PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yoshihiro Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Strom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Tanaka
vs
Strom

178 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Dangerous GnP
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yoshihiro Tanaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony Strom!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, George Francis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Strom.
Strom trying to control the action but Tanaka is working from the bottom.
Strom really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tanaka. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Tanaka wants to control but Strom postures up.
Tanaka is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Strom wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tanaka, who protects the arm well.
Strom is looking to take a break and control but Tanaka is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Strom wants to take a breather but Tanaka manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Strom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Strom drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Tanaka manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Strom is wriggling around trying to escape.
Strom wants to hold on but Tanaka pushes him away.
Strom is looking to get to half guard.
Tanaka avoids the attempt from Strom to control.
Tanaka lands with some strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tanaka has hold of Strom's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Strom manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Strom tries to lock up and control but Tanaka gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Tanaka has control of Strom's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Strom regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Strom tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Strom is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Tanaka fails to advance to Strom's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strom is wriggling around trying to escape.
Tanaka trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Tanaka prevents Strom from getting the reversal.
Tanaka is breathing heavily.
Tanaka trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Strom is looking to get to half guard.
Strom tries to improve his position but instead Tanaka has taken his back!

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.

Tanaka is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Strom is defending well though. Tanaka let's go of the attempt for now.
Strom trying to control but not successfully.
Tanaka controlling well, preventing Strom from escaping the position.
Strom trying to control the position but Tanaka manages to sink in the hooks.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strom tries to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Yoshihiro Tanaka will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Strom throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Strom closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tanaka circles away.
Strom looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tanaka is fending him off so far but Strom persists. Nope, Tanaka circles away and we're back to standing.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tanaka.

Tanaka fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Strom sprawls well initially but Tanaka persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Strom is trying to stand.
Strom is looking to improve his position.
Strom is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Tanaka jumps into side control!
Tanaka is looking to take a break and control but Strom is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Strom tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Tanaka wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka is looking to take a break and control but Strom is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tanaka working away.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Strom throws a front kick aimed at Tanaka's knee but Tanaka avoids it well.

Tanaka drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Strom can do anything to dispel that myth.
Strom is trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strom wants to control but Tanaka postures up.
Tanaka in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Strom is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Tanaka is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Strom is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Strom tries to improve position but can't.

Tanaka stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Tanaka closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tanaka is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Strom is just riding it out for now. Tanaka eventually gives up the hold.
Strom tries to get to full guard but Tanaka has control of the leg.
Strom is trying to stand up here but Tanaka is controlling him well.
Strom is trying to get back to full guard.
Tanaka is thwarting Strom's attempts to control the position.
Strom wants to sweep but Tanaka has passed to side control!

That's four 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.

Tanaka has an Americana. Strom didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Tanaka is delighted and gyrates infront of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Tanaka hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Yoshihiro Tanaka!