PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Akihiko Takahashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alvin York (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takahashi's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Pure White Lace. York has chosen No More Sorrow as his entrance music. Alvin York has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Akihiko Takahashi's chin.

Takahashi
vs
York

175 cm
19
168 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Akihiko Takahashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alvin York!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Frank Dennis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Takahashi gets caught flat footed, as York shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Takahashi wants to stand and escape but York is having none of it.
York controls from within his opponent's guard.
York's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
York must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Let's hope that York has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Takahashi wants to stand but York is controlling the position.
York throws a big right hand that misses.

York drops back looking for a leg! Takahashi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Takahashi manages to kick York off! York jumps back into Takahashi's guard.
York seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi wants to get back to his feet but York is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
York not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Despite being in the dominant position, Alvin York just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
York has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Takahashi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
York looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Takahashi is fending him off so far but York persists. Nope, Takahashi circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi misses with the combination.
Takahashi misses with a hook.
Akihiko Takahashi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Takahashi misses with the combination.
York misses with a takedown attempt - Takahashi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
York fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Akihiko Takahashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alvin York.
Takahashi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but York was well out of range. Poor timing from Takahashi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Alvin York has been cut.
Takahashi connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
York slips a jab and a cross from Takahashi.
Takahashi moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Takahashi lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Takahashi misses with a looping right.
Takahashi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by York.
Akihiko Takahashi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takahashi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Takahashi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
York avoids a punch combination nicely.
York shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Takahashi but Takahashi pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

York closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Takahashi to the mat! Takahashi manages to get full guard.
Takahashi wants to stand but York is controlling the position.
Takahashi can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as York controls the pace.

York decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Takahashi, up you get!
A right-left combo lands from Takahashi.
York dodges the punch combination from Takahashi.
Takahashi swinging wilding here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Akihiko Takahashi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alvin York's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

York blocks a low kick nicely.
Takahashi misses with a body kick.
York swats away the attempt to clinch by Takahashi.

York closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - York lands in his opponent's guard.
York prevents Takahashi from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
York's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

York drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and York jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Takahashi wants to get back to his feet but York is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
York controls from within his opponent's guard.
York prevents Takahashi from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
York not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
York prevents Takahashi from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
York slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Despite being in the dominant position, Alvin York just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Takahashi misses with an uppercut. York saw that one coming.
A chopping leg kick lands by Takahashi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi throws a low kick but it's checked well by York.
York avoids a punch combination nicely.
York shoots in for a takedown but Takahashi shows good takedown defense.
Takahashi throws a right and a left that York avoids nicely.
Takahashi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but York circles away quickly and effectively.
Akihiko Takahashi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
York fails with a takedown attempt.
Takahashi misses with a looping right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Takahashi tries to clinch but York moves out of range.
Takahashi tries to bum rush York with a series of wild strikes but York uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
York throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Takahashi's waist but Takahashi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing York off to one side.
Akihiko Takahashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alvin York.
Takahashi attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
York dodges the punch combination from Takahashi.
York fails with a takedown attempt.
Takahashi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but York was well out of range. Poor timing from Takahashi.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Takahashi throws a big shot that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alvin York showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Alvin York's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

York shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
York sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Takahashi prevents York from taking his back.
Takahashi's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
York sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Takahashi is trying to stand.
York with shots to the head and body - Takahashi looks very uncomfortable down there.
Takahashi on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Takahashi tries to get out of the position.
York tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi tries to buck York off but he can't manage it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

York working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

York jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Takahashi is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Takahashi and York has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
York wants to control but Takahashi is keeping him busy.
Takahashi is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, York asserts his dominance and retains side control.

York tries for a kimura but Takahashi is defending well.
Takahashi is trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
A lull in the action here.
Takahashi is pushing York's head away, looking to escape. York manages to hold on to the position though.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

York is trying to get an arm triangle but Takahashi is defending well.
Takahashi pushes York away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, York gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

York is trying to get an arm triangle but Takahashi is defending well.

York decides to stand back up.
Takahashi throws a sloppy head kick and York moves out of range easily.
York takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A combination from Takahashi does no damage.

York scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
York looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
York takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi is trying to stand.
Takahashi trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
York is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Takahashi!
You get the feeling that Takahashi really doesn't like being in this position too much.
York sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Takahashi has given up his back. Will we see York going for some submissions?

Takahashi fending off the submission attempt from York.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alvin York comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think York has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alvin York!