PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Akio Takada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenshiro Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takada comes to the cage accompanied by Metallica - All Nightmare Long. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Takada
vs
Yamamoto

182 cm
22
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akio Takada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenshiro Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takada changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Yamamoto tries to avoid it but Takada manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Yamamoto to the ground. Yamamoto escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Takada fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Takada closes the distance and clinches up with Yamamoto, looking for a takedown. Takada pushes Yamamoto against the cage but Yamamoto circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akio Takada. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A swing and a miss from Yamamoto.
Takada shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice takedown defense from Yamamoto. No joy for Takada on that attempt.

Yamamoto closes the distance and clinches.
Yamamoto taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Yamamoto is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Takada can't fight it off and eventually Yamamoto manages to take the fight to the floor. Takada looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Takada looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto content to stall in guard here.
Yamamoto tries to stand but Takada is controlling from the bottom.

Takada throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Takada escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Yamamoto gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Yamamoto preventing the sweep.
Takada is breathing heavily.
Yamamoto wants to control from the top but Takada keeps moving.

Takada working for a triangle but Yamamoto defends it easily.
Yamamoto controls from within his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takada looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yamamoto is one step ahead there.

Takada had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Yamamoto is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Takada Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Yamamoto's back instead.
Takada has the hooks in. Yamamoto is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Will Takada go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Takada looking to break Yamamoto's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Yamamoto remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Takada will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takada throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Takada controlling the position well here. Yamamoto rolled but Takada kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

Takada is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Yamamoto defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Yamamoto is trying to get back to his feet but Takada has full control of the position and if anything, Yamamoto has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Yamamoto preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Takada.
Takada wants to control but Yamamoto manages to buck him off and is now in Takada's guard! Nice work there by Yamamoto!
Takada looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Takada lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Yamamoto!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takada tries to control but Yamamoto wriggling away.

Takada jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Yamamoto is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Yamamoto and Takada has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Takada tries for a kimura but Yamamoto is defending well.
Yamamoto controls the position for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yamamoto misses with a strike from the bottom.

Takada decides to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akio Takada dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Yamamoto changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Takada looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Takada sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Takada is looking for a sweep. Yamamoto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Takada regains full guard. Nicely done.
Takada looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yamamoto is one step ahead there.

Takada looking for a guillotine here but Yamamoto defends easily.

Takada working for a triangle but Yamamoto defends it easily.
Takada looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yamamoto is one step ahead there.
Yamamoto is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takada is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Takada works his way into side control.

Takada tries for a kimura but Yamamoto is defending well.
Yamamoto really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Takada. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Takada wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yamamoto keeps working.

Takada tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Takada has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Takada advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Takada swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Yamamoto is now in Takada's guard. A big mistake from Takada there, giving up the dominant position!

Yamamoto stands up and waves to Takada to follow him.

Yamamoto shoots in and bounces Takada off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Yamamoto stopping the sweep attempt from Takada.
Takada is trying to keep Yamamoto in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takada looking for a guillotine here but Yamamoto defends easily.

Takada is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Takada wants to sweep here but Yamamoto controlling him for the moment.

Takada is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but Yamamoto frees his head nicely. Oh but Takada has switched to an armbar! Yamamoto is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Akio Takada!