PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shiro Tanaka (ranked 4210 p4p, 373 weight class) and Jay Brown (ranked 6613 p4p, 436 weight class). Tanaka comes to the cage accompanied by The good the bad and the ugly theme song. Brown has chosen Hate me now by nas as his entrance music. Shiro Tanaka has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tanaka
vs
Brown

172 cm
18
149 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

174 cm
18
157 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Shiro Tanaka!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jay Brown!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Patrick Alders and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Brown closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Tanaka did well to prevent Brown getting side control.

Tanaka is defending against the submission attempts here by Brown.
Brown sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tanaka defending well though.
Brown has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Brown wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tanaka keeps working.
Tanaka has hold of Brown's hands but Brown slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Brown wants to work for an arm triangle but Tanaka is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brown throwing shots but Tanaka is blocking nicely.
Brown stops Tanaka from getting back to his feet.
Brown wants to free his trapped foot but Tanaka is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brown trying to control from half guard but Tanaka is working away.

Tanaka has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Brown is on him like a limpet, forcing Tanaka back against the cage.

Tanaka breaks the clinch.
Brown shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tanaka as he jumps to the side.
Brown will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tanaka lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Tanaka scores with a head kick.

Tanaka rushes Brown and presses him up against the cage.
Brown tries for a takedown but Tanaka manages to get underhooks.
Shiro Tanaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jay Brown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Tanaka on the inside.
Brown can't get the takedown.

Tanaka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tanaka lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Tanaka tests Brown's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Brown walks into a jab.
Brown shoots in for a double leg but Tanaka sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Tanaka instigates a clinch.
Tanaka cracks Brown with a nice body shot.
Tanaka lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Tanaka lands a nice uppercut.
Tanaka lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brown has Tanaka pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tanaka manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Tanaka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Tanaka pushes Brown up against the cage in a clinch.
A short right from Tanaka on the inside.
Nice body punch from Tanaka - that landed with a thud.
Brown is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tanaka pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Brown has Tanaka pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tanaka manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Brown wants to take the fight to the mat but Tanaka manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Tanaka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Tanaka clinches.
Tanaka lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Brown backwards.
Brown has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Tanaka after a bit of a struggle.
A short right from Tanaka.
Nice body punch from Tanaka.
Tanaka working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Tanaka - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka lands with a short shot to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tanaka lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Brown tries for a takedown but Tanaka manages to get underhooks.

Tanaka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Tanaka pushes Brown up against the cage in a clinch.
Nice body punch from Tanaka - that landed with a thud.
Tanaka scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Brown is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Tanaka gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Brown is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Tanaka is defending well.
Tanaka scores with a shot to the side of Brown's head.
Brown changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tanaka fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Brown looks winded!

Tanaka moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shiro Tanaka dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tanaka moves into the clinch.
Tanaka gets underhooks to prevent Brown's takedown attempt.
Tanaka is working Brown over against the cage.
Tanaka lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Brown tries for a takedown. No joy.
Brown has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tanaka is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Shiro Tanaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jay Brown.
Tanaka throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Browns head.

Tanaka manages to break the clinch.

Brown gets tackled into the cage by Tanaka. Tanaka maintains the clinch.

Tanaka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tanaka jabs Brown right on the nose. Brown blinks but takes it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brown shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tanaka pinned against the cage. Tanaka gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Shiro Tanaka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tanaka clinches with his opponent.

Tanaka breaks from the clinch.
Brown has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Brown there as he acknowledges the shot.

Tanaka pushes Brown up against the cage in a clinch.
Tanaka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Brown can do to turn this around?
Tanaka lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tanaka lands a body shot.
Brown goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tanaka prevents it.
Brown wants to take the fight to the mat but Tanaka manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Brown is working for takedown but Tanaka is calmly controlling the position for now.
Tanaka lands a left hand.
Tanaka stalls.
Tanaka unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Brown.
Brown is breathing heavily.

Tanaka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Tanaka gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tanaka is working Brown over against the cage.
Brown takes a shot to the head.
Tanaka prevents a takedown attempt there.

Tanaka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shiro Tanaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tanaka lands a jab-cross combination.

Tanaka has managed to clinch.
Brown takes a shot to the head.
Shiro Tanaka has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Tanaka lands with a short shot to the head.
Brown is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Tanaka gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Brown has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Tanaka after a bit of a struggle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tanaka breaks from the clinch.

Tanaka forces Brown back against the cage and clinches.
Good body shot from Tanaka.

Tanaka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tanaka goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Jay Brown has been cut.
Tanaka scores with a head kick.

Tanaka has managed to clinch.
Brown changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tanaka fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Tanaka stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tanaka wants it to stay on the feet.
Tanaka throws a sloppy head kick and Brown moves out of range easily.

Tanaka closes the distance and clinches.
Tanaka is working Brown over against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tanaka lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Tanaka crunches a lovely knee into Brown's ribcage.

Tanaka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tanaka moves to clinch but Brown breaks away

and Brown counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Tanaka is trying to stand.

Brown is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tanaka doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Brown.

Brown is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shiro Tanaka dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jay Brown's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Brown keeps the fight on the outside.
Tanaka lands a front kick.
Tanaka feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Browns jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Brown fails with a takedown attempt.
Tanaka lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Tanaka throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Brown has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tanaka gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tanaka lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Brown backwards.
Brown is trying to drag Tanaka to the mat but Tanaka just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Tanaka lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka lands an elbow inside that Brown shrugs off.
Brown is looking to take this one to the mat.
Shiro Tanaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jay Brown.
Brown is looking for a takedown.
Tanaka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tanaka lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Brown wants a takedown but no success here.
Brown takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Brown is looking to take this one to the mat.
Brown goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tanaka prevents it.
A short right from Tanaka on the inside.
Brown tries for a takedown but Tanaka manages to get underhooks.
Nice body punch from Tanaka.
Tanaka lands a body punch.
Tanaka is leaning against Brown and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Tanaka.
Tanaka taking a breather.
Still in the clinch, Tanaka scores with a nice short uppercut.

Tanaka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Brown circles away from the clinch attempt.
Brown changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Brown on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tanaka. Tanaka obviously looking to wear him down.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Tanaka scores with a shot to the body.
Tanaka swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Brown.

Tanaka clinches with his opponent.
Tanaka is leaning against Brown and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Tanaka lands a shot to the body.
Brown has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tanaka is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tanaka.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brown drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice body punch from Tanaka - that landed with a thud.
Tanaka gets underhooks to prevent Brown's takedown attempt.
Tanaka is working Brown over against the cage.
Brown takes a shot to the head.
Tanaka scores with a shot to the side of Brown's head.
Tanaka lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Brown.
Tanaka lands a knee to the head.
Tanaka is leaning against Brown and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Tanaka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Tanaka rushes Brown and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Brown takes a shot to the head.
Tanaka stops a takedown attempt from Brown.
Brown takes a shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tanaka gets through Brown's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Tanaka lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Brown goes for a takedown attempt but Tanaka pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Tanaka scores with a nice head shot.
Jay Brown has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Tanaka clinches up with Brown and pushes him back against the cage.
Shiro Tanaka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A knee to the head by Tanaka.
Brown has Tanaka pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tanaka manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shiro Tanaka showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tanaka, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 30:25
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:25
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shiro Tanaka!
Shiro Tanaka is the new featherweight champion!
Shiro Tanaka decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.
Jay Brown spoke after the fight, saying 'Maybe next time'.