PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shinji Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Keel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tanaka's entrance music is Yuudachi. A fine choice. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Tanaka
vs
Keel

160 cm
24
139 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

165 cm
24
144 lbs
7 - 3 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $140
DTK Designs (Laundry)

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $140

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinji Tanaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, John Keel!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Sergei Dronov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Keel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tanaka.
Keel dips to his left and cracks Tanaka with an uppercut!
Tanaka tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Keel counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Tanaka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Keel paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Tanaka fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Keel, pushing him back against the cage.
Tanaka goes for a takedown in the clinch but Keel prevents it.
A right hook to the body lands for Keel.
Tanaka prevents a body shot from Keel.
Keel slowing the pace effectively.
Tanaka wants to take the fight to the mat but Keel manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinji Tanaka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Keel misses with a hook to the ribs.
Keel is working Tanaka over against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Keel.
Tanaka tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Keel smiles and moves away.
Tanaka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Keel paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tanaka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Keel connects with a good right hand that stumbles Tanaka. Tanaka circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Keel lands a nice looking body shot.
Keel lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Tanaka tries to clinch but Keel is having none of it.
Tanaka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Keel tries to avoid it but Tanaka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Keel to the ground. Keel escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Keel feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tanaka's calf.
Nice takedown defense from Keel. No joy for Tanaka on that attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Keel circles away from the clinch attempt
and Keel counters with a nice low kick that buckles Tanaka's knee momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tanaka looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Keel trying to control here.
Tanaka is keen to just control but Keel is a slippery customer.

Tanaka is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Keel is just riding it out for now. Tanaka eventually gives up the hold.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Keel can do anything to dispel that myth.
Tanaka trying to pass the guard but Keel defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka wants to take a breather but Keel is having none of it.
Keel tries to roll over but Tanaka keeps him under control.
Tanaka seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Keel does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Tanaka is thwarting Keel's attempts to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tanaka shoots for a double leg takedown but Keel sprawls well. He's pushed Tanaka's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Keel rushes Tanaka and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Keel.
The referee is keeping an eye on Keel - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Tanaka drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Keel gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Keel taking a breather.
Keel lands on the inside with an uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Keel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Keel landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Keel pushes Tanaka back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tanaka just misses with a punch to the body.
Keel thuds a left hand into Tanaka's body.
Tanaka dives in and grabs Keel's left leg, looking for a takedown. Keel pushes down on Tanaka's head and hops out.
Keel scores with a crisp jab that stopped Tanaka in his tracks.
Tanaka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tanaka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Tanaka tries to keep at a distance but Keel has taken the fight into the clinch.
Tanaka is trying to maintain a safe position but Keel gets an underhook and turns Tanaka into the cage.
Keel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Keel lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Keel misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Keel stalling against the cage.

Keel manages to break the clinch.
Keel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tanaka moves away.
Tanaka tries to clinch but Keel is having none of it.
Tanaka has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinji Tanaka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A slapping body kick lands there for Tanaka.
Tanaka swings for the body but Keel moves out of range.
Keel swings for the body but Tanaka moves out of range.
Tanaka fails with the takedown.
Keel is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Tanaka rather than just go for the knockout.
Tanaka wants to clinch but Keel slips to the side
and Keel counters with a left to the body.
John Keel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Keel clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keel digs a right hand into Tanaka's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Tanaka's gas tank.
Keel leaning his opponent against the cage.

Keel manages to break the clinch.
Tanaka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tanaka tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Keel counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Keel moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Keel clinches with his opponent.
Keel is struggling to control the position.

Keel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Keel.
Tanaka fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tanaka tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Keel counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Tanaka shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Keel sprawls well. Keel wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tanaka gets slowly back to his feet.
Tanaka shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Keel but Keel pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Keel ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Keel circles away from the clinch attempt.
Keel throws a series of strikes that have Tanaka backpedaling.
Keel cracks a nice hook into Tanaka's ribs.
Keel keeps the fight on the outside.
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!
Keel lands a nice looking body kick.
Keel moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka moves forwards but Keel connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Keel moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
The crowd cheers as Keel lands an impressive looking overhand right. Tanaka doesn't seem phased though.
Sloppy strikes from Keel. Those never looked like landing.
Tanaka tries for a takedown but Keel sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tanaka walks into a left hand.
Keel scores with a sloppy right hand. Tanaka should have avoided that one.

Tanaka is rocked!
Keel throws a one two combo.
Oh Tanaka is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Tanaka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Keel lands a slapping body shot.
Tanaka gets cracked there but stands up to it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Keel fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Tanaka has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Keel with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Keel feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tanaka's calf.
Keel throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Tanaka stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Keel pounces like a tiger and cracks Tanaka with a vicious hook! Tanaka is down but not out! Keel follows up with more strikes forcing the ref to jump in and stop it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). John Keel!
A relieved looking John Keel thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.