PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yoshihiro Takaya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mini Bard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takaya's entrance music is Jimi Hendrix - All along the Watchtower. A fine choice. Bard has chosen It's Catching Up (NoMeansNo) as his entrance music. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Takaya
vs
Bard

171 cm
23
152 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

178 cm
23
158 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

Conviction

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 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yoshihiro Takaya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mini Bard!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Ivan Kurochkin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bard swinging wildly here.
Bard throws out a loose jab but Takaya uses good head movement to avoid it.

A big head kick from Bard and Takaya is sent sprawling to the canvas!

Takaya is rocked!

It looks like Yoshihiro Takaya has been cut.
Takaya is trying to keep Bard in close.
Oh Takaya is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Bard drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bard jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Takaya seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Takaya seems to have got his legs back now.
Bard wants to stand but Takaya has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bard won't allow Takaya to sweep him here.
Bard tries to free his leg and advance position but Takaya is retaining full guard.
Takaya bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bard's guard.
Bard can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Takaya controls the pace.
Bard wants to stand and escape but Takaya is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takaya is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Takaya accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Takaya prevents Bard from getting back to his feet.
Takaya is stalling in the full guard.
Bard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Takaya postures up in Bard's guard and throws a big left but Bard blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Takaya throws a big right hand that misses.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bard lands with a slapping head kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Bard misses the target.
Takaya dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Bard looks gassed!

Takaya drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Takaya trying to control the position but Bard is working away.

Takaya tries for a kimura but Bard is defending well.
Takaya trying to control the action but Bard is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Takaya.
Bard dodges the ground and pound from Takaya.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Bard is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Takaya is looking to take a break and control but Bard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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.
Takaya cracks Bard with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Check out the look on Takaya's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Takaya in side control lands a decent elbow.
Takaya misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Takaya creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Bard sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Bard wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Bard is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshihiro Takaya dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Yoshihiro Takaya's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bard jabs at Takaya's body.
Takaya blocks a head kick by Bard.
Bard has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Bard there as he acknowledges the shot.

It looks like Mini Bard has been cut.
Takaya keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Bard is rocked!
Bard seems to be squinting his left eye. Perhaps he got a poke in that previous exchange. Takaya shows no mercy and swarms him with a barage of strikes! Bard is backing up but Takaya catches him with a final right hook that drops him! Bard covers up and the referee steps in to end the fight! Takaya Jumps to his feet and flashes his guns to the crowd. Oh yeah, baby! How'd you like them apples?!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Yoshihiro Takaya!