PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Corey Bigs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinya Takata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bigs comes into the arena with Danko Jones - Lovercall blaring out of the sound system. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Bigs
vs
Takata

165 cm
28
143 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

170 cm
26
143 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

MADE IN GERMANY

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Corey Bigs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Shinya Takata!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Thiago Cunha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bigs tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Takata swivels and escapes.
Takata throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bigs sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bigs shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Takata misses with an uppercut.
Takata waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bigs.
Takata throws a series of punches but Bigs moves out of range.
Shinya Takata seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bigs lands a head kick. Takata smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Takata lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Corey Bigs has been cut.

Bigs scores with a takedown into Takata's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Bigs trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Takata manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Takata thows a big elbow that misses.
Bigs manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Takata manages to get himself to full guard.
Takata wants to sweep but no luck.
Takata wants to stand but Bigs is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bigs postures up in Takata's guard and throws a big left but Takata blocks it.
Takata looking for a sweep. Not yet Takata, not yet.

Takata has his feet on Bigs's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Bigs misses with a takedown attempt - Takata sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Corey Bigs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Bigs. No joy for Takata on that attempt.
Donk. Takata catches Bigs right on the button with a cross.
Takata shoots and misses

and Bigs counters with a single leg into guard. Takata didn't expect that.
Takata seems keen to control Bigs's posture.
Bigs controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Bigs is looking to stand up but Takata won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bigs trying to control the position from guard on top but Takata is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bigs scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Bigs with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bigs trying to control but Takata is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takata wants to sweep here but Bigs controlling him for the moment.
Bigs trying to control but Takata is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bigs fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Takata misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bigs.
Bigs tries for a takedown but Takata sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bigs will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bigs is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takata bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Bigs gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Bigs fails with a takedown attempt.
Takata lands the left hand.
Nice uppercut there from Takata.
Bigs slips a jab from Takata.
Bigs is trying hard to land a takedown here. Takata sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Takata throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Takata looks to land a left hand but Bigs moved out of range nicely.

Bigs drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Takata can do anything to dispel that myth.
Takata is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bigs is controlling him.
Takata pulls Bigs in close to prevent any damage.
Bigs postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Takata wants to stand but Bigs is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takata looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bigs is one step ahead there.
Bigs is fighting to break Takata's control of his arms but Takata is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Takata manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Bigs has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Takata looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Takata looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takata punching from mount but Bigs doing a good job of avoiding damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shinya Takata will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Corey Bigs's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Takata lands an overhand right.
Takata leaves Bigs with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Takata displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bigs.
Takata jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Takata swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bigs slips under a jab.
Nice takedown defense from Takata. No joy for Bigs on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Corey Bigs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A big left from Takata misses.
Bigs takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Takata cracks a nice hook into Bigs's ribs.
Takata misses with a leg kick

and Bigs counters with a single leg into guard. Takata didn't expect that.
Bigs postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bigs wants to pass the guard but Takata is keeping the position.
Bigs chips away with some ground and pound.
Takata wants to stand but Bigs is controlling the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bigs stopping the sweep attempt from Takata.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bigs wants to control from the top but Takata keeps moving.
Takata wants to stand up but Bigs is controlling him.
Takata wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bigs moves out of range of the strikes.
Takata lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Bigs is trying hard to land a takedown here. Takata sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Takata pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Takata throws a looping overhand right but Bigs ducks down to avoid it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Takata.

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.
Takata jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Bigs shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Takata as he jumps to the side.
Takata misses with a takedown attempt

and Bigs counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Takata wants to stand up but Bigs is controlling him.
Bigs slips nicely into half guard.
Bigs sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Takata defending well though.
Bigs looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Bigs stops Takata from getting back to his feet.
Bigs throwing shots but Takata is blocking nicely.
Bigs frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Takata is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Corey Bigs overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bigs dominating with strikes here.
Bigs working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Bigs misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Takata wants to try and get back to his feet.
Bigs with the ground and pound from mount.
Bigs trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Takata really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bigs. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bigs breaks from Takata's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The referee warns Takata that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Bigs jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Takata manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Takata tries to escape but Bigs is in control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bigs working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Takata is trying to control Bigs's posture but Bigs avoids it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Takata wants to get back to his feet but Bigs drags him back down.
Bigs working the head with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Corey Bigs dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Corey Bigs's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. 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.

Takata fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Bigs checks it well.
Takata has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Bigs tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Takata swivels and escapes.
Takata looks to throw the jab but Bigs is out of range.

Bigs scores a takedown into full mount!
Bigs trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Bigs thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Takata is trying to escape the mount.
Bigs throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bigs throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Takata is trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takata tries to lock up and control but Bigs gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bigs has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Takata's face.
Takata really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Bigs throwing strikes here but Takata is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Takata is trying desperately to improve position.
Takata is in a horrible position here. Bigs smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Bigs punishing his opponent with strikes.
Takata is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Bigs is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Bigs connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Bigs raining down shots from the mount!
Takata is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Takata is desperately trying to improve his position but Bigs has a good base and remains in mount.
Bigs is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Bigs takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Bigs lands a big elbow.
Bigs looking to control but Takata is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Poor strikes thrown by Bigs there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bigs punching from mount but Takata doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Bigs scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Takata?
Takata is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Bigs thowing shots but they're missing.
Bigs looking to ground and pound but Takata is blocking nicely.
Takata is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Takata tries to hold on but Bigs pushes him away.
Takata taking shots to the head.
Bigs avoids the attempt from Takata to control.
Bigs trying to control but Takata is having none of it.

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.
Takata trying desperately to get to his feet.
Bigs with a couple of short strikes.
Bigs thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Takata tries to hold on but Bigs pushes him away.
Takata is in a horrible position here. Bigs smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Bigs working for a submission but Takata is keeping him at bay.
Takata is trying to escape the mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Corey Bigs showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bigs 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Corey Bigs!