PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kazuyuki Takimoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ian Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Takimoto might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Instrumental. The key to victory for Kazuyuki Takimoto has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Takimoto
vs
Phillips

175 cm
23
157 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

180 cm
22
158 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

ADCC Champion
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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kazuyuki Takimoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ian Phillips!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Mauricio Rocha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phillips misses with a hook. Takimoto ducked under it nicely.
Takimoto looks to land a left hand but Phillips moved out of range nicely.

Phillips shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Takimoto manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Takimoto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Phillips with a flurry of punches that miss.
Phillips trying to control but Takimoto is working from the bottom.
Phillips throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Phillips is looking to work some ground and pound but Takimoto has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Takimoto is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Phillips is aware though and is defending well.
Phillips loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Takimoto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Phillips postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Takimoto is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Phillips, into his guard.
Phillips looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Takimoto puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Takimoto is looking for a kimura but Phillips is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Takimoto to get the leverage.
Takimoto prevents Phillips from improving his position.
Phillips is trying to control but can't.

That's two 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.
Phillips has a hand on Takimoto's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Takimoto takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Phillips sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Phillips is defending against the submission attempts here by Takimoto.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Phillips trying to control from the bottom.
Phillips is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.
Takimoto prevents Phillips from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips trying to get back to full guard but Takimoto takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

Takimoto moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Phillips has worked his arm free - good work by Phillips!
Phillips is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Takimoto's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Phillips gets back to full guard.

Phillips isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Takimoto stacks Phillips on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Takimoto!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips looking for a sweep but Takimoto has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Phillips tries to reverse the position but Takimoto maintains control.
Phillips wants to control but Takimoto is having none of it.
Phillips tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Takimoto is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Phillips is surviving well by controlling Takimoto's body position as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ian Phillips will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Phillips avoids the body shot from Takimoto.
Phillips shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Takimoto as he jumps to the side.
Takimoto pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Phillips misses with the combination.
Phillips misses with a jab, cross combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The crowd cheers as Phillips lands an impressive looking overhand right. Takimoto doesn't seem phased though.
Phillips missing with a left hand there. Takimoto was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Phillips fails with a takedown attempt.
Takimoto misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Takimoto. No joy for Phillips on that attempt.
Kazuyuki Takimoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ian Phillips.
Phillips closes this distance looking for a takedown but Takimoto circles away.
Phillips is breathing heavily.
Phillips shoots in for a takedown but Takimoto shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Phillips scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Ian Phillips seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takimoto uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

It looks like Ian Phillips has been cut.
A jab from Takimoto misses.
Phillips misses with a body punch
and Takimoto counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The fighters circling - Phillips throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kazuyuki Takimoto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A big right from Takimoto misses.
Takimoto scores with a decent looking hook.
Takimoto throws a lazy right hand but Phillips sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Takimoto lands a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takimoto jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Phillips lands a head shot.
Takimoto slips under a jab.
Phillips throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Takimoto sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Takimoto takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Takimoto moves into range and connects with a jab.

Phillips is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Takimoto throws an uppercut from hell that sends Phillips clean off his feet! He's out cold! Takimoto stands back and admires his work as he thinks about that KO of the night award that is surely being wrapped up for him back stage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Kazuyuki Takimoto!