PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sadaharu Tanikawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bluza Sportowa (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.

Tanikawa
vs
Sportowa

220 cm
25
290 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
19
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sadaharu Tanikawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bluza Sportowa!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tanikawa has closed the distance and engaged Sportowa in a clinch.
Tanikawa being controlled against the cage.
Tanikawa using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Tanikawa looking to slow down the pace here.
Tanikawa blocks an elbow strike.
Tanikawa lands a shoulder strike.
Tanikawa lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Tanikawa tries to stall but Sportowa uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Tanikawa tries to stall but Sportowa uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Tanikawa wants to stall.
Tanikawa pushes Sportowa back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Sportowa looks winded!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanikawa is looking to control Sportowa's arms but Sportowa gets an underhook and turns him. Now Tanikawa has his back to the cage.
Tanikawa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sportowa.
Tanikawa misses with some punches.
Tanikawa stalling in the clinch but Sportowa improves position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanikawa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tanikawa unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Tanikawa taking a breather.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Sadaharu Tanikawa.

Tanikawa instigates a clinch.
Tanikawa is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Tanikawa with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tanikawa is looking to control Sportowa's arms but Sportowa gets an underhook and turns him. Now Tanikawa has his back to the cage.
Nice elbow from Tanikawa.
Sportowa takes a shot to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sportowa as Tanikawa tries to tie him up.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Tanikawa looking to slow down the pace here.
Tanikawa tries a body shot but Sportowa blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sportowa is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Sadaharu Tanikawa.

Tanikawa clinches up with Sportowa and pushes him back against the cage.
Tanikawa is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
The referee calls for Sportowa to work.
A short uppercut from Tanikawa.
Sportowa tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tanikawa avoids it.
Tanikawa is trying to maintain a safe position but Sportowa gets an underhook and turns Tanikawa into the cage.
Tanikawa is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sportowa is keeping busy.
Nice elbow from Tanikawa.
Sportowa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tanikawa taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sportowa with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sportowa is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
The referee is keeping an eye on Sportowa - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Tanikawa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sportowa wants to stall.
Tanikawa is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Sportowa is trying to maintain a safe position but Tanikawa gets an underhook and turns Sportowa into the cage.
Tanikawa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tanikawa misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sportowa.
Tanikawa crunches a lovely knee into Sportowa's ribcage.
Tanikawa tries to work over Sportowa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tanikawa crunches a lovely knee into Sportowa's ribcage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanikawa with a knee to the head.
Tanikawa taking a breather.
Tanikawa looking to slow down the pace here.
Tanikawa can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Sportowa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tanikawa lands a damaging elbow.
Tanikawa taking a breather.
Tanikawa tries to stall but Sportowa uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Maybe Tanikawa would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
Tanikawa lands a knee to the head.
Tanikawa stalling in the clinch but Sportowa improves position.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Sadaharu Tanikawa.

Tanikawa clinches up with Sportowa and pushes him back against the cage.
Tanikawa stalling in the clinch but Sportowa improves position.
Sportowa managing to block the knees to the body from Tanikawa.
Tanikawa lands a left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tanikawa throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sportowas head.
Tanikawa stalling in the clinch but Sportowa improves position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sadaharu Tanikawa dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tanikawa has taken the fight to the clinch.
Tanikawa blocks an uppercut.
Sportowa has a couple of punches blocked by Tanikawa.
Sportowa tries a body shot but Tanikawa blocks it.
Tanikawa putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sportowa in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Tanikawa is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sportowa is keeping busy.
Tanikawa is trying to maintain a safe position but Sportowa gets an underhook and turns Tanikawa into the cage.
Sportowa taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Tanikawa looking to stall.
Tanikawa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sportowa leaning his opponent against the cage.
Tanikawa trying to stall but Sportowa improves his position.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanikawa is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sportowa is keeping busy.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Sadaharu Tanikawa.

Tanikawa clinches up against the cage.
Tanikawa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sportowa can do to turn this around?
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Tanikawa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sportowa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tanikawa's elbow.
Tanikawa trying to stall but Sportowa improves his position.
Tanikawa wants to stall.
Sportowa connects with a nasty looking knee right to Tanikawa's face.
Sportowa landing knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Sportowa.
Sportowa leaning his opponent against the cage.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Sportowa in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Tanikawa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sportowa as Tanikawa tries to tie him up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sportowa blocks an elbow strike.
Tanikawa tries to stall but Sportowa uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Sportowa slows down the pace here.
Sportowa taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Sportowa.
Sportowa's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Tanikawa looking to stall.
Nice body punch from Sportowa.
Tanikawa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sportowa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sportowa leaning against his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanikawa taking a breather.
Tanikawa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Tanikawa struggles to land a body shot inside as Sportowa controls his hands.
Sportowa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sportowa using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tanikawa is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Tanikawa working aggressively here.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Sadaharu Tanikawa.

Sportowa gets tackled into the cage by Tanikawa. Tanikawa maintains the clinch.
Tanikawa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sportowa's elbow.
Sportowa lands an elbow that stopped Tanikawa in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Sadaharu Tanikawa has been cut.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanikawa is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A head punch on the inside from Tanikawa fails to land.
Tanikawa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short left from Sportowa.
Sportowa effectively controlling the action here.
Sportowa lands an elbow inside that Tanikawa shrugs off.
Sportowa misses with a knee to the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Sportowa - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Tanikawa wants to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sportowa lands a good knee to the midsection. Tanikawa won't want to take too many of those.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Tanikawa obliges.
Come on Sportowa - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bluza Sportowa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sadaharu Tanikawa's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sportowa pushes Tanikawa up against the cage in a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sportowa as Tanikawa tries to tie him up.
Tanikawa tries to land knees in the clinch but Sportowa avoids the damage to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Tanikawa obliges.
Tanikawa is looking to control Sportowa's arms but Sportowa gets an underhook and turns him. Now Tanikawa has his back to the cage.
Tanikawa looking to stall.
A right hand to the body from Sportowa.
Sportowa's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Tanikawa.
Sportowa stalling against the cage.
Sportowa stalling in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanikawa throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tanikawa crunches a lovely knee into Sportowa's ribcage.
Sportowa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tanikawa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sportowa stalls.
Tanikawa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tanikawa is looking to control Sportowa's arms but Sportowa gets an underhook and turns him. Now Tanikawa has his back to the cage.
Tanikawa lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sportowa backwards.
Tanikawa stalling against the cage.
Tanikawa scores with a shoulder strike.
Sportowa lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tanikawa stalling in the clinch but Sportowa improves position.
Tanikawa lands a body punch in the clinch.
Tanikawa scores with a shot to the side of Sportowa's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanikawa misses with the head strike.
Sportowa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tanikawa is defending well for now.
Tanikawa trying to stall but Sportowa improves his position.
Sportowa trying to stall but Tanikawa improves his position.
Tanikawa lands an elbow inside that Sportowa shrugs off.
Sportowa is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Tanikawa is keeping busy.
Tanikawa scores with a knee to the head.
Sportowa avoiding damage as Tanikawa throws knees to the body.
Tanikawa lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tanikawa lands a good knee to the midsection. Sportowa won't want to take too many of those.
Sportowa takes a shot to the head.
Still in the clinch, Tanikawa scores with a nice short uppercut.
Sadaharu Tanikawa has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sportowa as Tanikawa tries to tie him up.
Tanikawa utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanikawa is stalling here.
Sportowa will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Tanikawa up against the cage.
Tanikawa wants to stall.
Sportowa tries a body shot but Tanikawa blocks it.
Sportowa is trying to maintain a safe position but Tanikawa gets an underhook and turns Sportowa into the cage.
Tanikawa landing knees to the body.
Tanikawa taking a breather.
Tanikawa looking to stall.
Tanikawa is trying to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Sadaharu Tanikawa.

Tanikawa clinches.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Tanikawa lands an elbow just above Sportowa 's eye.
Tanikawa tries to throw a body punch but Sportowa avoids it by throwing Tanikawa back against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Sportowa is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sportowa stalls.
Tanikawa is trying to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sadaharu Tanikawa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tanikawa has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sadaharu Tanikawa!