PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Henrik Stahl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshihiro Takaya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stahl's entrance music is 'Return to Jericho' by Asian Dub Foundation. A fine choice. Takaya comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Jimi Hendrix - All along the Watchtower kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! This should be fireworks!

Stahl
vs
Takaya

179 cm
25
155 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

171 cm
23
152 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Henrik Stahl!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yoshihiro Takaya!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Valeri Chadov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stahl uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Takaya.
Takaya looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Stahl is fending him off so far but Takaya persists. Nope, Stahl circles away and we're back to standing.
Stahl stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Takaya throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A telegraphed right hand from Stahl misses the target.
Takaya looks to score with a jab to the body but Stahl is just out of range.
Takaya displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stahl throws out the jab.
Stahl slips under a jab.

Takaya closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Stahl wants to improve his position but Takaya is controlling well.
Takaya wants to take a breather but Stahl is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takaya trying to mount his opponent but Stahl defends it.
Takaya is taking a breather. Stahl 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.
Takaya thows a huge punch but Stahl dodges it nicely.
Stahl keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Takaya controlling the action here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stahl fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Takaya looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Henrik Stahl is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

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.
Takaya throws a series of punches but Stahl moves out of range.
Takaya swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Stahl to counter with a crisp jab.
Stahl takes a swing at Takaya's ribcage but misses.
Stahl avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Stahl throws a lazy right hand but Takaya sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Takaya throws a body punch but Stahl moves out of range.
Takaya lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Stahl at a distance.
Takaya closes the distance and clinches up with Stahl, looking for a takedown. Takaya pushes Stahl against the cage but Stahl circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Takaya lands a two punch combo.
Stahl lands with a nice body punch.
Stahl throws a combination that misses
and Takaya counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takaya swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Takaya fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stahl manages to avoid it.
Takaya misses with a double jab
and Stahl makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Takaya fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Henrik Stahl has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoshihiro Takaya.
Takaya bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Stahl's head.
Takaya takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A telegraphed right hand from Stahl misses the target.
Stahl swings away with a body shot that misses
and Takaya makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Takaya swinging wildly here.
Takaya swings away with a body shot that misses
and Stahl connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stahl drops his hands momentarily and Takaya takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Stahl cracks Takaya with a good jab.
Stahl misses with a body shot
and Takaya cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jab by Stahl.
Takaya ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Takaya misses with a takedown
and Stahl cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takaya just misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stahl bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Takaya's head backwards.
Stahl punishes Takaya's body with a nice straight punch.
Takaya looks gassed!
Stahl misses with a two punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henrik Stahl dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Takaya misses with an uppercut.
Takaya fails with a takedown attempt.
Stahl throws a shot from downtown. Takaya moves away and avoids it.
Takaya swings for the body but Stahl moves out of range.
Takaya blocks a jab.
Takaya dives in and grabs Stahl's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stahl pushes down on Takaya's head and hops out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takaya falls off balance throwing a combination
and Stahl counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Stahl defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Takaya.
Henrik Stahl has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoshihiro Takaya.
Takaya swings for the body but Stahl moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takaya displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stahl throws out the jab.
Stahl ducks under a wild hook from Takaya.
Stahl uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Takaya has time to react.
Stahl moves out of range of the strikes.
Takaya uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stahl.
Takaya misses with a body punch
and Stahl counters with a nice body shot.
Takaya shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stahl but Stahl pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Takaya is breathing heavily.
Takaya fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Stahl avoids it really well and circles away.
Takaya waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Stahl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stahl fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Stahl ducks under a wild hook from Takaya.
A slow jab from Takaya misses its intended target.
The fighters circling - Stahl throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Takaya shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Stahl is trying to defend but Takaya finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Stahl is trying to maintain the position but Takaya is very close to passing his half guard.
Stahl gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takaya pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stahl is keeping the position for now.
Takaya postures up.
Stahl utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stahl wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Takaya trying to control but Stahl is working from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Takaya with a flurry of punches that miss.
Takaya trying to control the position from guard on top but Stahl is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Stahl fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Takaya misses with a double jab
and Takaya takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Takaya misses with an uppercut.
Stahl gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Takaya.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henrik Stahl dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Stahl scores with a one two! Takaya had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Nice sprawl there from Stahl as Takaya shoots in.
Stahl lands with a nice combination. Takaya backs away looking to recover.
Takaya's corner calls for a 1-2. Takaya obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Takaya takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Stahl waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Takaya.
Stahl throws a series of strikes that have Takaya backpedaling.
Stahl connects with a body shot.
Stahl keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Takaya swinging wildly here.
Takaya loads up on a big right hand but Stahl slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stahl lands a nice shot to the body.
Takaya looks to land a left hand but Stahl moved out of range nicely.

Takaya gets the takedown into side control.
Takaya with the ground and pound but Stahl regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Takaya is pressing down on Stahl's thigh, looking to free his foot. Stahl is holding on for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Takaya with the ground and pound but Stahl uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takaya loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Takaya controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Takaya wants to control from the top but Stahl keeps moving.
Stahl wants to sweep here but Takaya controlling him for the moment.
Stahl trying to keep a closed guard but Takaya is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A punch lands to the side of Takaya 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stahl tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Takaya was well out of range. Poor timing from Stahl.
Stahl tries to bum rush Takaya with a series of wild strikes but Takaya uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Takaya misses with a looping right.
Takaya lands a nice looking body shot.
Stahl misses with a wild body shot.
Takaya slips a jab from Stahl.
Takaya connects with a looping right hand.
Yoshihiro Takaya has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Takaya misses with a body shot
and Stahl counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Stahl misses with a hook to the body

and Takaya counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stahl trying to control but Takaya postures up.
Takaya tries to pass the half guard into mount. Stahl knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Henrik Stahl is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Takaya is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Takaya takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Takaya working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Stahl's thigh. Stahl counters though and makes it back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Yoshihiro Takaya.
I think Stahl has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henrik Stahl!