PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yoshihiro Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Makanre Sakatoushi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tanaka comes to the cage accompanied by Stronger by Kanye West. Makanre Sakatoushi will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Tanaka
vs
Sakatoushi

178 cm
22
145 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

183 cm
20
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yoshihiro Tanaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Makanre Sakatoushi!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Tiny Johnson and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakatoushi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tanaka fails with a takedown attempt.
Sakatoushi misses with a hook. Tanaka ducked under it nicely.
Tanaka tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sakatoushi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tanaka somewhat.
Tanaka blocks a head kick by Sakatoushi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakatoushi connects with a right hand. Tanaka shakes it off.
A clash of legs there as Tanaka blocks the low kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Tanaka.
Tanaka looks up at the clock and then as Sakatoushi takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Tanaka smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakatoushi dodges the ground and pound from Tanaka.
Tanaka trying to control the action but Sakatoushi is working from the bottom.
Sakatoushi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tanaka. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Tanaka scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Sakatoushi to see if he's OK.
Tanaka working the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sakatoushi is not content to let Tanaka control the position.

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

That's two 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.
Tanaka tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Sakatoushi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sakatoushi is not content to let Tanaka control the position.
Tanaka misses with the ground and pound.
Tanaka has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

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

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sakatoushi fails to land with a series of punches.
Sakatoushi scores with a punch to the head.
Sakatoushi throws a wild body kick that Tanaka sees coming a mile off.
Tanaka misses with a takedown attempt - Sakatoushi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoshihiro Tanaka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tanaka avoids the body shot from Sakatoushi.
Sakatoushi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

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.
Sakatoushi lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Tanaka backs up against the cage.

It looks like Yoshihiro Tanaka has been cut.
Tanaka shoots in for a double leg but Sakatoushi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tanaka is breathing heavily.
Tanaka shoots in for a takedown but Sakatoushi shows good takedown defense.
Horrible takedown by Tanaka or perhaps it was just good defense by Sakatoushi which made him look bad.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sakatoushi is trying to force a seperation but Tanaka has the dominant position.
Tanaka drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sakatoushi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Tanaka tries for a takedown. No joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Makanre Sakatoushi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Yoshihiro Tanaka's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sakatoushi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A punch combination from Sakatoushi misses.
Tanaka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sakatoushi.
Sakatoushi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tanaka fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sakatoushi avoids it really well and circles away.
Sakatoushi throws a head kick that misses.
Tanaka takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sakatoushi will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sakatoushi. That's going to slow Tanaka down.
Tanaka stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Sakatoushi.
Sakatoushi lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Sakatoushi misses with a few strikes there.
Yoshihiro Tanaka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tanaka has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Tanaka there as he acknowledges the shot.
Sakatoushi uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Tanaka is rocked!
Tanaka takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Oh Tanaka is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tanaka drops his hands momentarily and Sakatoushi needs no second invitation. He sets himself and throws a perfect high kick, that clips Tanaka just on the top of the head. Tanaka drops like a sack of potatoes to the canvas, out cold! Oooooooh yeah! Stick a fork in Tanaka - he's done!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Makanre Sakatoushi!