PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Takehiko Rokuro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takeshi Inoue (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takeshi Inoue struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 171.4lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rokuro
vs
Inoue

169 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
22
182 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takehiko Rokuro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takeshi Inoue!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Sosuke Kotani and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rokuro closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rokuro lands in his opponent's guard.

Rokuro avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Rokuro has gone for a leg lock! Inoue slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rokuro's guard.
Rokuro lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Inoue!
Inoue tries to lock up and control but Rokuro gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Rokuro working for a submission but Inoue is keeping him at bay.

Rokuro goes for an armbar but Inoue turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Inoue.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rokuro looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Inoue postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Rokuro working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Inoue has passed into half guard!
Rokuro is breathing heavily.
Inoue is thwarting Rokuro's attempts to control the position.

Rokuro looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Rokuro looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rokuro is not content to let Inoue control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rokuro manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rokuro escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Inoue gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Inoue loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rokuro looking to control.

Rokuro looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rokuro keeping full guard, as Inoue tries to pass.
Rokuro manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Inoue working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rokuro tries to control but Inoue wriggling away.
Rokuro controlling from the full mount.
Inoue is trying desperately to improve position.

Rokuro goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Inoue is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Inoue avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four 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.

Rokuro has his foot on Inoue's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Inoue works his way back into a safe position though.
Rokuro might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rokuro is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Inoue forces his way into half guard.
Inoue prevents Rokuro from improving his position.
Rokuro is working hard here to advance position.

Inoue seems to be looking for submissions.
Rokuro works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rokuro is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Inoue tries to roll over but Rokuro keeps him under control.

Rokuro seems to be looking for submissions.
Inoue trying to control but Rokuro postures up.

Rokuro is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Rokuro is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Inoue tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Rokuro has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Rokuro goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Inoue turns into him and now he's in Rokuro's guard.

Inoue drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Inoue jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Rokuro is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Inoue trying to control the position from guard on top but Rokuro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rokuro trying to keep a closed guard but Inoue is proving a slippery customer.

Inoue drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Inoue jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Rokuro looking for a guillotine here but Inoue defends easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Inoue accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rokuro trying to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rokuro takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Inoue fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rokuro tries a head kick but it misses.
Rokuro misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rokuro fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Inoue checks it well.
Inoue stuffs the takedown.
Inoue fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Rokuro tries to land a body kick

and Inoue counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rokuro!
Rokuro is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rokuro tries to control the position but Inoue now has his back.
Will Inoue go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Despite being in a bad position, Rokuro is controlling the hands, preventing any submission attempts.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rokuro looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Inoue tightening his grip on Rokuro, looking for the choke.
Rokuro tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Inoue looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Inoue thowing shots but they're missing.
Inoue wants to control the pace but Rokuro is squirming around nicely.
Rokuro keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rokuro looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Rokuro is in bad spot here.
Inoue is riding his opponent, not letting Rokuro buck him off.

Inoue looking to break Rokuro's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Rokuro remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Inoue will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Takeshi Inoue will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A punch combination from Inoue misses.
A head kick by Rokuro misses

and Inoue counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rokuro's guard now.

Rokuro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Inoue wants to control from the top but Rokuro keeps moving.
Inoue stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rokuro swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Inoue is working Rokuro over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Rokuro looking for a guillotine here but Inoue defends easily.
Rokuro could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Rokuro working a defensive guard here.
Inoue is breathing heavily.

Rokuro has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Inoue can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rokuro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Rokuro working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Inoue doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Inoue manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rokuro is trying to keep Inoue in close.

Rokuro is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Inoue rolls with it to try and escape but Rokuro cranks on the arm and Inoue is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Takehiko Rokuro!