PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zvjezdan Misimovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshihiro Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tanaka has chosen Stronger by Kanye West as his entrance music. Yoshihiro Tanaka struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 136.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Misimovic
vs
Tanaka

160 cm
23
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zvjezdan Misimovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yoshihiro Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Cecil Peabody and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Misimovic decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Tanaka looking for submissions off his back.
Misimovic passes the guard and advances to mount!
Tanaka working to try and regain half guard.
Misimovic controlling from mount.
Tanaka sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Misimovic missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Misimovic is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Tanaka gets back to full guard.

Misimovic gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Misimovic gets a takedown into half guard.

Misimovic is trying to work for a kimura but Tanaka is defending well.

Misimovic is working for a kimura but Tanaka is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tanaka has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Misimovic is working away from the top position though.
Misimovic prevents Tanaka from improving his position.

Misimovic wants to work for an arm triangle but Tanaka is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Misimovic is breathing heavily.
Tanaka gets full guard.
Misimovic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tanaka is keeping the position for now.

Misimovic drops back, looking for a kneebar! Tanaka looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Tanaka looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Tanaka!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka tries to advance to mount but Misimovic denies him.

Tanaka is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Misimovic is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Tanaka working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Tanaka thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Misimovic manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Tanaka looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Tanaka gets full guard.
Tanaka is looking to stand up but Misimovic isn't so interested in that idea.
Tanaka wants to sweep here but Misimovic controlling him for the moment.

Misimovic avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
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 Zvjezdan Misimovic will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Tanaka tries to clinch but Misimovic moves out of range.

Misimovic closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tanaka has hold of Misimovic's hands but Misimovic slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Tanaka flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Misimovic is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Tanaka wants to get back to his feet.
Tanaka trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Misimovic seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tanaka does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tanaka trying to control from the bottom.

Misimovic in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Tanaka tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Misimovic!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Zvjezdan Misimovic!