PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Mercer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinji Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tanaka is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Yuudachi. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mercer
vs
Tanaka

177 cm
19
135 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

160 cm
20
130 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Just Fight

5th Round Clothing
[WOT] DTK Designs (Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ryan Mercer!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinji Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yukihiro Shimada and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanaka misses with a few strikes there.
Tanaka tries for a takedown but Mercer sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tanaka misses with a wild combination.
Mercer misses with a takedown attempt - Tanaka sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tanaka tries for a takedown but Mercer sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tanaka is looking to clinch but Mercer is avoiding it.
Tanaka stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tanaka wants it to stay on the feet.
Mercer shoots for a double leg takedown but Tanaka sprawls well. He's pushed Mercer's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Mercer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mercer shoots in for a takedown but Tanaka shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Tanaka fails to land with a series of punches.
Tanaka connects with an inside leg kick.
Tanaka looks for the body kick but Mercer saw that one coming.
Tanaka misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer has his takedown stuffed
and Tanaka makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Mercer slips under a jab from Tanaka.
Mercer defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tanaka.

Mercer shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Mercer really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Tanaka actively working from the bottom here.
Mercer trying to pass the guard but Tanaka defending well.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mercer in particular looking to stall.
Tanaka is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mercer's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mercer's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Tanaka is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Mercer. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Tanaka somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Mercer is really stuck here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Tanaka is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Mercer is defending well though. Tanaka let's go of the attempt for now.
Mercer breaks Tanaka's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Mercer trying to control but Tanaka is working from the bottom.
Tanaka working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka pulls Mercer in close to prevent any damage.

Tanaka is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mercer is aware though and is defending well.
Mercer trying to control the position from guard on top but Tanaka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tanaka tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tanaka working a defensive guard but Mercer manages to pass into side control anyway.
Tanaka is trying to get back to half guard.
Mercer wants to take a breather but Tanaka manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Mercer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tanaka's guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tanaka pushes Mercer off and scrambles back to his feet.
Tanaka closes the distance and clinches up with Mercer, looking for a takedown. Tanaka pushes Mercer against the cage but Mercer circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Tanaka fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mercer sprawls well initially but Tanaka persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mercer desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Mercer wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinji Tanaka dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tanaka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice straight punches there by Tanaka. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Tanaka.
Tanaka is looking to clinch but Mercer is avoiding it.
Mercer looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tanaka is fending him off so far but Mercer persists. Nope, Tanaka circles away and we're back to standing.

Tanaka shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Mercer is trying to defend but Tanaka finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Shinji Tanaka has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mercer blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tanaka.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mercer wants to get back to full guard.
Tanaka works his way into full mount!
Tanaka lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka trying to control but Mercer is having none of it.
Tanaka moves to back control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mercer wants to escape the position.

Mercer preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Tanaka.

Tanaka looking for the RNC.
Mercer wants to control his opponent's hands but Tanaka gets his hands free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tanaka has the hooks in and he's looking for a rear naked choke here. Mercer is defending well but eventually Tanaka manages to get an arm under the chin and he's locked on the RNC! Mercer has no choice but to tap now! He does! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Shinji Tanaka!
Shinji Tanaka is the new bantamweight champion!
In his post fight interview, Shinji Tanaka started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.