka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Taio forces Tezuka back against the cage and clinches.
Tezuka tries to pull guard but Taio holds him up against the cage and eventually Tezuka drops back down to his feet.
Hanen Kam Taio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kunimitsu Tezuka.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tezuka is pressed up against the cage. Taio has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tezuka down to the mat. Tezuka avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Tezuka closes the distance and clinches up with Taio, looking for a takedown. Tezuka pushes Taio against the cage but Taio circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hanen Kam Taio dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Taio clinches with his opponent.
Taio tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tezuka just stands there and leans against the cage.
Taio is trying to break the clinch but Tezuka is controlling him.
Tezuka tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tezuka jumps guard but Taio stands there with Tezuka around his waist. Tezuka gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Taio trying to stall but Tezuka improves his position.
Tezuka is trying to drag Taio to the mat but Taio just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Tezuka has Taio pressed against the cage.
Tezuka drops down looking for an ankle pick but Taio pulls his leg out and moves away.
Hanen Kam Taio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kunimitsu Tezuka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taio doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Tezuka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Taio fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tezuka tries to clinch but Taio is having none of it.
Taio fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tezuka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tezuka lands a high kick!
Tezuka throws a head kick but Taio moves out of range.
Taio tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Tezuka manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tezuka is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tezuka tries to clinch but Taio moves out of range.
Tezuka tries to close the distance and clinch but Taio swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Taio fails with a takedown attempt.
Tezuka keeps the fight on the outside.

Tezuka moves into range and clinches up with Taio.
Tezuka tries to circle away but Taio has him pinned against the cage.
Tezuka wants to get back to striking at distance but Taio won't allow it.

Taio gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Taio controlling the pace.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taio moves into full mount! Tezuka won't be happy about that!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taio wants to finish this one by submission but Tezuka is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Taio.
Tezuka tries to hold on but Taio pushes him away.
Taio can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tezuka is looking to escape.
Tezuka is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taio won't let Tezuka get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Tezuka is trying to escape the mount but Taio keeps good control and instead manages to take Tezuka's back.

Taio looking for the RNC.

Taio is working for the choke. He's slipped one arm under the chin. Tezuka has to defend the other arm for all he's worth... but Taio has managed to get that arm free too and he's tightening the choke! Tezuka taps out and looks absolutely disgusted with himself. Taio doesn't care though - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Hanen Kam Taio!