PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yasuda Takahiro (ranked 1893 p4p, 5323 weight class) and Arthur Pugsley (ranked 204 p4p, 438 weight class). Takahiro kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Enemy. Yasuda Takahiro has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Takahiro
vs
Pugsley

176 cm
20
145
4 - 2 - 0

150 cm
20
145
4 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

New Standard

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yasuda Takahiro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Arthur Pugsley!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Viktor Lagutenko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, jab by Takahiro - just one landing.
Pugsley shoots in but Takahiro avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Takahiro lands a lovely overhand right.

Takahiro moves into the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Takahiro digs a right hand underneath Pugsley's ribcage. Pugsley let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Pugsley content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Takahiro is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Takahiro lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Pugsley throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Pugsley blocking some punches.
Pugsley is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Pugsley using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Takahiro has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pugsley is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Takahiro is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Pugsley takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Takahiro breaks from the clinch.

Takahiro clinches.

Takahiro's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pugsley takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

It looks like Arthur Pugsley has been cut.

Pugsley forces Takahiro back against the cage and clinches.
Takahiro leaning against his opponent.
Takahiro scores with a shot to the side of Pugsley's head.
Pugsley is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Takahiro is keeping busy.
A frustrated look appears on Pugsley's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Takahiro lands a shoulder strike.
Pugsley's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
The referee calls for Takahiro to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Takahiro breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Takahiro lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Danga de danga de dang - Takahiro scores with a four punch combination!

Pugsley scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Takahiro has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Takahiro is trying to buck Pugsley off.
Pugsley tries to advance to mount but Takahiro denies him.
Takahiro is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Takahiro on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Takahiro tries to get out of the position.
Takahiro prevents Pugsley from moving into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pugsley is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Pugsley trying to control the position but Takahiro is working away.
Takahiro is trying to buck Pugsley off.
Pugsley remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Takahiro circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four 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.
Takahiro scores with a jab to the jaw.
Takahiro is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Takahiro fails in his attempt to clinch.

Pugsley closes the distance and clinches.
Takahiro misses with an elbow strike.
A frustrated look appears on Pugsley's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pugsley avoids a wild elbow strike from Takahiro.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Takahiro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pugsley tries to clinch but Takahiro is having none of it.
Takahiro throws a big counter combination but Pugsley scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Pugsley tries to clinch up.
Takahiro thuds a left hand into Pugsley's body.
Pugsley takes one on the button.
Takahiro avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Takahiro moves into the clinch.
Pugsley goes for a takedown in the clinch but Takahiro prevents it.
Yasuda Takahiro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arthur Pugsley.
Takahiro looks to throw an elbow but misses.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yasuda Takahiro dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Arthur Pugsley's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Takahiro lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Nice takedown defense from Takahiro. No joy for Pugsley on that attempt.

Pugsley drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Takahiro will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Pugsley slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Pugsley won't allow Takahiro to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pugsley looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takahiro wants to stand but Pugsley is controlling the position.
Pugsley controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahiro is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Pugsley advances position into side control!
Pugsley controlling the position from side mount.
Takahiro tries to escape but Pugsley is in control.
Takahiro is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pugsley can do to turn this around?

That's two 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.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Pugsley tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Takahiro paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Pugsley has Takahiro up against the cage in a clinch.
Yasuda Takahiro has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Takahiro missing with knees to the body.
Takahiro can't find room to land a body shot as Pugsley controls the action.
Takahiro working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Pugsley controlling the action here for a moment.
Still in the clinch, Takahiro scores with a nice short uppercut.
Takahiro is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Pugsley goes for a takedown in the clinch but Takahiro prevents it.
Pugsley can't get the takedown.
Yasuda Takahiro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arthur Pugsley.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahiro lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pugsley backwards.
Takahiro just leaning against Pugsley, taking a breather.
Pugsley is looking to control Takahiro's arms but Takahiro gets an underhook and turns him. Now Pugsley has his back to the cage.

Pugsley gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Takahiro tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Pugsley manages to move to mount!

Pugsley with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Pugsley working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Takahiro is trying to stand.
Pugsley content just to control the position here.
Pugsley looking to control but Takahiro is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You get the feeling that Takahiro really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Pugsley tries to control but Takahiro wriggling away.
Pugsley controlling the pace for now.
Pugsley is continuing to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Takahiro wants to get back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Pugsley showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Arthur Pugsley's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Takahiro tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pugsley paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Pugsley looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Takahiro!
Takahiro wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Takahiro tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Pugsley fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takahiro'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.
Takahiro is trying to stand but he's just given Pugsley his back.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Pugsley's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Takahiro trying to get back to his feet but Pugsley is in full control for now.
Takahiro is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Pugsley.
Takahiro is trying to stand back up.

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.
Pugsley controlling from the back.

Pugsley looking for the choke from the back.
Takahiro trying to get back to his feet but Pugsley is in full control for now.
Takahiro looking very determined here, making life difficult for Pugsley.
Takahiro is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pugsley throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Pugsley has good solid back control here.

Pugsley is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Pugsley is punishing Takahiro with some ground and pound.
A lull in the action here.
Pugsley trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Takahiro doesn't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Will Pugsley go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Pugsley controls the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Takahiro is trying to stand back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arthur Pugsley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pugsley 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arthur Pugsley!