PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kazuma Kiryu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ona Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Kiryu
vs
Tanaka

183 cm
20
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
18
250 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazuma Kiryu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ona Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kiryu shoots in for a takedown but Tanaka shows good takedown defense.
Tanaka throws a leg kick but Kiryu sees it coming and moves out of range.
Kiryu could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Kiryu throws a head kick that misses.
Tanaka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kiryu closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kiryu shoots in for a double leg but Tanaka sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tanaka slips a jab and a cross from Kiryu.
Kiryu misses with a series of wild punches.
Kiryu looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A punch combination from Kiryu misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanaka with a poor takedown

and Kiryu counters with a flying knee that sends his opponent to the canvas! Kiryu looking to finish!

Tanaka is rocked!
Kiryu postures up.
Tanaka is still in real trouble! Can Kiryu finish him?

Tanaka looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kiryu wants to control from the top but Tanaka keeps moving.
Kiryu is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Tanaka seems to have recovered his senses.
Kiryu trying to control the position from guard on top but Tanaka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tanaka working a defensive guard here.
Tanaka 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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tanaka is on top in guard.
Tanaka throws a big right hand that misses.
Tanaka is working Kiryu over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kiryu is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two 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.

Tanaka stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Tanaka scores a takedown into full mount!
Tanaka looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kiryu might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kiryu tries to reverse the position but Tanaka maintains control.
Kiryu wants to get back to his feet.
Tanaka wants to control the pace but Kiryu is squirming around nicely.
Tanaka landing shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kiryu is looking to escape.
Kiryu really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Tanaka looking to control but Kiryu is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tanaka avoids the attempt from Kiryu to control.
Kiryu is squirming around, avoiding Tanaka's attempts to control the action.
Kiryu has given up his back. Will we see Tanaka going for some submissions?
Kiryu is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

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.
Kiryu breaks Tanaka's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Kiryu stands up from Tanaka's guard - Kiryu perhaps looking for a knockout.
Kiryu doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Tanaka counters with a head kick that drops Kiryu!

Kiryu is rocked!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazuma Kiryu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kiryu tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Oh Kiryu is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kiryu is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kiryu seems to have got his legs back now.
Kiryu being controlled here, momentarily.
Tanaka passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tanaka working the ground and pound from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ona Tanaka 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.

Tanaka scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Tanaka controls the position.
Kiryu tries to bench press Tanaka off him but Tanaka keeps the position.

Tanaka working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kiryu struggling a bit here.
Tanaka tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Kiryu struggling a bit here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kiryu trying to remain calm as Tanaka controls from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tanaka stands up.
Tanaka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kiryu tries to avoid it but Tanaka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kiryu to the ground. Kiryu escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Tanaka is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Tanaka shoots in and drives through. Kiryu sprawls well.
Tanaka tries to close the distance and clinch but Kiryu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tanaka throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kiryu's waist but Kiryu gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tanaka off to one side.
Kazuma Kiryu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ona Tanaka.
Tanaka shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kiryu throws a combination that misses

and Tanaka counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kiryu is looking to sweep but instead, Tanaka has passed into half guard.
Kiryu has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tanaka is working away from the top position though.
Tanaka tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kiryu knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka not doing much here.

Kiryu looking for submissions off his back.
Tanaka is controlling the pace.
Kiryu slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kiryu is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tanaka is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiryu controls Tanaka momentarily but Tanaka frees himself.
Tanaka sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kiryu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Tanaka drops back looking for a leg! Kiryu is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kiryu manages to kick Tanaka off! Tanaka jumps back into Kiryu's guard.
Kiryu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tanaka is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tanaka with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kiryu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tanaka.
Kiryu misses with a double jab.

Kiryu closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kiryu lands in his opponent's guard.
Kiryu trying to control the position from guard on top but Tanaka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tanaka wants to sweep here but Kiryu controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ona Tanaka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Kiryu misses with a body kick.
Kiryu shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tanaka but Tanaka pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kiryu swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Tanaka counters with a two punch combo.

Tanaka moves into range and clinches up with Kiryu.
Kiryu tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tanaka just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kiryu prevents Tanaka from breaking the clinch.
Tanaka misses with some punches.
Tanaka has had enough of the clinch but Kiryu keeps him there for the moment.
Tanaka is trying to maintain a safe position but Kiryu gets an underhook and turns Tanaka into the cage.

Tanaka pulls guard effortlessly.
Kiryu trying to control but Tanaka is working from the bottom.
Ona Tanaka has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tanaka wants to sweep here but Kiryu controlling him for the moment.
Tanaka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kiryu stands up from Tanaka's guard - Kiryu perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka shoots in looking for a takedown. Kiryu tries to sprawl out of it but Tanaka keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kiryu manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kiryu shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazuma Kiryu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tanaka throws a series of punches but Kiryu moves out of range.
Kiryu misses with a takedown attempt
and Tanaka counters with a two punch combo.
Kiryu throws a head kick but Tanaka moves out of range.
The fighters circle momentarily. Tanaka darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kiryu throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kiryu swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kiryu tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tanaka swivels and escapes.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kiryu tries to pull guard but Tanaka holds him up against the cage and eventually Kiryu drops back down to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Kiryu to work.
Tanaka is leaning against Kiryu and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Kiryu is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Tanaka can't fight it off and eventually Kiryu manages to take the fight to the floor. Tanaka looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kiryu is looking to work some ground and pound but Tanaka has wrist control.
Kiryu is looking to work some ground and pound but Tanaka has wrist control.
Tanaka controlling the position.

Tanaka throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tanaka is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka is pulling down on Kiryu's head. It's preventing any offense from Kiryu, at least for the moment.

Tanaka pushes Kiryu off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Kiryu fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Tanaka sprawls well initially but Kiryu persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Tanaka is refusing to be controlled, as Kiryu sits in half guard.
Kiryu is thwarting Tanaka's attempts to control the position.
Tanaka is holding on to half guard well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka is not content to let Kiryu control the position.
Tanaka trying to control but Kiryu postures up.
Kiryu trying to control from Tanaka's half guard. Tanaka has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kiryu tries for a takedown but Tanaka sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tanaka doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kiryu counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kiryu.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Tanaka working for a triangle but Kiryu defends it easily.
Kazuma Kiryu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kiryu landing some decent shots from guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazuma Kiryu showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tanaka has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ona Tanaka!