PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Toma Takahara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harrison Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barnes is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Game-360 Bars. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Takahara
vs
Barnes

200 cm
21
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
195 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Firebird Designs
Firebird Designs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Toma Takahara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Harrison Barnes!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Alyssa Summers and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takahara tries to clinch there but Barnes circles away.

Takahara has taken the fight to the clinch.
Takahara lands a body punch.
Barnes misses with an elbow strike.
Barnes stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Takahara really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Barnes managing to block the knees to the body from Takahara.

Barnes jumps into guard, dragging Takahara to the mat.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Barnes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Takahara is one step ahead there.
Takahara slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Toma Takahara.
Barnes thows a body kick. Takahara tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Toma Takahara is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barnes walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Takahara lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Takahara gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Takahara throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Barnes stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Barnes misses with an uppercut.
Barnes blocks a low kick nicely.
Toma Takahara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barnes throws a head kick that misses.
Takahara swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Barnes delivers a nice body kick.
Barnes keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Takahara closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takahara keeps control of Barnes as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Takahara with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes tries to circle away but Takahara has him pinned against the cage.
Barnes misses with a hook from the clinch.

Barnes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A nice inside leg kick there by Barnes. That's going to slow Takahara down.
Good work by Takahara as he checks the leg kick.
Takahara throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Barnes's head.
Takahara lands with a right hand.
Takahara looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Barnes.
Takahara throws a leg kick that misses.
Takahara throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Takahara tried to score with a low kick but Barnes checks it.

Takahara forces Barnes back against the cage and clinches.
Takahara lands a right hand.
Barnes tries to work over Takahara's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes leaning his opponent against the cage.
Takahara misses with a punch to the body.
Barnes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Barnes manages to break the clinch.
Barnes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Takahara looks for the body kick but Barnes saw that one coming.
Takahara throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Takahara cracks Barnes with a right hand to the side of the head.
Takahara lands a jab to Barnes's midsection.
Donk. Takahara catches Barnes right on the button with a cross.
Takahara throws a leg kick but Barnes moved away.
Barnes shoots in but no luck this time.
Takahara thuds his right hand into Barnes's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Barnes blocks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes takes a swing at Takahara's ribcage but misses.
Takahara tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Barnes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Takahara takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takahara slips a jab and a cross from Barnes.
Takahara misses with a leg kick
enabling Barnes to counter with a crisp jab.
Barnes avoids the head kick by Takahara.
Takahara misses with a jab to the body
and Barnes counters with a series of strikes. Takahara will be more careful next time no doubt.
Nice body punch from Takahara.
Barnes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Takahara scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Takahara is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Takahara misses with an uppercut.
Takahara throws out a leg kick but Barnes moves out of range and Takahara only half commits.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Takahara with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Barnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Takahara manages to avoid it.
Takahara throws a push kick but Barnes slaps the foot to one side.
Takahara waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Barnes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toma Takahara dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Thud! ouch! good body kick from Takahara - that will leave a mark!
Takahara lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Takahara misses the shot to the body.
Takahara catches Barnes with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Takahara walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Takahara blocks a low kick nicely.
A head kick by Takahara misses
and Barnes counters with a good low kick that Takahara was not able to check.
Takahara checks a low kick from Barnes.
Takahara throws a leg kick that is checked
and Barnes counters with a nice leg kick.
Takahara connects with a looping right hand.
Takahara lands a nice leg kick that just misses Barnes's sensitive parts.
Takahara connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Takahara tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barnes misses with a right hand
and Takahara counters with an inside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takahara is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Barnes throws a leg kick but Takahara sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes misses with a few strikes there.
Takahara misses with a body shot.
A swing and a miss from Barnes.
Takahara throws a low kick but Barnes avoids it.
Barnes throws a solid leg kick but Takahara takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Barnes.
Takahara dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Barnes. That did some damage!
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Jab by Takahara.
Takahara throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Barnes takes a swing at Takahara's ribcage but misses.
Takahara fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Nice uppercut lands for Takahara. That snapped Barnes's head back.
Barnes throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Takahara fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barnes missing with a left hand there. Takahara was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Takahara connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Takahara.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Takahara fails to land with a series of punches.
Takahara keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Barnes on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Nice straight punches there by Takahara. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Takahara.
Barnes walks forward, straight into a front kick from Takahara.
Takahara scores with a jab to the head.
Takahara tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barnes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barnes misses with a kick to the body.
Barnes chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Takahara can pounce on him.
Takahara takes a kick to the side of the head.
Takahara fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barnes on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Barnes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Takahara scores with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Takahara.
Takahara throws a sloppy head kick and Barnes moves out of range easily.
Barnes takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Takahara blocks a low kick nicely.
Toma Takahara is winning the standup battle so far.
Barnes tries to work over Takahara's front leg with a kick but Takahara checks it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Takahara looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
An inside leg kick lands from Takahara.
Good work by Barnes as he checks the leg kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Takahara, as that shot connected.
Barnes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Takahara sprawls well. Takahara wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Barnes gets slowly back to his feet.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Barnes, as that shot connected.
Takahara lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Takahara - just one landing.
Barnes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Takahara.
Takahara moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takahara moves in looking to clinch but Barnes pushes him off.
Takahara takes one on the button.
Barnes tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Takahara lands a front kick.
Takahara cracks Barnes with a right hand to the side of the head.
Takahara fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Takahara lands with a shot to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Takahara lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Takahara throws a body punch but Barnes moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Barnes.
Barnes gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Takahara counters with a nice low kick that buckles Barnes's knee momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toma Takahara dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Barnes takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Takahara dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Takahara tries to close the distance and clinch but Barnes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Takahara closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Barnes's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Barnes lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Takahara circles away quickly and effectively.
Takahara checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Takahara tries a head kick but it misses.
Takahara will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Barnes throws a leg kick but Takahara checks it.
Barnes pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Takahara does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Barnes tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Barnes scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Takahara chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Barnes can pounce on him.
Takahara just misses with a punch to the body.
Takahara ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barnes moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Takahara lands a leg kick that knocks Barnes off balance momentarily.
Barnes misses with a low kick as Takahara jumps back.

Barnes tries to keep at a distance but Takahara has taken the fight into the clinch.
Barnes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Barnes blocks the elbow strike.
Barnes lands a nice shot to the body.
Barnes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Barnes misses with a punch on the inside.
Takahara lands a hook to the side of the head.
Barnes is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Takahara gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Barnes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Barnes managing to block the knees to the body from Takahara.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is stalling here.
Barnes avoiding damage as Takahara throws knees to the body.
Barnes dodges an elbow strike from Takahara.
Takahara lands a knee to the head.
Harrison Barnes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Takahara misses with a body punch.
Barnes can't break the clinch.
Takahara makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takahara tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Barnes avoids it.
Takahara tries to land a knee to the head but Barnes blocks with his arms.
Takahara scores with a nice hook to the head.
Takahara working aggressively here.
A short right from Takahara on the inside.
Takahara trying to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes tries to pull guard but Takahara holds him up against the cage and eventually Barnes drops back down to his feet.
Takahara tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Barnes managing to block the knees to the body from Takahara.
Barnes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nice body punch from Barnes.
Barnes tries to break the clinch but Takahara is controlling the position.
Takahara trying to land knees to the body.
Barnes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Barnes tries to score a body lock takedown but Takahara shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Toma Takahara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harrison Barnes.
Takahara keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Barnes's efforts to push away.
Barnes has Takahara pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes can't get the takedown.
Barnes wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Takahara looking to throw knees to the head but Barnes is blocking nicely.
Takahara misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Barnes jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Takahara walks away with a smile on his face. Barnes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Barnes has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Takahara with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Takahara has taken the fight to the clinch.
Barnes misses with a punch on the inside.
Barnes blocks an elbow strike from Takahara.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Barnes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barnes misses with some punches.
Takahara creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Barnes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
Toma Takahara showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Takahara, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toma Takahara!