PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jay ar Ginebra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshi Takahoshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yoshi Takahoshi will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

ar Ginebra
vs
Takahoshi

180 cm
20
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
21
170 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good elbows
Solid chin

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 Tokyo, Jay ar Ginebra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshi Takahoshi!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ginebra tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Ginebra drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Takahoshi is letting Ginebra control him for a moment.
Ginebra is putting a hurting on Takahoshi here, landing some big shots from side control.
Ginebra taking a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Jay ar Ginebra just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Ginebra misses with a takedown attempt - Takahoshi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Ginebra fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Takahoshi sprawls well initially but Ginebra persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ginebra is taking a breather. Takahoshi says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ginebra is looking to advance position but Takahoshi won't allow it.
Takahoshi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ginebra slows the pace down in half guard.
Takahoshi looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ginebra seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Takahoshi for as long as he can get away with.
Takahoshi should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Ginebra has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Jay ar Ginebra just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Ginebra ducks right into an uppercut from Takahoshi.
Some wild striking there from Takahoshi.
Takahoshi leaves Ginebra with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ginebra has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jay ar Ginebra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ginebra misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Ginebra drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay ar Ginebra dominated that round.
That's time! Ginebra's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Takahoshi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ginebra is fending him off so far but Takahoshi persists. Nope, Ginebra circles away and we're back to standing.
Ginebra fails with the takedown

and Takahoshi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Takahoshi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ginebra bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Takahoshi's guard.
Ginebra controlling from the top position.
Ginebra is pushing down on Takahoshi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Takahoshi is fighting to maintain full guard but Ginebra has managed to sneak the leg through.
Ginebra sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ginebra'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.
Ginebra not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Still in half guard, Ginebra seems content to control.
Takahoshi tries to kick Ginebra off in order to stand up. Ginebra Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Ginebra controls the position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Jay ar Ginebra just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Ginebra with a lazy takedown attempt
and Takahoshi counters with a series of strikes. Ginebra will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ginebra doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Takahoshi counters with a two punch combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jay ar Ginebra. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ginebra closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Takahoshi did well to prevent Ginebra getting side control.
Takahoshi wants to control but Ginebra is keeping busy.
Jay ar Ginebra overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ginebra not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ginebra is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ginebra seems to be looking for submissions.
Takahoshi flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Ginebra wants to pass the guard but Takahoshi is defending well.
Ginebra seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay ar Ginebra dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Takahoshi connects with a solid leg kick.

Ginebra shoots in and bounces Takahoshi off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Ginebra content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ginebra forces his way into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ginebra is controlling the pace.
Ginebra wants to pass to mount but Takahoshi is defending the position.

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.
Takahoshi wants to get back to his feet.
Still in half guard, Ginebra seems content to control.
Ginebra thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Takahoshi's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ginebra controlling the action here.
Takahoshi wants to get back to his feet.
Ginebra seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ginebra uses his free foot to push down on Takahoshi's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Takahoshi.
Ginebra takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Jay ar Ginebra just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Ginebra shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Takahoshi moves into the clinch.
Jay ar Ginebra is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Takahoshi can't break the clinch.
Ginebra gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Ginebra tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Takahoshi just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ginebra is trying to drag Takahoshi to the mat but Takahoshi just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jay ar Ginebra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ginebra wants a takedown but no success here.

Takahoshi breaks the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Takahoshi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ginebra shoots in but no luck this time.
Yoshi Takahoshi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jay ar Ginebra is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Takahoshi takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jay ar Ginebra showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ginebra, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jay ar Ginebra!