PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Masato Takaya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Backslide (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Backslide has chosen The Dover Boys as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Takaya
vs
Backslide

162 cm
25
145 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

174 cm
20
145 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

TAKEDOWN ©

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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Masato Takaya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dan Backslide!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Ren Mimura and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takaya is looking to land body kicks.
Backslide swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Takaya tries to clinch but Backslide moves out of range.
Takaya pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Backslide misses with a wild combination.
Backslide misses with a jab, cross combination.
Takaya tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Backslide swivels and escapes.
Backslide moves out of range of the leg kick from Takaya.
Takaya slips a jab and a cross from Backslide.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Takaya.
Takaya fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Backslide checks it well.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Backslide.
Backslide misses with a wild combination.

Takaya darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Takaya controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takaya not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Takaya is trying to control the action in half guard but Backslide is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Backslide looks like he's trying to stand up.
Backslide blocking the ground and pound attempt from Takaya.
Backslide looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Takaya trying to mount his opponent but Backslide defends it.
Takaya is looking to take a break and control but Backslide is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Backslide misses with a few strikes there.
Takaya throws a head kick that misses.
Nice body kick there by Takaya.
Backslide looks gassed!
Takaya misses with a low kick as Backslide jumps back.
Takaya is looking to clinch but Backslide is avoiding it.
Takaya lands a high kick!

It looks like Dan Backslide has been cut.
Backslide misses with the combination.
A punch combination from Backslide misses.
Dan Backslide is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Backslide throws a nice looking combination but Takaya bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Takaya tries to clinch up but Backslide circles away and keeps his distance.
Takaya does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Takaya fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Takaya clinches up against the ropes.
Takaya is struggling to control the position.

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

Takaya closes the distance and clinches.
Takaya creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Nice body punch from Takaya.
Backslide blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Takaya.
Takaya misses with the head strike.
Takaya lands with a light punch inside.
Takaya tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Takaya lands with a right to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takaya throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Backslide blocks it with crossed arms.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Takaya throws an elbow but misses.
Takaya throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Backslides head.
Takaya prevents Backslide from breaking the clinch.
Takaya stalling in the clinch.
Takaya lands a right hand that snaps the head of Backslide backwards.
Takaya misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Backslide.
Backslide blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Backslide breaks from the clinch.
Backslide swinging wilding here.
Backslide misses with a two punch combination.
Backslide throws a series of punches but Takaya avoids them all with ease.
Backslide looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Takaya throws a head kick that half lands.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Takaya throws a nice inside leg kick.
Backslide bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Takaya's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masato Takaya dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dan Backslide'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.

Takaya shoots in for a double leg but Backslide sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Takaya moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Backslide blocks a head kick by Takaya.
Backslide goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Takaya buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Takaya slips a jab and a cross from Backslide.
Backslide throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A nice leg kick lands there from Takaya.
Takaya lands with a thumping leg kick.
Takaya tries to work over Backslide's front leg with a kick but Backslide checks it.
Backslide fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Takaya tries to clinch but Backslide moves out of range.
Takaya throws a leg kick which misses Backslide's front leg but catches the back leg as Backslide tries to avoid it.
Backslide checks a leg kick.
Takaya throws a head kick that misses.
Masato Takaya is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Some bone on bone action there as Backslide checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Decent striking displayed by Backslide there.
Backslide tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Backslide misses with a head kick.
Takaya tries to clinch there but Backslide circles away.
Takaya shoots in but no luck this time.
A left and a right from Backslide both land. Nice combination.
Backslide throws a head kick but Takaya moves out of range.
Takaya throws a quick inside leg kick.
Takaya misses with a kick to the body.
Takaya tries a head kick but it misses.
Backslide misses with a double jab.
Takaya attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Takaya is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Backslide.
Backslide is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Takaya walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Backslide checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Backslide throws a head kick but Takaya moves out of range.
Takaya scores with a push kick.
Backslide checks a leg kick nicely.
Backslide misses with a double jab.
Backslide misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Takaya fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Backslide.
Backslide avoids the head kick by Takaya.
Takaya wants to clinch up but Backslide keeps it at a distance.
Takaya slips a jab and a cross from Backslide.
Backslide swinging wilding here.
Takaya shoots for a takedown but Backslide saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Masato Takaya. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Backslide tries to close the distance and clinch up but Takaya swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Takaya connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Backslide's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Backslide circles away from the clinch attempt.
Masato Takaya is winning the standup battle so far.
Backslide looks to land a combination. Takaya sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Backslide scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Takaya showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Backslide.
Backslide throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Takaya connects with a solid leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Backslide looks to land a combination but Takaya avoids it well.
Backslide misses with a few strikes there.
Takaya buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Takaya wants to slow Backslide down by chopping away at his legs.
Takaya looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Takaya tries to clinch up but Backslide circles away and keeps his distance.
Takaya throws a head kick that Backslide semi-blocks.
Takaya throws a push kick but Backslide slaps the foot to one side.
Backslide misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Takaya wants to clinch.
Backslide lunges at Takaya with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Takaya's hand.
Takaya shoots in but Backslide avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A head kick misses from Backslide.
Backslide misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Backslide misses with a series of wild punches.
Takaya throws a head kick that misses
and Backslide counters with a series of strikes. Takaya will be more careful next time no doubt.
Backslide scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
The fight stays on the outside here - Takaya looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Backslide avoids a punch combination nicely.
Backslide lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Backslide throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Takaya.
Takaya tries a head kick but it misses.
Takaya takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Takaya misses the jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Takaya looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Backslide fails to land with a series of punches.
Takaya misses with a combination
and Backslide counters with a stiff right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Masato Takaya will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dan Backslide's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A left and a right from Backslide both land. Nice combination.
Backslide checks a low kick from Takaya.
Takaya scoring well with a low kick there.
Backslide stalks Takaya and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Takaya's face. Takaya staggers backwards, shaken.
Takaya thows a leg kick but Backslide checks it

and Backslide counters by moving into the clinch.
Backslide is trying to maintain a safe position but Takaya gets an underhook and turns Backslide into the ropes.
Still in the clinch, Backslide scores with a nice short uppercut.
Takaya tries to throw a body punch but Backslide avoids it by throwing Takaya back against the cage.
Takaya doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Backslide.
Backslide content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Takaya taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Takaya gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Backslide blocking some punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Takaya looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Takaya misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Backslide.
Backslide leaning his opponent against the ropes.
Backslide avoiding damage as Takaya throws knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Backslide as Takaya tries to tie him up.
Takaya doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Takaya tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Takaya can't find room to land a body shot as Backslide controls the action.
Takaya misses with a punch on the inside.
Backslide lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Takaya tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Backslide's elbow.
Takaya taking a breather.
Backslide lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Takaya or not.
Backslide blocks the elbow strike.

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.

Backslide breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Backslide falls off balance throwing a combination

and Takaya counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Takaya tries to stall but Backslide uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Backslide manages to break the clinch.
Backslide throws a right hand that Takaya ducks under and follows up with a left that Takaya also avoids with ease.
Takaya tries to close the distance and clinch up but Backslide swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Backslide fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Backslide swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Backslide works over Takaya's head and body with a nice combination.
Backslide pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Backslide circles away from the clinch attempt.
Takaya throws a series of strikes that have Backslide backpedaling.
Backslide throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Takaya is looking to slow Backslide down with leg kicks.
Backslide scores with a three punch combo!
Takaya turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Dan Backslide has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takaya gets the takedown into side control.
Takaya wants to lay and pray for a moment but Backslide keeps working.
Takaya throws an elbow but Backslide slips to the side and avoids it well.
Takaya 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.
Takaya throwing strikes but Backslide manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

Backslide decides to stand up, so the ref orders Takaya to his feet.
Backslide misses with a combination
and Takaya counters with a nice leg kick.
A left and a right from Backslide both land. Nice combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takaya is looking to land body kicks.
Takaya throws a front kick that sends Backslide stumbling back into the ropes.
Backslide stuffs the takedown.
Takaya tries a head kick but it misses.
Backslide throws a right and a left that Takaya avoids nicely.
Takaya chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Backslide throws a series of punches but Takaya moves out of range.
Takaya lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Takaya tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Backslide is able to avoid easily.
Takaya slips a jab and a cross from Backslide.
Backslide swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Takaya counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Backslide throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Takaya lands with a thumping leg kick.
Backslide throws a right and a left that Takaya avoids nicely.
Takaya pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Masato Takaya is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Takaya showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Backslide.
Takaya tries to clinch there but Backslide circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Masato Takaya showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Takaya has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Masato Takaya!