PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sadaharu Tanikawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bariga Cocainich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cocainich has chosen Будущее 9эт as his entrance music. Bariga Cocainich has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tanikawa
vs
Cocainich

180 cm
31
265 lbs
16 - 4 - 0

180 cm
35
250 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sadaharu Tanikawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bariga Cocainich!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Joseph Jones and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cocainich throws a leg kick but Tanikawa checks it.
Tanikawa moves away from the strike by Cocainich.
Cocainich throws a sloppy head kick and Tanikawa moves out of range easily.
Tanikawa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Tanikawa moves out of range as Cocainich strikes.
Cocainich keeps Tanikawa at a distance using the push kick.
Cocainich finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Tanikawa shoots for a double leg takedown but Cocainich sprawls well. He's pushed Tanikawa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tanikawa on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Sadaharu Tanikawa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Tanikawa dives in and scores a takedown into Cocainich's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Tanikawa throwing strikes from guard but Cocainich blocks nicely.
Tanikawa with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tanikawa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cocainich is on top in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cocainich sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tanikawa's guard.
Tanikawa tries to get to full guard but Cocainich has control of the leg.
Tanikawa is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cocainich tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tanikawa knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Tanikawa flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Cocainich is looking to take a break and control but Tanikawa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tanikawa is trying to get back to full guard.
Cocainich wants to control but Tanikawa is keeping him busy.
Cocainich not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cocainich trying to control from Tanikawa's half guard. Tanikawa has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Cocainich trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cocainich passes into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cocainich thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tanikawa's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanikawa moves into full guard.
Tanikawa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Cocainich is pushing down on Tanikawa's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tanikawa is fighting to maintain full guard but Cocainich has managed to sneak the leg through.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cocainich lands strikes from half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tanikawa won't allow Cocainich to pass to mount.
Tanikawa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cocainich wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tanikawa keeps working.

Cocainich is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Tanikawa defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanikawa missing with punches from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Cocainich there.
Tanikawa is looking to improve his position.
Tanikawa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Tanikawa is looking for a sweep. Cocainich is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cocainich scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Tanikawa is looking for a sweep. Cocainich is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cocainich trying to mount his opponent but Tanikawa defends it.
Tanikawa wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cocainich wants to pass the guard but Tanikawa is defending well.
Cocainich seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tanikawa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cocainich passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Tanikawa!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cocainich putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Cocainich lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Cocainich looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cocainich cracks Tanikawa with a big head shot that has him covering up instantly! He's rolled onto his side and the referee has seen enough - this one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bariga Cocainich!