PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Al Barru (ranked 2841 p4p, 5560 weight class) and Suki Tanaka (ranked 154 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Barru
vs
Tanaka

165 cm
25
138
3 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
130
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Al Barru!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Suki Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Hirohito Nitta and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barru throws a nice outside leg kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Barru is defended easily by Tanaka.
Barru closes the distance and clinches up with Tanaka, looking for a takedown. Barru pushes Tanaka against the cage but Tanaka circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tanaka is trying hard to land a takedown here. Barru sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Tanaka forces Barru back against the cage and clinches.
Barru goes for a takedown attempt but Tanaka pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Al Barru. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tanaka wants to clinch up but Barru keeps it at a distance.
Barru tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tanaka was well out of range. Poor timing from Barru.
Tanaka is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Tanaka looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Tanaka doesn't manage to clinch there - Barru circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barru throws the kick towards the body but Tanaka avoids it.
Tanaka let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

Barru has Tanaka up against the cage in a clinch.

Barru manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka shoots for a takedown but Barru saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Barru thinks about countering with a head kick.
Barru swings for the body but Tanaka moves out of range.
Barru closes the distance and clinches up with Tanaka, looking for a takedown. Barru pushes Tanaka against the cage but Tanaka circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tanaka lands a high kick!
The fight stays on the outside here - Barru looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tanaka is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Barru with a body shot.

Barru shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Tanaka is trying to defend but Barru finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tanaka is looking for a sweep. Barru is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Barru looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Barru is trying to control. Tanaka wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka is trying to stand.
Barru is thwarting Tanaka's attempts to control the position.
Barru 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.
Barru has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Barru missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Well, if Barru is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Barru is trying to control. Tanaka wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tanaka is trying to maintain the position but Barru is very close to passing his half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barru is trying to control the action in half guard but Tanaka is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Barru throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tanaka is looking for the big counter here.
Tanaka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Barru as he jumps to the side.
Barru feinted there with a counter leg kick.

Tanaka gets caught flat footed, as Barru shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Barru is breathing heavily.
Tanaka is trying to control the position but Barru postures up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Tanaka can do anything to dispel that myth.

Tanaka looking for a guillotine here but Barru defends easily.
Tanaka being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Barru preventing the sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tanaka not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Tanaka is working an open guard so Barru takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Tanaka fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Barru avoids it really well and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Al Barru 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.

Barru has managed to clinch.
Barru stalls.

Barru is trying to trip Tanaka. He has hold of a leg but Tanaka is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Barru persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Barru postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Tanaka is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Barru, into his guard.

Barru wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barru is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka content to stall in guard here.
Barru looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Barru is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tanaka can do to turn this around?

Barru looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tanaka looking to pass the guard.
Barru working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tanaka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tanaka tries to free his leg and advance position but Barru is retaining full guard.
Barru is trying to keep Tanaka in close.
Barru keeping moving, preventing Tanaka from controlling successfully.
Barru throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Barru shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Tanaka sprawls well. Tanaka wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Barru gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Barru but Barru pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Tanaka clinches.
Tanaka prevents a takedown attempt there.
Tanaka looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Barru tries to pull guard but Tanaka holds him up against the cage and eventually Barru drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Al Barru. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tanaka wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Barru has him pressed against the cage.

Barru decides to pull guard.
Tanaka content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barru is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Barru keeping moving, preventing Tanaka from controlling successfully.
Tanaka trying to stand up but can't free himself from Barru's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Barru has his foot on Tanaka's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tanaka works his way back into a safe position though.

Barru escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tanaka gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Al Barru will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Tanaka goes for a double leg but Barru avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Barru continues to drive forward.
Barru uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tanaka.

Tanaka has managed to clinch.
Tanaka is trying to push Barru away but Barru has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Tanaka tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Barru just stands there and leans against the cage.

Barru breaks the clinch.

Tanaka dives in and scores a takedown into Barru's guard.

Barru uses the cage to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barru tries to clinch but Tanaka moves out of range.
Barru keeps the fight on the outside.
Barru tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tanaka sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barru somewhat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barru tries to close the distance and clinch but Tanaka swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Tanaka or perhaps it was just good defense by Barru, which made it look bad.
Al Barru has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Suki Tanaka.
Barru tries for a takedown but Tanaka circles away easily

and Tanaka counters by clinching up.

Tanaka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barru avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Tanaka has closed the distance and engaged Barru in a clinch.
Barru is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Barru has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tanaka is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barru is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tanaka is defending well for now.
Stalling in the clinch from Tanaka.
Tanaka is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Tanaka tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Barru smiles and moves away.
Barru throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barru fails with a takedown attempt.
Tanaka fails to land the takedown.
Barru stuffs the takedown attempt from Tanaka. Tanaka gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barru tries to clinch but Tanaka moves out of range.
Tanaka is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Tanaka moves in looking to clinch but Barru pushes him off.

Tanaka drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Tanaka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Barru is keeping the position for now.
Barru controlling Tanaka's posture.
Barru not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tanaka must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka is working Barru over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Barru is adopting a defensive guard.
Tanaka's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Let's hope that Tanaka has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tanaka fails with a takedown attempt.
Al Barru is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tanaka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Suki Tanaka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barru shoots in for a takedown but Tanaka shows good takedown defense.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Suki Tanaka.
I think Barru has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Al Barru!