PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kino no Tabi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cory McDanver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cory McDanver has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

no Tabi
vs
McDanver

150 cm
20
130 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

165 cm
22
140 lbs
3 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kino no Tabi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cory McDanver!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McDanver closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

McDanver drags the fight down to the ground.
no Tabi postures up.
McDanver looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McDanver is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
no Tabi trying to control the position from guard on top but McDanver is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
no Tabi stands and throws McDanver's legs to the side, diving into side control.
McDanver is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked no Tabi off and has taken his back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McDanver is punishing no Tabi with strikes - can he finish him?!

McDanver has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
no Tabi trying to get back to his feet but McDanver is in full control for now.
McDanver misses with an elbow to the head.
McDanver has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

no Tabi manages to stand up with McDanver still on his back. Eventually McDanver drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from no Tabi, right into the meat.

no Tabi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
McDanver can't keep his opponent in guard - no Tabi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDanver works his way to full guard. Good work.

McDanver looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
no Tabi trying to control but McDanver is working from the bottom.
McDanver wants to sweep here but no Tabi controlling him for the moment.
no Tabi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
no Tabi trying to control the position from guard on top but McDanver is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McDanver working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from no Tabi.

McDanver working for a triangle but no Tabi defends it easily.
no Tabi advances to half guard.
McDanver flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nice defenses there by McDanver.
McDanver shoots in but no Tabi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
McDanver looks gassed!
McDanver avoids the head kick by no Tabi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Horrible takedown by no Tabi or perhaps it was just good defense by McDanver which made him look bad.
no Tabi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McDanver sprawls well. McDanver wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. no Tabi gets slowly back to his feet.
McDanver is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cory McDanver seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McDanver will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
McDanver fails with a takedown attempt.
Kino no Tabi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cory McDanver.
McDanver stuffs the takedown.
McDanver shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has no Tabi pinned against the cage. no Tabi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
no Tabi misses with a straight left.
McDanver takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from no Tabi.
no Tabi throws a low kick but it's checked well by McDanver.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for no Tabi.
McDanver tries for a takedown but no Tabi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
no Tabi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
no Tabi throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
no Tabi lands with a nice combination. McDanver backs away looking to recover.
no Tabi leaves McDanver with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
no Tabi throws a body punch but McDanver moves out of range.
no Tabi is looking to clinch but McDanver is avoiding it.

McDanver instigates a clinch.
McDanver looking for a takedown.
McDanver tries for a takedown. No joy.

no Tabi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
no Tabi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McDanver swivels and escapes.
McDanver shoots and misses
and no Tabi counters with a nice uppercut.
no Tabi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt McDanver.
no Tabi misses with a jab, cross combination.
McDanver has a takedown stuffed.
no Tabi misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
no Tabi keeps the fight on the outside.
no Tabi throws a right hand that McDanver ducks under and follows up with a left that McDanver also avoids with ease.
no Tabi fails in his attempt to clinch.
no Tabi thows a body shot but no joy.
McDanver tries to clinch up but no Tabi circles away and keeps his distance.

McDanver closes the distance and clinches.
no Tabi is trying to break the clinch but McDanver is controlling him.
McDanver is working for takedown but no Tabi is calmly controlling the position for now.
McDanver fails to pull the fight into his guard.
McDanver tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. no Tabi just stands there and leans against the cage.
no Tabi working hard to break the clinch.
McDanver drops down looking for an ankle pick but no Tabi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nice takedown defense from no Tabi. No joy for McDanver on that attempt.

no Tabi closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

no Tabi manages to break the clinch.
no Tabi tries to clinch but McDanver is having none of it.
no Tabi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McDanver throws a head kick but no Tabi moves out of range.
no Tabi misses with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kino no Tabi dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

McDanver tries to score a power double leg takedown but no Tabi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McDanver somewhat.
McDanver takes a head kick and keeps coming.

McDanver gets the takedown into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by McDanver.

McDanver looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
no Tabi manages to work his way to half guard, despite McDanver's best efforts.
no Tabi manages to get to full guard.
no Tabi working a defensive guard here.
no Tabi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McDanver.
McDanver is breathing heavily.

McDanver is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
no Tabi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McDanver manages to get himself to full guard.
McDanver trying to strike off his back.
McDanver keeping moving, preventing no Tabi from controlling successfully.
no Tabi lands a couple of elbows.
McDanver looking for a sweep. Not yet McDanver, not yet.
no Tabi trying to stand up but can't free himself from McDanver's guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

McDanver has his foot on no Tabi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. no Tabi works his way back into a safe position though.
McDanver throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
no Tabi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
McDanver shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with no Tabi but no Tabi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Danga de danga de dang - no Tabi scores with a four punch combination!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
no Tabi stuns McDanver with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
McDanver takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
no Tabi keeps the fight on the outside.
no Tabi fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but McDanver is out of range.
no Tabi is looking to clinch but McDanver is avoiding it.
McDanver tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but no Tabi paws at him with a jab and circles away.

no Tabi has managed to clinch.

no Tabi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

no Tabi moves into range and clinches up with McDanver.
McDanver jumps guard but no Tabi stands there with McDanver around his waist. McDanver gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kino no Tabi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cory McDanver.
no Tabi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from McDanver.
A left hand lands to the body for no Tabi.

no Tabi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kino no Tabi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
no Tabi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
McDanver checks a low kick from no Tabi.
no Tabi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McDanver swivels and escapes.
McDanver will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
no Tabi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McDanver.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDanver wants to clinch up but no Tabi keeps it at a distance.
McDanver tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but no Tabi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
no Tabi circles away from the clinch attempt
and no Tabi makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
McDanver tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - no Tabi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
McDanver blocks a head kick by no Tabi.
no Tabi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of McDanver's head.
no Tabi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

McDanver closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
McDanver drops to a knee looking for a takedown but no Tabi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
McDanver fails to pull the fight into his guard.

McDanver has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics no Tabi uses from the top position.
McDanver tries to strike from the bottom.
McDanver is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
no Tabi controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
no Tabi forces his way into half guard.
no Tabi wants to lay and pray for a moment but McDanver keeps working.

no Tabi stands up and beckons McDanver to join him on the feet.

McDanver fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. no Tabi sprawls well initially but McDanver persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
no Tabi is looking to improve his position.
McDanver tries to pass the half guard into mount. no Tabi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McDanver throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

McDanver is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so no Tabi is just riding it out for now. McDanver eventually gives up the hold.
McDanver slips a nice elbow through no Tabi's hands, connecting with no Tabi's forehead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kino no Tabi dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

no Tabi looks to clinch

and McDanver counters by clinching up.
McDanver is trying to drag no Tabi to the mat but no Tabi just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
no Tabi tries to break the clinch but McDanver is controlling the position.
McDanver fails to pull the fight into his guard.
no Tabi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. McDanver gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

McDanver has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics no Tabi uses from the top position.
McDanver wants to sweep but no luck.
no Tabi slips nicely into half guard.
no Tabi not doing much here.

McDanver looking for submissions off his back.
no Tabi is trying to control the action in half guard but McDanver is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McDanver is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
no Tabi is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
McDanver is looking for a sweep. no Tabi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
no Tabi misses with a double jab.
no Tabi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McDanver shoots in for a double leg but no Tabi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kino no Tabi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cory McDanver.
no Tabi changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
no Tabi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
no Tabi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but McDanver moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

no Tabi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
no Tabi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
no Tabi prevents McDanver from getting the reversal.
McDanver flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
no Tabi trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
no Tabi lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
McDanver really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
no Tabi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
McDanver can't escape the position.
no Tabi trying to control but McDanver is having none of it.
McDanver tries to get back to half guard but can't.
no Tabi looking to control and managing it successfully.
McDanver is squirming around, avoiding no Tabi's attempts to control the action.
no Tabi pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
no Tabi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
McDanver is trying desperately to improve position.
no Tabi controlling the pace for now.
McDanver is looking to get to half guard.
McDanver is squirming around, avoiding no Tabi's attempts to control the action.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Kino no Tabi just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
no Tabi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McDanver wants to clinch up but no Tabi keeps it at a distance.
Cory McDanver has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

McDanver closes the distance and pushes no Tabi back into the cage.
no Tabi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

no Tabi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

McDanver shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. McDanver showed some decent athleticism there.
no Tabi makes his way to full guard. A much better position for no Tabi.
McDanver working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
McDanver postures up.
no Tabi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
McDanver postures up.
no Tabi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

McDanver has gone for a leg lock! no Tabi slips out almost immediately though and dives into McDanver's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kino no Tabi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well no Tabi has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kino no Tabi!