PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hoshi Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Linos Malinos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Linos Malinos enters the cage!

Tanaka
vs
Malinos

192 cm
22
245 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

150 cm
22
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hoshi 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, Linos Malinos!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tanaka looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Malinos!
Malinos tries to hold on but Tanaka postures up.

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

Malinos defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Tanaka.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tanaka has control of Malinos's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Malinos regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Tanaka wants to finish this one by submission but Malinos is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Tanaka.
Malinos tries to hold on but Tanaka pushes him away.

Malinos defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Tanaka.
Tanaka is breathing heavily.
Malinos wants to hold on but Tanaka pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tanaka working for a guillotine from mount but Malinos is in no mood to give up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malinos wants to hold on but Tanaka pushes him away.

Tanaka is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Malinos has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Malinos!
Malinos trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Malinos throws a big right hand that misses.

Tanaka is looking for a triangle but Malinos pushes his legs off easily.

Tanaka looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Malinos has picked Tanaka up and slammed him! Tanaka can't keep hold of the triangle and Malinos manages to pass to side control!
Malinos creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Tanaka sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Malinos fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka is not content to let Malinos control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Malinos shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tanaka but Tanaka pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Malinos closes the distance and clinches up with Tanaka, looking for a takedown. Malinos pushes Tanaka against the cage but Tanaka circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Malinos will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hoshi Tanaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Linos Malinos.
Malinos shoots for a double leg takedown but Tanaka sprawls well. He's pushed Malinos's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Tanaka looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Tanaka prevents Malinos from improving his position.

Tanaka wants to work for an arm triangle but Malinos is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malinos won't allow Tanaka to pass to mount.

Tanaka is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Tanaka passes to side control.

Tanaka working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Tanaka will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Tanaka tries for a kimura but Malinos is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hoshi Tanaka dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tanaka shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Tanaka showed some decent athleticism there.
Tanaka is looking to advance position but Malinos won't allow it.
Malinos wants to control but Tanaka is keeping busy.

Tanaka is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Malinos has managed to free his arm - good work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Malinos has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tanaka is working away from the top position though.

Tanaka is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malinos is looking to control Tanaka's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Malinos avoid being mounted?
Tanaka tries to pass the half guard into mount. Malinos knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Tanaka shoots in for a double leg but Malinos sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Malinos shoots for a double leg takedown but Tanaka sprawls well. He's pushed Malinos's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Tanaka scores with a takedown into Malinos's guard.
Tanaka passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malinos can't do much from the bottom here.

Tanaka has an Americana. Malinos 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 2:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Hoshi Tanaka!