PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Rodrigues (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazuya Takahashi (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.

Rodrigues
vs
Takahashi

180 cm
18
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Rodrigues!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kazuya Takahashi!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Daniel Cesar and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodrigues fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice sprawl there from Takahashi as Rodrigues shoots in.
Takahashi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rodrigues.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Rodrigues. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Rodrigues with that takedown attempt.
Rodrigues shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Takahashi as he avoids it easily.
Takahashi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rodrigues.
Takahashi throws the kick towards the body but Rodrigues avoids it.
Rodrigues takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Takahashi moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Rodrigues changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Takahashi tries to avoid it but Rodrigues manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Takahashi to the ground. Takahashi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rodrigues misses with a takedown attempt - Takahashi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Takahashi throws a leg kick which misses Rodrigues's front leg but catches the back leg as Rodrigues tries to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rodrigues takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Takahashi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Takahashi.
Takahashi throws a head kick that misses.
Rodrigues uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Takahashi.
Takahashi lands a high kick!
A nice leg kick lands there from Takahashi.
Rodrigues takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Takahashi chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Takahashi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Takahashi throws a front kick that sends Rodrigues stumbling back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rodrigues is defended easily by Takahashi.
Rodrigues checks a leg kick.
Takahashi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Takahashi thows a body shot but no joy.
Rodrigues shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Takahashi as he jumps to the side.
Rodrigues shoots in for a takedown but Takahashi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Takahashi throws a nice head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues closes the distance and clinches up with Takahashi, looking for a takedown. Rodrigues pushes Takahashi against the cage but Takahashi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Takahashi thumps Rodrigues with a low kick.
Takahashi throws a head kick but Rodrigues moves out of range.
Rodrigues avoids a kick to the body.
Rodrigues fails with a takedown attempt.
Takahashi scores with a spinning back kick!
Rodrigues fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rodrigues fails with the takedown.
Rodrigues is breathing heavily.
Takahashi misses with a body kick.

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.
A head kick misses from Takahashi.
Takahashi lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Takahashi feints and then cracks Rodrigues's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rodrigues down.
A solid leg kick lands there for Takahashi.
Takahashi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Takahashi throws a head kick that Rodrigues semi-blocks.
Takahashi is looking to slow Rodrigues down with leg kicks.
Takahashi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice body kick from Takahashi.
Rodrigues moves out of range as Takahashi strikes.
Rodrigues misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Takahashi tries a head kick but it misses.
Rodrigues fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Takahashi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rodrigues shoots for a double leg takedown but Takahashi sprawls well. He's pushed Rodrigues's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rodrigues changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Takahashi tries to avoid it but Rodrigues manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Takahashi to the ground. Takahashi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Rodrigues. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Takahashi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takahashi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rodrigues blocks a head kick by Takahashi.
Rodrigues fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gabriel Rodrigues is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rodrigues has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kazuya Takahashi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Takahashi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Takahashi lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Rodrigues fails with a takedown attempt.
Takahashi throws a head kick but Rodrigues moves out of range.
Rodrigues shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Takahashi but Takahashi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Takahashi misses with a body kick.

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.
Rodrigues shoots in and drives through. Takahashi sprawls well.
Rodrigues shoots in but Takahashi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Takahashi slaps away a takedown attempt from Rodrigues, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Takahashi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rodrigues shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Takahashi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Takahashi thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Rodrigues if he has to take too many more of those.
No luck for Rodrigues with that takedown attempt.
Rodrigues blocks a head kick by Takahashi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rodrigues takes a kick to the side of the head.
Rodrigues will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Takahashi lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rodrigues's sensitive parts.
Takahashi feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rodrigues's calf.
Rodrigues tries to score a power double leg takedown but Takahashi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rodrigues somewhat.
A jab from Takahashi misses.
Takahashi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Takahashi.

That's four 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.
Rodrigues fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Takahashi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues tries to score a power double leg takedown but Takahashi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rodrigues somewhat.
Rodrigues shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Takahashi defends it nicely.
Good leg kick by Takahashi there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A slapping leg kick lands for Takahashi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuya Takahashi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Takahashi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rodrigues is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Takahashi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Takahashi goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Rodrigues fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Takahashi throws a leg kick which misses Rodrigues's front leg but catches the back leg as Rodrigues tries to avoid it.
Rodrigues ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Good leg kick by Takahashi there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Takahashi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rodrigues.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Rodrigues. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Takahashi stuffs the takedown attempt from Rodrigues. Rodrigues gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Takahashi throws a hook but Rodrigues blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi misses with a head kick.
Takahashi misses with a body kick.
Takahashi misses with a head kick.
Takahashi attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Rodrigues closes the distance and clinches up with Takahashi, looking for a takedown. Rodrigues pushes Takahashi against the cage but Takahashi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rodrigues sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Rodrigues bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rodrigues chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Takahashi can pounce on him.
Kazuya Takahashi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Takahashi connects with a solid leg kick.
Takahashi lands with a kick to the temple. Rodrigues shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

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.
Rodrigues throws a leg kick
and Takahashi counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Takahashi thuds his shin into the meat of Rodrigues's side.
Rodrigues 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 Rodrigues off to one side.
Takahashi is looking to slow Rodrigues down with leg kicks.
Takahashi misses with a leg kick.
Rodrigues misses with a takedown attempt
and Takahashi counters with a nice body kick.
Takahashi goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Takahashi thumps Rodrigues with a low kick.
Rodrigues shoots in and drives through. Takahashi sprawls well.
Takahashi scores with a nice body kick.
Rodrigues is trying hard to land a takedown here. Takahashi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kazuya Takahashi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Takahashi bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Rodrigues might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Rodrigues takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Takahashi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Takahashi scoring well with a low kick there.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Takahashi, right into the meat.
Rodrigues shoots and misses
and Takahashi counters with a leg kick.
Takahashi scores with a nice body kick.
Takahashi throws a head kick that half lands.
Takahashi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Takahashi wants it to stay on the feet.
Takahashi misses the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Takahashi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Takahashi lands a nice looking body kick.
Takahashi throws a front kick that sends Rodrigues stumbling back into the cage.
Rodrigues misses with a takedown
and Takahashi counters with a nice body kick.
Takahashi throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Takahashi, right into the meat.
Rodrigues has his takedown stuffed
and Takahashi counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rodrigues's knee momentarily.
Gabriel Rodrigues has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Takahashi lands with a slapping head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazuya Takahashi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Takahashi has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazuya Takahashi!