PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sami Holmen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masahiro Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tanaka has chosen Debonaire by Dope as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Holmen
vs
Tanaka

188 cm
18
260 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

195 cm
18
265 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sami Holmen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Masahiro Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Shigeki Sano and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Holmen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Holmen could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Holmen trying to pass the guard but Tanaka defending well.

Tanaka is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Holmen pulls his head out easily.
Holmen wants to control but Tanaka is keeping him busy.
Tanaka trying to hold on to Holmen's head to control him but Holmen postures up.
Tanaka is looking to improve his position.
Holmen is looking to take a break and control but Tanaka is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tanaka tries to get to full guard but Holmen has control of the leg.

Holmen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tanaka misses with a takedown attempt

and Holmen counters with a single leg into guard. Tanaka didn't expect that.

Holmen 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.
Holmen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Holmen stands up over Tanaka, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Tanaka looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tanaka has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Holmen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Holmen won't allow Tanaka to get back to his feet.
Tanaka looks gassed!
Holmen connects with a couple of short punches.

Tanaka looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Holmen cracks Tanaka with a solid left hand.
Holmen trying to control but Tanaka is working from the bottom.
Holmen passes into half guard.
Holmen frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Holmen with a couple of short strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tanaka is looking to get to half guard.

Holmen looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Tanaka is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka tries to hold on but Holmen pushes him away.
Tanaka really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Tanaka slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Tanaka is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Holmen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Holmen's back!

Holmen is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Tanaka lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Tanaka looking for the RNC.

Tanaka working for a choke but Holmen is defending well.
Tanaka is hanging on to Holmen's back as he tries to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmen tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Holmen bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Holmen wants to control from the top but Tanaka keeps moving.
Holmen slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Holmen wants to pass the guard but Tanaka is keeping the position.
Holmen wants to control from the top but Tanaka keeps moving.
Holmen slips nicely into half guard.

Holmen is trying to work for a kimura but Tanaka is defending well.

Holmen is working for a submission of some sort.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Tanaka is staying active underneath Holmen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holmen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Holmen is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Holmen looking to sit in guard and control but Tanaka gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Holmen is trying to hold Tanaka in close to prevent damage but Tanaka has managed to pass into half guard.
Holmen trying to control here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Tanaka in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Holmen tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Tanaka!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Masahiro Tanaka!