PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Norifumi Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Tanner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tanner has chosen Billy Idol's Rebel Yell as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Yamamoto
vs
Tanner

168 cm
22
170 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

170 cm
23
175 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Norifumi Yamamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shane Tanner!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Dmitry Maklakov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamamoto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tanner.
Yamamoto misses with a low kick.
Yamamoto tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tanner swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Yamamoto throws a right hand that Tanner ducks under and follows up with a left that Tanner also avoids with ease.
Tanner keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Horrible takedown by Yamamoto or perhaps it was just good defense by Tanner which made him look bad.

Yamamoto changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Tanner looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Tanner is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Yamamoto's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Tanner moves into full guard.
Yamamoto preventing the sweep.
Tanner manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Yamamoto manages to get himself to full guard.
Yamamoto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Yamamoto trying to strike off his back.
Tanner scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanner postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Yamamoto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tanner wants to pass the guard but Yamamoto is keeping the position.
Yamamoto can't keep his opponent in guard - Tanner advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Tanner not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Yamamoto wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tanner working the head and body with strikes.
Tanner lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Tanner looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Tanner not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Yamamoto is pressing down on Tanner's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Yamamoto is breathing heavily.
Tanner trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamamoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tanner preventing the sweep.

Tanner decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Yamamoto looks to land a left hand but Tanner moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tanner has closed the distance and engaged Yamamoto in a clinch.
The referee calls for Tanner to work.
Yamamoto is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Yamamoto is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Yamamoto tightens his grip and picks Tanner up, before dumping him to the ground. Tanner manages to land in guard.
Yamamoto stopping the sweep attempt from Tanner.
Yamamoto lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Yamamoto wants to get up but he can't break Tanner's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Tanner wants to improve his position but instead Yamamoto has moved into half guard.
Tanner is not content to let Yamamoto control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yamamoto throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tanner misses with some strikes from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shane Tanner will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Tanner checks a leg kick.
Yamamoto tests Tanner's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Yamamoto looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tanner is fending him off so far but Yamamoto persists. Nope, Tanner circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice sprawl there from Yamamoto as Tanner shoots in.
Yamamoto throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Tanner on the side of the head.
Yamamoto shoots and misses

and Tanner counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Yamamoto!
Tanner is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Yamamoto working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yamamoto wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Yamamoto is trying desperately to improve position.
Yamamoto tries to lock up and control but Tanner gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Yamamoto is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanner blocks Yamamoto's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Tanner is breathing heavily.
Yamamoto can't escape the position.
Yamamoto tries to hold on but Tanner pushes him away.
Yamamoto is looking to improve his position but Tanner isn't that keen on the idea.
Yamamoto wants to hold on but Tanner pushes him away.
Yamamoto is trying to escape the mount.
Tanner lands a big shot there that rocks Yamamoto but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Yamamoto is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Yamamoto slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Yamamoto tries to kick Tanner off but Tanner keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Nice strikes from Tanner there.
Yamamoto is trying to get back to full guard.
Yamamoto trying to control here.
Yamamoto has hold of Tanner's hands but Tanner slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Tanner is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Yamamoto regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanner is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Tanner is looking to advance position but Yamamoto won't allow it.
Tanner not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Yamamoto gets full guard.
Tanner chips away with some ground and pound.
Tanner lands a couple of elbows.
Tanner slips nicely into half guard.
Tanner lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Yamamoto is rocked!
Tanner is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Oh Yamamoto is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Shane Tanner has got the better of the ground game so far.

Yamamoto kicks off Tanner and gets to his feet.
Yamamoto seems to have got his legs back now.

Yamamoto decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yamamoto slips a nice elbow through Tanner's hands, connecting with Tanner's forehead.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Yamamoto connects with a nice short shot to Tanner's temple.
Tanner throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Tanner gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Shane Tanner will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Yamamoto gets a takedown into half guard.
Yamamoto scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Yamamoto lands strikes from half guard.
Yamamoto is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Yamamoto is keen to just control but Tanner is a slippery customer.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Tanner throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Tanner can do anything to dispel that myth.
Yamamoto is tying to control. Tanner wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tanner is looking for a sweep. Yamamoto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tanner gets back to full guard.
Yamamoto preventing the sweep.
Yamamoto wanted to stand there but Tanner had control of the position.
Tanner looking for a sweep. Not yet Tanner, not yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Yamamoto gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Tanner counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Tanner with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanner wants to pass the guard but Yamamoto is keeping the position.
Yamamoto 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.
Yamamoto lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Tanner!
Yamamoto breaks from Tanner's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Tanner bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Tanner throws and elbow that misses. Yamamoto uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tanner's guard. Nice move by Yamamoto!
Tanner looking for a sweep. Not yet Tanner, not yet.
Tanner throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Tanner tries to land a sweep but no joy.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tanner is on top in guard.
Tanner pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yamamoto is keeping the position for now.
Tanner lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Tanner pushing down on Yamamoto's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Tanner looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Yamamoto is trying to stand back up but Tanner is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Yamamoto tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Tanner wants to free his trapped foot but Yamamoto is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Tanner not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Yamamoto wants to get back to his feet.
Tanner working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A chopping leg kick lands by Yamamoto.
Yamamoto moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Yamamoto shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Tanner counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Tanner.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Tanner stopping the sweep attempt from Yamamoto.
Tanner advances position into side control!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tanner scoring with punches from side control.
Tanner grinds an elbow into Yamamoto's temple.
Norifumi Yamamoto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tanner scoring with punches and elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shane Tanner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tanner winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shane Tanner!