PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between BMac Sapp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hioshido Tamada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). BMac Sapp has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Sapp
vs
Tamada

200 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
19
143 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, BMac Sapp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hioshido Tamada!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Hirohito Nitta and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sapp misses with a right hand
and Tamada counters with a straight right hand.
Sapp lands with a hook. Tamada tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Tamada shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sapp is trying to defend but Tamada finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Sapp won't allow Tamada to pass to mount.
Sapp knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tamada on the ground.

Tamada is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sapp is just riding it out for now. Tamada eventually gives up the hold.
Tamada seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sapp does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tamada passes to side control.

Tamada decides to stand back up. Tamada steps back and let's Sapp get back to his feet.
Tamada uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sapp.
Sapp lands with an overhand left.
Sapp keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tamada defending well as Sapp loads up on a big left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sapp scores with the left hand. Tamada knows he should have avoided that one.

Tamada is rocked!
Sapp misses with a lunging right hand

and Tamada counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sapp's guard now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tamada postures up in Sapp's guard and throws a big left but Sapp blocks it.
Tamada prevents Sapp from getting back to his feet.
Tamada trying to control the position from guard on top but Sapp is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sapp on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sapp tries to get out of the position.
Tamada stops Sapp from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Sapp keeping moving, preventing Tamada from controlling successfully.

Hioshido Tamada has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Tamada gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sapp takes an elbow to the forehead.

Tamada breaks from the clinch.
Tamada slips under a jab from Sapp.
Tamada shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sapp pinned against the cage. Sapp gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A jab from Sapp misses.
Sapp misses with a looping right.
Sapp throws a shot from downtown. Tamada moves away and avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Tamada shoots in but Sapp avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Tamada shoots in but no luck this time.
BMac Sapp has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hioshido Tamada.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tamada.
BMac Sapp seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tamada looks gassed!
Tamada cracks the inside of Sapp's front leg.
Sapp lands a head shot.
Sapp is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Sapp connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Sapp misses with an uppercut

and Tamada counters by moving into the clinch.
Sapp can't break the clinch.
Tamada keeps control of Sapp as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Tamada has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Sapp is trying to keep an underhook but Tamada manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tamada seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sapp does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hioshido Tamada dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Tamada walks into a straight right hand from Sapp.
Sapp throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sapp misses with a right hand

and Tamada counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sapp keeping moving, preventing Tamada from controlling successfully.

Tamada stands up from Sapp's guard - Tamada perhaps looking for a knockout.
Tamada tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sapp swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tamada moves out of range of the strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sapp misses with a hook

and Tamada counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tamada misses with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sapp wants to get back to his feet but Tamada drags him back down.
Tamada throws an elbow but Sapp slips to the side and avoids it well.
Tamada throws an elbow but Sapp slips to the side and avoids it well.

Tamada tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Tamada trying to control the action but Sapp is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Tamada is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Tamada working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapp is not content to let Tamada control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hioshido Tamada showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Sapp's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Sapp is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tamada.
Sapp is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Tamada shoots in but Sapp avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Tamada tries to clinch there but Sapp circles away.
Tamada dives in and grabs Sapp's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sapp pushes down on Tamada's head and hops out.
Sapp throws a jab but it's blocked by Tamada.
Sapp rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Tamada counters with a takedown into side control.
Tamada wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sapp keeps working.
Tamada controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tamada decides to stand back up. Tamada steps back and let's Sapp get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tamada ducks under a wild hook from Sapp.
Tamada staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Tamada throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sapp's waist but Sapp gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tamada off to one side.
BMac Sapp has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hioshido Tamada.
Tamada fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tamada will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sapp throws an off balance right hand

so Tamada counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Sapp wants to stand but Tamada is controlling the position.
Tamada slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Tamada wants to control from the top but Sapp keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tamada pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sapp is keeping the position for now.

That's four 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.
Tamada is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Hioshido Tamada was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Tamada tries to clinch but Sapp is having none of it.
Tamada moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Tamada tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sapp sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tamada somewhat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tamada is defended easily by Sapp.
A big right from Sapp misses.
BMac Sapp has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hioshido Tamada is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tamada moves out of range of the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hioshido Tamada comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tamada winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hioshido Tamada!