PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shinji Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hector Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tanaka's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Yuudachi. Shinji Tanaka has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tanaka
vs
Alves

160 cm
26
139 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

177 cm
34
145 lbs
17 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

DTK Designs (Laundry)

GREEN!160

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 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shinji Tanaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hector Alves!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanaka throws a head kick but Alves moves out of range.

Tanaka changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Alves looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
You can see the frustration on Alves's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Alves is trying to improve his position.
Tanaka cracks Alves with a big elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ground and pound from Tanaka seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Alves is looking to reverse the position.
Alves takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Alves gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Tanaka trying to control the action but Alves is working from the bottom.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Tanaka lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Alves trying to control but Tanaka postures up.
Alves is trying to get back to full guard.

Tanaka is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Alves defends it well.
Alves trying to control here.
Alves is trying to get back to full guard.
Alves wants to control but Tanaka is keeping busy.
Alves is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Alves.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Alves keeping full guard, as Tanaka tries to pass.
Tanaka trying to control the position from guard on top but Alves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tanaka chips away with some ground and pound.

Alves is looking for a triangle but Tanaka pushes his legs off easily.
Tanaka trying to control the position from guard on top but Alves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alves wants to sweep here but Tanaka controlling him for the moment.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tanaka makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Alves keeping moving, preventing Tanaka from controlling successfully.
Tanaka stays in close to Alves's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka trying to control the position from guard on top but Alves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Alves is on top in guard.
Tanaka manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Alves manages to get himself to full guard.
Tanaka is looking to work some ground and pound but Alves has wrist control.
Tanaka scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Tanaka wants to pass the guard but Alves is keeping the position.
Tanaka might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Tanaka stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Tanaka fails to land the takedown.
Tanaka closes the distance but Alves moves to the side
and Alves counters with a three punch combo that has Tanaka backing up. Tanaka nods at Alves to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves checks the leg kick.
Alves misses with an uppercut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Tanaka shoots in but Alves avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Tanaka walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Shinji Tanaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alves avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Alves lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Tanaka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Alves paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tanaka tries to clinch but Alves is having none of it.
A head kick misses from Tanaka.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinji Tanaka dominated that round.
That's time! Tanaka's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Alves stalks Tanaka and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Tanaka's face. Tanaka staggers backwards, shaken.
We've been told by Tanaka's head coaches at Miletich Xtreme Fighting Systems that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Tanaka tries to clinch up
and Alves counters with a left and a right that stings Tanaka.
Tanaka tries to land a leg kick but Alves saw it coming and moves away.
Tanaka blocks the body kick.
Tanaka gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Alves counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Alves fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tanaka manages to avoid it.
Tanaka takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Tanaka misses with a kick to the body
and Alves counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Tanaka is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Tanaka. Those never looked like landing.
Alves misses with an uppercut. Tanaka saw that one coming.
A jab from Alves finds it's way through Tanaka's defenses.
Some wild striking there from Tanaka.
Tanaka shoots in and drives through. Alves sprawls well.
Tanaka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tanaka doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Alves counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinji Tanaka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tanaka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tanaka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tanaka misses with a leg kick
and Alves connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tanaka wants to land a leg kick but Alves is out of range.
Tanaka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tanaka throws a looping overhand right but Alves ducks down to avoid it.
Alves throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tanaka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alves swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tanaka throws a series of punches but Alves avoids them all with ease.
Tanaka misses with a head kick.
Tanaka throws a sloppy head kick
and Alves makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Tanaka shoots in but Alves avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka fails with a takedown attempt.
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 fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tanaka misses with a takedown attempt
and Alves counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Alves slips under a jab.
Alves lands a nice shot that snaps Tanaka's head back.
Tanaka is looking to clinch.
Tanaka darts in trying to clinch
and Alves counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tanaka dives in and grabs Alves's left leg, looking for a takedown. Alves pushes down on Tanaka's head and hops out.
Tanaka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tanaka throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tanaka throws a hook to the side of Alves's head but Alves sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tanaka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alves has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tanaka tries to score a power double leg takedown but Alves sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tanaka somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hector Alves will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Tanaka goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Tanaka looks to land a body kick but Alves moved away.
Sloppy strikes from Alves. Those never looked like landing.
Tanaka is looking to chop away at Alves's legs.
Alves is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Alves lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tanaka circles away quickly and effectively.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alves displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tanaka.
Alves slips a jab from Tanaka.
Decent striking displayed by Alves there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick by Tanaka misses
and Alves counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Alves scores with a one two! Tanaka had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Tanaka tries to clinch up but Alves circles away and keeps his distance.
Alves connects with a solid leg kick.
Hector Alves seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tanaka connects with the punch.
The fighters circling - Alves throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
No luck for Tanaka with that takedown attempt.
Tanaka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alves swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Alves keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka throws a right hand that Alves ducks under and follows up with a left that Alves also avoids with ease.
Tanaka looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Tanaka ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Tanaka walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Alves connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Tanaka shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alves moves out of range of the body kick.
Alves walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Tanaka checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Alves throws a series of punches but Tanaka moves out of range.
Tanaka throws a combination that misses
and Alves counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Hector Alves is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tanaka throws a looping overhand right but Alves ducks down to avoid it.
Tanaka throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Alves counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Tanaka misses with a takedown
and Alves counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinji Tanaka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tanaka closes the distance but Alves moves to the side
and Tanaka takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Tanaka dodges the punch combination from Alves.
Alves uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Tanaka has time to react.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Tanaka, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Alves pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Alves swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Horrible takedown by Tanaka or perhaps it was just good defense by Alves which made him look bad.
A punch combination from Tanaka misses.
Nice body punch from Alves.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Tanaka has taken the fight to the clinch.
Tanaka jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Alves walks away with a smile on his face. Tanaka gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Alves throws a hook to the side of Tanaka's head but Tanaka sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Hector Alves.
I think Alves has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hector Alves!
Hector Alves seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.