PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Steve Hershey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shingo Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Hershey might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Aztechnical. Shingo Tanaka will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Hershey
vs
Tanaka

169 cm
28
183 lbs
15 - 13 - 0

181 cm
24
185 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steve Hershey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shingo Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hershey lands a jab to the head.
Tanaka lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hershey's sensitive parts.
Hershey throws a low kick but Tanaka moves out of range easily.
Tanaka swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Shingo Tanaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tanaka misses with a kick to the body
and Hershey counters with a thumping low kick.
A good leg kick by Tanaka.
Tanaka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hershey scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Tanaka throws a low kick, looking for Hershey's leg but Hershey calmly moves out of range.
Tanaka takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tanaka swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Tanaka scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A low kick from Tanaka is predictable there
and Hershey counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tanaka throws a head kick that misses.
Tanaka thows a leg kick but Hershey checks it
letting Hershey counter with a right hand.
Hershey bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Tanaka's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Tanaka feints and then cracks Hershey's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hershey down.
Hershey lands a really nice looking cross but Tanaka seems unphased.
Tanaka throws a leg kick
and Hershey counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Tanaka shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hershey sprawls well. Hershey wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tanaka gets slowly back to his feet.
Hershey tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Tanaka throws a leg kick but Hershey sees it coming and moves out of range.
Hershey cracks Tanaka with a right hand to the side of the head.
Hershey misses with a hook. Tanaka ducked under it nicely.
Nice body kick there by Tanaka.
A left and a right from Hershey both land. Nice combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hershey lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Tanaka, right into the meat.
Hershey throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tanaka thows a leg kick but Hershey checks it

and Hershey counters by moving into the clinch.
Hershey stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Hershey's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
That kick from Tanaka tenderised Hershey's leg. Hershey is trying to keep his angry face on.
Tanaka dives in and grabs Hershey's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hershey pushes down on Tanaka's head and hops out.
Hershey misses with a looping left.
Hershey tries a head kick but it misses.
Tanaka keeps the fight on the outside.
Hershey chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Tanaka can pounce on him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka throws a push kick but Hershey slaps the foot to one side.
Tanaka throws a low kick but Hershey moves out of range easily.

Hershey dives in and scores a takedown into Tanaka's guard.
Hershey wants to control from the top but Tanaka keeps moving.
Hershey might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Tanaka wants to stand up but Hershey is controlling him.

Hershey 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 four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Hershey wants to get back to his feet.
Hershey is looking to regain half guard here but Tanaka keeps moving and retains side control.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka landing a few strikes.
Tanaka wants to control but Hershey is keeping him busy.
Hershey sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Hershey gets back to full guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Hershey looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hershey bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tanaka's guard.
Hershey wants to control from the top but Tanaka keeps moving.
Hershey scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hershey missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Hershey throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tanaka utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Hershey drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Tanaka dives on top into guard.
Hershey wants to sweep here but Tanaka controlling him for the moment.
Tanaka makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka throws a strike but Hershey rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hershey wants to pass the guard but Tanaka is keeping the position.
Hershey passes Tanaka's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Hershey is looking for a kimura but Tanaka is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hershey to get the leverage.

Hershey is working for a kimura but Tanaka is defending it quite comfortably.
Hershey thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tanaka's head.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka tries to get to full guard but Hershey has control of the leg.
Hershey throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Hershey is trying to work for a kimura but Tanaka is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tanaka is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Hershey dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Tanaka blocks a head kick by Hershey.
Tanaka moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Hershey throws a jab but it's blocked by Tanaka.
Hershey misses with a looping right.
Tanaka misses with a low kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Tanaka, as that shot connected.
Tanaka lands a front kick.
Hershey lands a body shot.
Tanaka tries to work over Hershey's front leg with a kick but Hershey checks it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Good work by Hershey as he checks the leg kick.
Hershey connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Tanaka's hands.
Hershey on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tanaka. Tanaka obviously looking to wear him down.
Tanaka throws a leg kick that is checked
and Hershey counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Hershey crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Tanaka - the referee stops the clock and Hershey gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Tanaka. Hershey manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hershey on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tanaka. Tanaka obviously looking to wear him down.
Tanaka throws a head kick but Hershey moves out of range.
Hershey takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tanaka throws a head kick that misses
and Hershey counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hershey is looking to clinch but Tanaka is avoiding it.
Tanaka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hershey.

Tanaka closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hershey to the mat! Hershey manages to get full guard.

Hershey working for submissions but it's allowed Tanaka to get to half guard.
Tanaka lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hershey wants to get back to full guard but Tanaka has mounted him!
Tanaka cracks Hershey with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Tanaka is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hershey can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Tanaka lands a heavy elbow.
Tanaka lands with some strikes.

Hershey is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hershey is looking to improve his position but Tanaka isn't that keen on the idea.
Hershey is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Tanaka landing strikes from the mount.
Oh Hershey is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hershey takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Oooooh, big shot lands for Tanaka! Hershey is hurt baaadly! Tanaka is firing away with more strikes - Hershey is covering up... the ref is warning him to do something. He's just covering up though still and the ref has to step in to end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Shingo Tanaka!