PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Naoki Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Drake Dayton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Drake Dayton has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Tanaka
vs
Dayton

181 cm
23
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Core Tokyo - Now with Laundry!
Core Tokyo - Now with Laundry!

.: AFFAKETION :.
.: AFFAKETION :.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Naoki Tanaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Drake Dayton!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yuuki Gou and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tanaka takes the fight into the clinch.

Tanaka breaks from the clinch.

Dayton clinches.
Tanaka tries to land knees in the clinch but Dayton avoids the damage to the body.
Tanaka putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Dayton in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Tanaka.

Tanaka breaks from the clinch.

Dayton clinches up with Tanaka and pushes him back against the ropes.
Tanaka unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Come on Tanaka - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Dayton on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Tanaka content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Tanaka putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Dayton in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Tanaka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dayton.
Dayton throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Tanaka blocks the elbow strike.
Tanaka missing with knees to the body.
Tanaka working Dayton over with knees to the body.
Dayton looks gassed!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Tanaka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Tanaka tries to keep at a distance but Dayton has taken the fight into the clinch.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Dayton throws an elbow but misses.
Dayton takes a knee to the side of the body.
Tanaka lands a knee to the body.
Tanaka crunches a lovely knee into Dayton's ribcage.
Tanaka tries to land a knee to the head but Dayton blocks with his arms.
Tanaka lands a nice knee to the body.
Tanaka scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Drake Dayton has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka crunches a lovely knee into Dayton's ribcage.
Tanaka lands a knee to the head.
Tanaka landing knees to the head.
Tanaka is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Tanaka unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Dayton misses with an elbow over the top.
Dayton tries to pull guard but Tanaka won't allow it.
Dayton is working for takedown but Tanaka is calmly controlling the position for now.
Tanaka scores with a knee to the head.
Dayton throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Dayton tries to pull guard but Tanaka won't allow it.
Naoki Tanaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Drake Dayton.
Dayton jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Tanaka walks away with a smile on his face. Dayton gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Tanaka closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Dayton tries to stall but Tanaka uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Dayton misses with an elbow over the top.
Tanaka lands a knee to the head.
Tanaka using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Tanaka trying to land knees to the body.
Dayton is trying to stall.
Tanaka misses with an elbow strike.
Dayton is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tanaka pulls him back up using the underhooks.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Dayton throws an elbow but misses.
Tanaka lands a good knee to the midsection. Dayton won't want to take too many of those.
Tanaka landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Dayton throws an elbow but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka blocks an elbow strike.
Dayton looking to stall.
Dayton takes a knee to the side of the body.
Knees to the body from Tanaka.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Dayton throws an elbow but misses.
Tanaka lands a right hand that snaps the head of Dayton backwards.
A knee to the head by Tanaka.
Dayton has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tanaka avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Dayton lands a damaging elbow.
Tanaka takes an elbow to the temple.
Tanaka missing with knees to the body.
Dayton creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Dayton throws an elbow but it misses.
Tanaka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dayton has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tanaka dodges an elbow strike from Dayton.
Tanaka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dayton has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Dayton throws an elbow but misses.
Dayton throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Tanaka has Dayton pressed against the ropes.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Tanaka as Dayton tries to tie him up.
Dayton on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Tanaka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Dayton avoids it.
Dayton wants a takedown but no success here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka blocks an elbow strike from Dayton.
Dayton misses with an elbow over the top.
Dayton is trying to drag Tanaka to the mat but Tanaka just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
Tanaka working Dayton over with knees to the body.
Dayton taking a breather.
Tanaka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Dayton is defending well for now.
Tanaka looking to throw knees to the head but Dayton is blocking nicely.
Dayton tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tanaka smiles and moves away.
Dayton shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tanaka as he jumps to the side.
Nice takedown defense from Tanaka. No joy for Dayton on that attempt.

Dayton moves into the clinch.
Tanaka with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tanaka scores with a knee to the head.
Dayton blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Dayton managing to block the knees to the body from Tanaka.
Dayton throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Dayton as Tanaka tries to tie him up.
Dayton throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Dayton gets control of Tanaka's arms and successfully pulls guard. Dayton will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Tanaka stands and steps away. Dayton gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Dayton gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Dayton taking a breather.
Dayton misses with an elbow over the top.
Dayton throws an elbow but it misses.
Tanaka crunches a lovely knee into Dayton's ribcage.
Dayton creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Dayton 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.
Knees in the clinch landing for Tanaka.
Tanaka landing knees to the body.
Tanaka lands a knee to the body.
Tanaka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Dayton is defending well for now.
Dayton fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tanaka blocks an elbow strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tanaka tries to land a knee to the head but Dayton blocks with his arms.
Dayton can't get the takedown.
Tanaka lands a body punch.
Dayton throws an elbow that misses.
Tanaka landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Dayton looks to throw an elbow but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naoki Tanaka dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Drake Dayton's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Dayton avoids the body shot from Tanaka.
Tanaka turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Dayton closes the distance and pushes Tanaka back into the ropes.
Dayton misses with an elbow over the top.
Dayton pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Dayton misses with an elbow over the top.
Tanaka avoids a wild elbow strike from Dayton.
Tanaka misses with a knee to the head.
Dayton misses with an elbow strike.
Dayton has Tanaka pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Tanaka manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Dayton looking for a takedown.
Tanaka unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Dayton misses with an elbow strike.
Dayton throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Tanaka scores with a knee to the head.
Tanaka dodges an elbow strike from Dayton.
Dayton is working for takedown but Tanaka is calmly controlling the position for now.
Naoki Tanaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Drake Dayton.
Tanaka unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tanaka just leaning against Dayton, taking a breather.
Dayton is trying to force a seperation but Tanaka has the dominant position.
Stalling in the clinch from Tanaka.
Tanaka avoids the elbow strike from Dayton, against the ropes.
Dayton looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Tanaka utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Dayton drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tanaka gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Tanaka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dayton shoots and misses
and Tanaka counters with a leg kick.
Tanaka connects with a leg kick. Dayton looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Tanaka gets a clinch.
Tanaka connects with a knee to the head.
Dayton tries to stall but Tanaka uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Tanaka blocks an elbow strike from Dayton.

Tanaka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Tanaka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Dayton drives through and clinches with Tanaka against the ropes.
Dayton jumps guard but Tanaka stands there with Dayton around his waist. Dayton gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Dayton throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Dayton tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tanaka lands a hook that snaps the head of Dayton backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka tries a knee to the head but Dayton blocks it.
Tanaka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Dayton is defending well for now.
Dayton tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tanaka just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Dayton tries for a takedown but Tanaka manages to get underhooks.
Tanaka with a knee to the head.
Naoki Tanaka has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Dayton managing to block the knees to the body from Tanaka.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Dayton throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Dayton looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Tanaka is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Dayton just misses with a elbow thrown towards Tanaka's brow.
Dayton looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Dayton takes a knee to the side of the body.
Tanaka connects with a nasty looking knee right to Dayton's face.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Dayton throws an elbow but misses.
Dayton blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Dayton misses with an elbow strike.

Tanaka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Drake Dayton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Dayton moves into the clinch.
Dayton looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Dayton avoiding damage as Tanaka throws knees to the body.
Dayton throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Dayton throws an elbow but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dayton managing to block the knees to the body from Tanaka.
Dayton creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tanaka's defenses.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Dayton just misses with a elbow thrown towards Tanaka's brow.
Dayton is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Knees to the body from Tanaka.
Tanaka avoids the elbow strike from Dayton, against the ropes.
Dayton throws an elbow that misses.
Tanaka putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Dayton in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Tanaka trying to land knees to the body.
Dayton blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Dayton managing to block the knees to the body from Tanaka.
Dayton tries to stall but Tanaka uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Tanaka blocks an elbow strike from Dayton.
Tanaka connects with a knee to the head.
Tanaka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Dayton blocks it with crossed arms.
Tanaka missing with knees to the body.
Dayton pushes off an throws an elbow but Tanaka leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Dayton throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Tanaka avoids the elbow strike from Dayton, against the ropes.
Dayton misses with an elbow strike.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Tanaka takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Dayton on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Dayton pushes off an throws an elbow but Tanaka leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Dayton lands a damaging elbow.
Tanaka is looking to control Dayton's arms but Dayton gets an underhook and turns him. Now Tanaka has his back to the ropes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Dayton.
Dayton misses with an elbow over the top.
Tanaka trying to land knees to the body.
Dayton pushes off an throws an elbow but Tanaka leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Dayton on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Tanaka blocks an elbow strike.
Dayton tries to score a body lock takedown but Tanaka shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Dayton creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Knees to the body from Tanaka.
Dayton pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Dayton throws an elbow but misses.
Dayton on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Dayton pushes off an throws an elbow but Tanaka leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Dayton looking to slow down the pace here.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Dayton throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Tanaka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Dayton misses with an elbow over the top.
Dayton on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Dayton pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Tanaka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dayton has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dayton lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Dayton misses with an elbow strike.
Dayton throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Dayton creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tanaka's defenses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naoki Tanaka dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Drake Dayton's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Dayton closes the distance and pushes Tanaka back into the ropes.
Tanaka landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Dayton lands an elbow that stopped Tanaka in his tracks for a moment.
Tanaka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Dayton is defending well for now.
Tanaka has Dayton pushed against the ropes.
Tanaka lands a good knee to the midsection. Dayton won't want to take too many of those.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Tanaka obliges.
Tanaka unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Tanaka breaks the clinch.

Dayton moves into the clinch.
Tanaka effectively controlling the action here.
Dayton pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Dayton looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Tanaka unloads a knee to the mid-section. Dayton lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Dayton throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Dayton managing to block the knees to the body from Tanaka.
Tanaka blocks an elbow strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dayton pushes off an throws an elbow but Tanaka leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Tanaka trying to land knees to the body.
Tanaka dodges an elbow strike from Dayton.
Dayton throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Tanaka manages to break the clinch.
Dayton fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dayton rushes Tanaka and presses him up against the ropes.
Tanaka unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Tanaka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dayton throws a jab but it's blocked by Tanaka.

Dayton clinches with his opponent.
Tanaka stalling the fight.
Dayton on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Tanaka lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Dayton lands a nice elbow.
Dayton misses with an elbow strike.
Tanaka blocks the elbow strike.
Dayton throws an elbow that misses.

Tanaka breaks from the clinch.

Dayton closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Dayton pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Dayton creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tanaka's defenses.
Dayton pushes off an throws an elbow but Tanaka leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Tanaka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Dayton avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka dodges an elbow strike from Dayton.
Tanaka using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Dayton tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tanaka trying to land knees to the body.
Tanaka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dayton.
Tanaka wants to break free but Dayton has control.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Dayton just misses with a elbow thrown towards Tanaka's brow.
Dayton on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Tanaka is trying to maintain a safe position but Dayton gets an underhook and turns Tanaka into the ropes.
Dayton drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tanaka gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Naoki Tanaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Drake Dayton.
Dayton throws an elbow that misses.
Dayton throws an elbow that misses.
Tanaka takes an elbow to the forehead.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Dayton throws an elbow but misses.
Dayton throws an elbow but it misses.
Tanaka landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Tanaka dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.
Tanaka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dayton has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dayton on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Dayton fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Dayton on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Dayton is working for takedown but Tanaka is calmly controlling the position for now.
Dayton tries to break the clinch but Tanaka is controlling the position.
Tanaka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Dayton is defending well for now.
Drake Dayton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dayton pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Dayton misses with an elbow over the top.
Dayton creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Dayton blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Dayton throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Tanaka avoids a wild elbow strike from Dayton.
Tanaka blocks an elbow strike.
Dayton misses with an elbow over the top.
Dayton is working for takedown but Tanaka is calmly controlling the position for now.
Tanaka connects with a nasty looking knee right to Dayton's face.
Dayton throws an elbow that misses.
Dayton takes a knee to the side of the body.
Tanaka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Dayton avoids it.
Dayton looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Dayton goes for a takedown attempt but Tanaka pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Tanaka gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Knees to the body from Tanaka.
Tanaka blocks an elbow strike from Dayton.
Tanaka unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Dayton pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Dayton tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tanaka smiles and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Tanaka is looking to slow Dayton down with leg kicks.
Dayton with a poor takedown

and Tanaka counters by clinching up.
Tanaka slows down the pace here.
Dayton throws an elbow that misses.
Tanaka lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Dayton just misses with a elbow thrown towards Tanaka's brow.
Dayton takes a knee to the side of the body.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Dayton throws an elbow but misses.
A knee to the head by Tanaka.
Tanaka utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Tanaka obliges.
Tanaka avoiding damage.
Tanaka is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Dayton throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Dayton just misses with a elbow thrown towards Tanaka's brow.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Dayton just misses with a elbow thrown towards Tanaka's brow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Naoki Tanaka showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tanaka 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Naoki Tanaka!
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Naoki Tanaka!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Naoki Tanaka!

Naoki Tanaka wins by unanimous decision!