PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Taba Tabashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kunimitsu Tezuka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Taba Tabashi has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Tabashi
vs
Tezuka

155 cm
18
140 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

210 cm
19
143 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Taba Tabashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kunimitsu Tezuka!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tezuka shoots in for a takedown but Tabashi shows good takedown defense.

Tezuka dives in and scores a takedown into Tabashi's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Tezuka 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kunimitsu Tezuka.

Tezuka forces Tabashi back against the cage and clinches.
Tabashi misses with a body punch.
Tezuka is pushing Tabashi up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tezuka lands a body punch.
Tezuka leaning his opponent against the cage.

Tezuka manages to pull guard.
Tezuka controlling Tabashi's posture.
Tezuka wants to sweep here but Tabashi controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tezuka tries to strike from the bottom.

Tezuka is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tabashi is aware though and is defending well.

Tezuka looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tabashi won't allow Tezuka to sweep him here.

Tezuka is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tabashi is aware though and is defending well.
Tabashi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tezuka on the ground.
Tezuka has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Tezuka is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Tezuka kicks Tabashi off and gets to his feet.
Taba Tabashi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tezuka shoots in and drives through. Tabashi sprawls well.
Tabashi clobbers Tezuka with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tabashi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Tabashi lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Tezuka has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Tezuka and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tabashi lands a head kick. Tezuka smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Tezuka shoots in and drives through. Tabashi sprawls well.
Taba Tabashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kunimitsu Tezuka.

Tabashi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Tabashi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Tezuka gets to his feet. Tabashi looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Tezuka misses the shot to the body.
Tezuka bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tezuka moves away from the strike by Tabashi.
Tezuka walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Tabashi connects with a leg kick. Tezuka looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Tezuka rushes Tabashi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tabashi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tezuka manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Tabashi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tabashi fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Tezuka shoots for a double leg takedown but Tabashi sprawls well. He's pushed Tezuka's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tabashi lands a nice leg kick that just misses Tezuka's sensitive parts.
Tezuka shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Tabashi sprawls well. Tabashi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tezuka gets slowly back to his feet.
Tezuka looks gassed!
Tezuka lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Tabashi swings widly with a right hand
and Tezuka counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Tabashi connects with a leg kick. Tezuka looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tabashi throws an off balance right hand

and Tezuka counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Tabashi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tezuka.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kunimitsu Tezuka dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Tabashi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Tabashi cracks a nice hook into Tezuka's ribs.
Tabashi lands a nice looking body shot.
Tabashi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tezuka was well out of range. Poor timing from Tabashi.
Tezuka on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tabashi. Tabashi obviously looking to wear him down.
Tabashi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tezuka is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Tabashi misses with a low kick.
Tabashi walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Tezuka checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Tezuka shoots in but Tabashi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Tezuka throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Tabashi scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A slapping body kick lands there for Tezuka.
Tabashi looks to land a combination but Tezuka avoids it well.
Tabashi slaps away a takedown attempt from Tezuka, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Tezuka keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tezuka scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Tezuka stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Tezuka is breathing heavily.
Tabashi missing with a left hand there. Tezuka was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tabashi scoring well with a low kick there.
Tabashi throws an off balance right hand

and Tezuka moves into the clinch.
Tabashi misses with a punch to the body.
Tabashi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tabashi has had enough of the clinch but Tezuka keeps him there for the moment.
Tabashi is trying to force a seperation but Tezuka has the dominant position.

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

Tezuka is looking for a triangle but Tabashi pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tezuka managing to control the position.
Tezuka manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tabashi manages to get himself to full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tezuka controls from within his opponent's guard.
Tezuka trying to control but Tabashi is working from the bottom.

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.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Kunimitsu Tezuka hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Tabashi swings for the body but Tezuka moves out of range.
Tabashi pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Tezuka back to the cage. Tabashi follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Tabashi lands a nice looking body kick.
Tabashi looks to land a body kick but Tezuka moved away.
Tezuka shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tabashi defends it nicely.
Taba Tabashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kunimitsu Tezuka.

Tezuka shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tezuka working for a guillotine from mount but Tabashi is in no mood to give up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tabashi is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Poor strikes thrown by Tezuka there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Tezuka throws some wild stikes that Tabashi manages to avoid easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tezuka controlling the position easily from mount.

Tezuka with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kunimitsu Tezuka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Tezuka checks a low kick from Tabashi.
Tabashi could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Tezuka tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tabashi swivels and escapes.
Tezuka shoots for a takedown but Tabashi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tezuka fails to land the takedown.
Taba Tabashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kunimitsu Tezuka.
Tezuka closes the distance and clinches up with Tabashi, looking for a takedown. Tezuka pushes Tabashi against the cage but Tabashi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tabashi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tezuka manages to avoid it.
Tabashi connects with a high kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tezuka.
Tezuka closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tabashi circles away.
Tezuka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tabashi thows a body kick. Tezuka tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Tezuka has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Tabashi.
Tabashi throws a body punch but Tezuka moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tabashi connects with an inside leg kick.
Tabashi tries a low kick but Tezuka avoids it.
Tabashi misses with a body shot.
Tabashi darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kunimitsu Tezuka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tabashi tries to land a leg kick but Tezuka saw it coming and moves away.
Tabashi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Tabashi misses with a double jab.
Tabashi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Tezuka goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Tezuka moves out of range as Tabashi strikes.
Tabashi just misses with a punch to the body.
Tezuka looks for a takedown but Tabashi sprawls well.
Tabashi leaves Tezuka with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Taba Tabashi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taba Tabashi is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tabashi connects with a body shot.
Tezuka dodges the punch combination from Tabashi.
A slow jab from Tabashi misses its intended target.
Tabashi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tezuka. That did some damage!
Tabashi bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Tezuka's head backwards.

Tezuka pushes Tabashi up against the cage in a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Tezuka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tezuka's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tabashi. That's going to slow Tezuka down.
Tabashi closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Tabashi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tabashi tries to bum rush Tezuka with a series of wild strikes but Tezuka uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tabashi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tezuka clinches up with Tabashi and pushes him back against the cage.
Tabashi throws a head punch that misses.
Tabashi working aggressively here.
Tezuka blocking some punches.

Tezuka successfully pulls guard.
Tezuka wants to sweep here but Tabashi controlling him for the moment.
Tabashi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Tezuka will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Tezuka is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tabashi defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tabashi wants to control from the top but Tezuka keeps moving.
Tezuka is trying to keep Tabashi in close.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Tezuka holds on and takes a little breather.

Tezuka looking for subs off his back but Tabashi has passed one foot through into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tezuka is trying to control but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taba Tabashi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tezuka 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kunimitsu Tezuka!