PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Larry Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Laimonas Zemaitis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zemaitis has chosen Queen - 'Don't Stop Me Now as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tanaka
vs
Zemaitis

185 cm
18
211 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

193 cm
21
201 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Demon Clothing Company and Laundy

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Larry Tanaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Laimonas Zemaitis!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zemaitis wants to clinch up but Tanaka keeps it at a distance.
Zemaitis lands a head kick. Tanaka smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Zemaitis throws a leg kick which misses Tanaka's front leg but catches the back leg as Tanaka tries to avoid it.
Tanaka misses with a low kick.
Zemaitis fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Tanaka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zemaitis.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Zemaitis - that will leave a mark!
Zemaitis wants to clinch.
Zemaitis works over Tanaka's head and body with a nice combination.
Tanaka stalks Zemaitis and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Zemaitis's face. Zemaitis staggers backwards, shaken.
Tanaka definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tanaka throws an off balance right hand

and Zemaitis moves into the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Zemaitis turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Zemaitis throws an elbow but Tanaka slips to the side and avoids it well.
Zemaitis scoring with punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zemaitis thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Tanaka is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Zemaitis happy to just control the position for now.
Tanaka avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Zemaitis.
Tanaka struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zemaitis working the ground and pound.
Zemaitis trying to control the action but Tanaka is working from the bottom.
Tanaka manages to get back to half guard.
Zemaitis wants to take a breather but Tanaka is having none of it.
Zemaitis perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Zemaitis is nestled in close to Tanaka, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zemaitis thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tanaka's head.
Zemaitis slows the pace down in half guard.
Tanaka is looking to improve his position.
Zemaitis not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zemaitis looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Zemaitis is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Tanaka!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zemaitis goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Tanaka turns into him and now he's in Zemaitis's guard.
Tanaka is fighting to break Zemaitis's control of his arms but Zemaitis is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Laimonas Zemaitis dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tanaka tries to work over Zemaitis's front leg with a kick but Zemaitis checks it.
Zemaitis tries a head kick but it misses.
Tanaka misses with a body shot.
Zemaitis uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tanaka.
Zemaitis checks a low kick from Tanaka.

Zemaitis closes the distance and clinches.
Tanaka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tanaka swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tanaka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zemaitis's elbow.
Zemaitis misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tanaka.
Zemaitis'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.

Zemaitis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tanaka throws an off balance right hand
and Zemaitis makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Zemaitis misses with a few strikes there.
Larry Tanaka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zemaitis staying out of range there.
Tanaka thows a leg kick but Zemaitis checks it
and Zemaitis counters with a three punch combo that has Tanaka backing up. Tanaka nods at Zemaitis to acknowledge the strikes.
Zemaitis scores with a shot to the body.
Tanaka throws a hook to the side of Zemaitis's head but Zemaitis sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zemaitis throws a leg kick which misses Tanaka's front leg but catches the back leg as Tanaka tries to avoid it.
Zemaitis blocks a jab.
Tanaka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zemaitis.
Zemaitis is looking to clinch.
Tanaka throws a leg kick that misses.
Zemaitis dives in and grabs Tanaka's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tanaka pushes down on Zemaitis's head and hops out.
Zemaitis tries a head kick but it misses.
Zemaitis tries to clinch but Tanaka moves out of range.

Zemaitis rushes Tanaka and presses him up against the cage.

Zemaitis breaks the clinch.
Tanaka misses with a looping right.
Zemaitis feints and then cracks Tanaka's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Tanaka down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zemaitis fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tanaka lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Tanaka steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Zemaitis. That one must have hurt.
Zemaitis avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Zemaitis doesn't manage to clinch there - Tanaka circles away.
No joy there for Zemaitis, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tanaka misses with a leg kick.
Zemaitis looks to land a combination but Tanaka avoids it well.
Zemaitis slips a jab from Tanaka.
Zemaitis throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Zemaitis lands a high kick!
Zemaitis lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Tanaka throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tanaka throws a leg kick
and Zemaitis counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Laimonas Zemaitis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zemaitis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A cross from Zemaitis lands.
Zemaitis moves out of range of the leg kick from Tanaka.
Tanaka looks to land a combination but Zemaitis avoids it well.
Zemaitis doesn't manage to clinch there - Tanaka circles away.
Tanaka throws a poor cross that misses

and Zemaitis counters by clinching up.

Zemaitis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zemaitis is defended easily by Tanaka.
Larry Tanaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Laimonas Zemaitis.
Zemaitis blocks a low kick nicely.
Zemaitis ducks under a wild hook from Tanaka.
Tanaka circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zemaitis goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Tanaka.
Tanaka throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Zemaitis throws a big shot that misses.
Tanaka is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zemaitis.
Zemaitis uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tanaka.
Zemaitis feints and then cracks Tanaka's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Tanaka down.
Zemaitis pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tanaka fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zemaitis fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zemaitis defending well as Tanaka loads up on a big left hand.
Zemaitis delivers a nice body kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zemaitis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tanaka.

Zemaitis darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Tanaka is holding on to half guard well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Laimonas Zemaitis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Zemaitis lands a leg kick that knocks Tanaka off balance momentarily.
Zemaitis wants to clinch up but Tanaka keeps it at a distance.
Zemaitis fails with a takedown attempt.
Zemaitis throws out a powerful jab.
Laimonas Zemaitis seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zemaitis is defended easily by Tanaka.
A head kick misses from Zemaitis.
Tanaka scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Zemaitis throws a nice inside leg kick.
Zemaitis blocks a low kick nicely.
Tanaka scores with a nice head shot.
Tanaka uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Zemaitis has time to react.
Tanaka is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zemaitis thuds his shin into the meat of Tanaka's side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zemaitis throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zemaitis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Tanaka tries to keep at a distance but Zemaitis has taken the fight into the clinch.
Zemaitis is pushing Tanaka up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Tanaka lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Zemaitis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tanaka tries to score with a low kick but Zemaitis moves his leg out of the way.
Zemaitis staying out of range there.
Zemaitis feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tanaka's calf.
Tanaka looks to score with a jab to the body but Zemaitis is just out of range.
Laimonas Zemaitis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tanaka misses with a hook. Zemaitis ducked under it nicely.
Tanaka swings widly with a right hand
and Zemaitis counters with a good low kick that Tanaka was not able to check.
Tanaka with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Larry Tanaka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zemaitis moves into range and clinches up with Tanaka.
Zemaitis blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Zemaitis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A big right from Tanaka misses.
Zemaitis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tanaka.
Zemaitis takes a jab right on the kisser.

Zemaitis is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tanaka cracks the inside of Zemaitis's front leg.
Zemaitis avoids the body shot from Tanaka.
Tanaka takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Tanaka misses the shot to the body.

Zemaitis closes the distance and pushes Tanaka back into the cage.

Zemaitis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zemaitis uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tanaka.
Zemaitis lands a nice shot to the body.
Tanaka will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Zemaitis lands an impressive looking overhand right. Tanaka doesn't seem phased though.
Tanaka takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A head kick misses from Zemaitis.
A slapping body kick lands there for Zemaitis.
Tanaka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zemaitis moves out of range of the strikes.

Zemaitis moves into the clinch.
Tanaka misses with a punch on the inside.
Tanaka prevents the takedown attempt.
Larry Tanaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Laimonas Zemaitis.
Zemaitis has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tanaka avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Tanaka tries to work over Zemaitis's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tanaka trying to control the position but instead, Zemaitis has worked for underhooks and has pushed Tanaka into the cage.
Tanaka misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Zemaitis is trying to push Tanaka away but Tanaka has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A short uppercut from Tanaka.
Zemaitis is trying to break free.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tanaka.
Zemaitis connects with a nasty looking knee right to Tanaka's face.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Zemaitis wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tanaka has him pressed against the cage.
Tanaka tries a body shot but Zemaitis blocks it.
Tanaka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zemaitis wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tanaka dodges an elbow strike from Zemaitis.
Zemaitis is trying to break the clinch but Tanaka has him pressed against the cage.
Tanaka tries to throw a body punch but Zemaitis avoids it by throwing Tanaka back against the cage.
Laimonas Zemaitis is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tanaka misses with a body punch.

Zemaitis manages to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Larry Tanaka.
Well Zemaitis has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Laimonas Zemaitis!