PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Stark (ranked 1815 p4p, 1826 weight class) and Tomohiro Tanahashi (ranked 234 p4p, 235 weight class). Tanahashi comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Love & Energy kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Stark
vs
Tanahashi

176 cm
46
181
26 - 34 - 0

194 cm
34
185
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 34 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brandon Stark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tomohiro Tanahashi!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stark throws a body punch but Tanahashi moves out of range.
Stark has been working on his boxing with his coaches at For Pride and Prodigies in the buildup to the fight.

Stark throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Tanahashi was covering up waiting for the punch and Stark finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Tanahashi pushes Stark off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Brandon Stark seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tanahashi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stark.
Tanahashi misses with a hook.
Tanahashi throws a shot from downtown. Stark moves away and avoids it.
Stark throws a body punch but Tanahashi moves out of range.
Tanahashi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tanahashi digs a good hook to Stark's body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stark ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tanahashi moves away.
Tanahashi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Tanahashi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tanahashi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stark bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tanahashi has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Tanahashi throws a looping overhand right but Stark ducks down to avoid it.
A right-left combo lands from Stark.
Stark looks to land a body kick but Tanahashi moved away.
Tanahashi throws a right hand that Stark ducks under and follows up with a left that Stark also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanahashi misses with a looping right.

Tanahashi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stark passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Stark thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Stark slows the pace down.

Stark thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Stark is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tanahashi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Tanahashi is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Stark asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Tanahashi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Stark is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tanahashi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Tanahashi is trying to control Stark's posture but Stark avoids it.

Stark tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Stark has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanahashi is looking to regain half guard here but Stark keeps moving and retains side control.

Stark wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tanahashi, who protects the arm well.
Tanahashi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Stark working away.

Stark tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Tanahashi wants to control but Stark postures up.

Stark is trying to get an arm triangle but Tanahashi is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Stark is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tanahashi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Tanahashi prevents Stark from moving into mount.
Tanahashi tries to bench press Stark off him but Stark keeps the position.
Stark has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Stark is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Tanahashi can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Tanahashi tries to reverse the position but Stark maintains control.

Stark is working for a guillotine from mount but Tanahashi frees his head quite easily.

Stark working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Stark dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tanahashi tries to clinch but Stark is having none of it.
Tanahashi scores with a body shot.
Tanahashi missing with a left hand there. Stark was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tanahashi blocks a head kick by Stark.
Stark 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.
Tanahashi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A counter left hand to the body from Stark misses its target.
Tanahashi looks to throw the jab but Stark is out of range.
Tomohiro Tanahashi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tanahashi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tanahashi throws a head kick that Stark semi-blocks.

It looks like Brandon Stark has been cut.
Tanahashi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
As Tanahashi backs away, Stark returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Stark shoots in but Tanahashi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Stark misses with a hook.
Stark shoots in but no luck this time.
Tanahashi looks like he wants to counter punch here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanahashi tests Stark's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Stark is rocked!
Tanahashi avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Oh Stark is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Stark tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tanahashi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tanahashi dances in with a quick combination. Stark is being worked over with jabs and crosses. Oooh, a right straight from Tanahashi snaps Stark's head back. Stark stumbles backwards against the cage. Tanahashi steps forward and delivers a right cross that connects with Stark's jaw, simultaneously knocking him out and sending his mouthpiece into the crowd! There's a worthy souvenir for the fans. This one is over folks. Stark just didn't come prepared.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Tomohiro Tanahashi!
Tomohiro Tanahashi seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.