PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mervin Tanner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Haoti Kato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mervin Tanner has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Tanner
vs
Kato

160 cm
18
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

168 cm
22
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

Good takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mervin Tanner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Haoti Kato!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kato shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Tanner had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kato defends it easily.
Kato working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Tanner's head.
Tanner seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Kato trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Tanner had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kato defends it easily.
Kato being controlled here momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kato wants to pass the guard but Tanner is keeping the position.
Kato prevents Tanner from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanner is pulling down on Kato's head to control his posture.
Kato tries to stand but Tanner is controlling from the bottom.

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

Kato scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kato trying to control the position but Tanner is working away.
Kato in the domination position with Tanner hanging on.
Tanner struggling a bit here.
A control attempt from Tanner but he's now mounted!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanner reaches up to try and control the position but Kato seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Tanner rolls and tries to escape and now Kato has his back!
Kato trying to control.
Tanner trying to control the action but Kato just sinks the hooks in.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kato is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Kato connects with a big shot to the side of Tanner's head.
Tanner covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Kato punishes Tanner with strikes from the back mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Kato's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Tanner is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Kato working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Tanner looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Kato working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Kato looks winded!

Kato looking for the choke from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanner trying to control the hands but Kato breaks the grip.
Tanner is trying to get back to his feet but Kato has full control of the position and if anything, Tanner has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Tanner trying to control the hands but Kato breaks the grip.
Kato keeps control of the position as Tanner tries to break free.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tanner looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Tanner is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kato is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kato is looking to clinch.
Tanner slips a straight right by Kato.
Kato throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Mervin Tanner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kato gets the takedown into side control.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Kato wants to stand but Tanner is controlling his arm.
Kato has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanner tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Tanner throwing hammer fists to the chest of Kato. What's that going to do exactly?
Tanner working to try and regain half guard.
Kato wants to stand but Tanner is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanner wants to hold on but Kato pushes him away.
Kato wants to control the pace but Tanner is squirming around nicely.
Haoti Kato has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kato lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Tanner hang on?
Tanner tries to hold on but Kato pushes him away.
Kato is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Kato looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Kato is breathing heavily.
Tanner wants to control but Kato is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kato can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tanner is looking to escape.
Tanner is trying to stand.
Tanner is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanner throwing hammer fists to the chest of Kato. What's that going to do exactly?
Kato punishing his opponent with strikes.
Tanner wants to control but Kato is having none of it.
Kato wants to control the pace but Tanner is squirming around nicely.
Tanner tries to lock up and control but Kato gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Tanner is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanner tries to hold on but Kato pushes him away.
Tanner is squirming around, avoiding Kato's attempts to control the action.
Tanner tries to lock up and control but Kato gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Tanner is wriggling around trying to escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tanner tries to lock up and control but Kato gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kato raining down shots from the mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haoti Kato showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Tanner's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kato changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Tanner looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kato is looking to take a break and control but Tanner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kato lands some shots froms side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanner isn't going anywhere.
Kato trying to control the position but Tanner is working away.
Tanner pushes Kato away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Kato gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanner struggling a bit here.
Kato throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Kato wants to stand but Tanner is controlling his arm.
Kato takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tanner throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
You can see the frustration on Tanner's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tanner checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Kato drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Tanner can't do much from the bottom here.
Kato wants to control but Tanner is keeping him busy.
Tanner prevents Kato from moving into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanner tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Tanner tries to hold on but Kato postures up.
Kato can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tanner is looking to escape.
Tanner wants to control but Kato is having none of it.
Tanner holds on for dear life.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kato landing strikes from the mount.
Tanner slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Tanner wants to control but Kato is keeping busy.
Tanner is doing well to control the position and prevent Kato from advancing to side control.
Tanner trying to control from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tanner is trying to stand up here but Kato is controlling him well.
Tanner is trying to maintain the position but Kato is very close to passing his half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Haoti Kato comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kato 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 25:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 24:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Haoti Kato!