PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Henricks (ranked 4663 p4p, 4759 weight class) and Shingo Takayama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Henricks
vs
Takayama

190 cm
21
200
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
208
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, John Henricks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Shingo Takayama!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Sam Margolis and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takayama paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Henricks throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Takayama to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like John Henricks has been cut.

Henricks decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Takayama tries to kick Henricks off in order to stand up. Henricks Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Henricks creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Takayama sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
You can see the frustration on Takayama's face as Henricks controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Henricks decides to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henricks walks into a stiff left hand from Takayama.

Henricks has taken the fight to the clinch.
Takayama misses with a hook to the ribs.

Henricks manages to pull guard.
Henricks looking for a sweep. Not yet Henricks, not yet.
Henricks striking off his back but it's not causing Takayama any problems.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Henricks holds on and takes a little breather.
Henricks bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Takayama's guard.

Henricks is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henricks with a flurry of punches that miss.
Henricks slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Henricks's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Henricks stands up and waves to Takayama to follow him.
Henricks looks for the body kick but Takayama saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Takayama. No joy for Henricks on that attempt.
Takayama misses with a hook.
Henricks fails with the takedown.
Takayama cracks Henricks with a good jab.
Henricks throws a shot to the body.
Henricks on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Henricks has taken the fight to the clinch.
Takayama tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Henricks's elbow.
Henricks is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Henricks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short right from Takayama.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takayama throws a head punch that misses.
Henricks tries to pull guard but Takayama holds him up against the cage and eventually Henricks drops back down to his feet.
Takayama is pressed up against the cage. Henricks has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Takayama down to the mat. Takayama avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Henricks fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Takayama avoids it really well and circles away.
Henricks misses with a takedown attempt
and Henricks takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Henricks moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Henricks tries to pull guard but Takayama forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Henricks is breathing heavily.
Takayama looking to stall.
Henricks blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shingo Takayama will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on John Henricks'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.

Henricks scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Takayama has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Henricks is working away from the top position though.
Henricks controlling the pace.

Henricks is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
John Henricks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Henricks stands up from half guard.
John Henricks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Henricks shoots in and gets a takedown into Takayama's guard.
Takayama is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Henricks dives into side control.

Henricks decides to stand back up.
Takayama pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Henricks back to the cage. Takayama follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Takayama uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Henricks has time to react.
Henricks tries to clinch but Takayama is having none of it.
Takayama misses the jab.
The fighters circling - Takayama throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takayama swings widly with a right hand

and Henricks counters by moving into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Henricks tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Takayama smiles and moves away.
Henricks throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Takayama's waist but Takayama gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Henricks off to one side.
Takayama throws out a counter right but Henricks avoids it with no problem.

Henricks has managed to clinch.
Henricks is trying to pull guard but Takayama has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Henricks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Henricks wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Henricks is trying to push Takayama away but Takayama has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Henricks has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Takayama scores with a shoulder strike.
Henricks stalling.
Takayama has had enough of the clinch but Henricks keeps him there for the moment.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henricks wants to break the clinch but can't.
Takayama misses with some punches.
Henricks blocks an uppercut.
Takayama is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Takayama escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Takayama misses with a wild body shot.
Takayama fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Henricks manages to avoid it.
Henricks is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Takayama circles away from the clinch attempt.
Shingo Takayama is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Takayama lunges at Henricks with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Henricks's hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henricks misses with a hook. Takayama ducked under it nicely.
Henricks tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Takayama swivels and escapes.

Henricks shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Takayama napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Henricks works to advance to full mount. Takayama defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Henricks landing strikes from the mount and Takayama is in trouble!
Henricks sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Henricks mounts Takayama! Really nice guard pass there!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that John Henricks will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on John Henricks's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Takayama gets caught flat footed, as Henricks shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Henricks's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Henricks decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Takayama misses with a jab to the body
and Henricks counters with a series of strikes. Takayama will be more careful next time no doubt.
Takayama misses with a straight left.
Takayama keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Takayama! But no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Henricks closes the distance and clinches.
Henricks is trying to force a seperation but Takayama has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takayama misses with a body punch.
Takayama blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Takayama.
Takayama tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Henricks's elbow.
Henricks tries to break free but Takayama pushes him back against the cage.
Takayama prevents the takedown attempt.

Henricks wants the takedown. Takayama is fighting it off but Henricks persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Takayama's guard against the cage.
Henricks sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takayama can't keep his opponent in guard - Henricks advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henricks is looking for a kimura but Takayama is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Henricks to get the leverage.
Henricks with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Takayama blocking the ground and pound attempt from Henricks.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Henricks decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Henricks has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Henricks. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Henricks decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Henricks controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Henricks decides to stand and escape the position.
Henricks shoots in for a takedown but Takayama shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Henricks throws a head kick that misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Takayama lands with a hook. Henricks tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Henricks on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Shingo Takayama seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Henricks keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Henricks showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Henricks has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Henricks!