PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lyle Willems (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinji Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tanaka has chosen Yuudachi as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Willems
vs
Tanaka

162 cm
36
144 lbs
19 - 18 - 0

160 cm
32
139 lbs
18 - 16 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lyle Willems!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinji Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Willems misses the shot to the body.
Tanaka changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Tanaka misses the shot to the body.

Tanaka dives in and scores a takedown into Willems's guard.
Tanaka trying to control but Willems is working from the bottom.
Tanaka advances position into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tanaka tries to advance to mount but Willems denies him.
Willems struggling a bit here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Willems is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Willems is not content to let Tanaka control the position.
A lull in the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Willems tries to bench press Tanaka off him but Tanaka keeps the position.
Willems is not content to let Tanaka control the position.
Willems tries to bench press Tanaka off him but Tanaka keeps the position.
Tanaka advances to full mount.
Willems is desperately trying to improve his position but Tanaka has a good base and remains in mount.
Willems regains half guard.
Tanaka trying to control from half guard but Willems is working away.
Tanaka takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Willems is looking to control Tanaka's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Willems avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Willems wants to improve his position but Tanaka is controlling well.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Tanaka controlling the action here.
Tanaka looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Tanaka is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Willems!
Tanaka moves to back control.
A lull in the action here.

Tanaka patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Tanaka controls the position.
Willems is really stuck here.
Willems is trying to get back to his feet but Tanaka has full control of the position and if anything, Willems has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Willems wants to escape the position.

Tanaka has his arm under Willems's chin here. Game over son! Tanaka squeezes tightly and Willems is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:27 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Shinji Tanaka!
After the fight, Shinji Tanaka was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.