PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Riku Takahashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicky Santoro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Riku Takahashi could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Nicky Santoro's chin.

Takahashi
vs
Santoro

176 cm
24
152 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

160 cm
19
150 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Riku Takahashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nicky Santoro!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santoro scores with a punch to the head.
Takahashi tries for a takedown but Santoro circles away easily
and Santoro counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Santoro shoots in and gets a takedown into Takahashi's guard.
Santoro looking to pass the guard.

Santoro drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Santoro jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Santoro tries to free his leg and advance position but Takahashi is retaining full guard.
Santoro stops Takahashi from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi is trying to keep Santoro in close.
Santoro's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Santoro avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santoro wants to control from the top but Takahashi keeps moving.
Santoro lands a couple of elbows.
Takahashi pulls Santoro in close to his closed guard and prevents Santoro from doing any damage or advancing position.
Santoro working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Takahashi's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santoro is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Santoro throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Santoro throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Takahashi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Takahashi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Santoro.
Santoro connects with a couple of short punches.
Santoro is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Santoro throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santoro distracts Takahashi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takahashi wants to stand and escape but Santoro is having none of it.
Santoro trying to control but Takahashi is working from the bottom.
Santoro slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Santoro throws a big elbow that misses.
Takahashi wants to stand but Santoro is controlling the position.
Santoro lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santoro's corner is telling him to maintain position.
It looks like Santoro might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Santoro lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Santoro passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Santoro is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Takahashi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A lull in the action here as Santoro stalls from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicky Santoro dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Santoro works Takahashi's body with a nice hook.
Takahashi shoots in for a double leg but Santoro sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Santoro with a jab.
Santoro takes a swing at Takahashi's ribcage but misses.
Santoro lands with a right hand.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Takahashi enables Santoro to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Takahashi manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Santoro not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Santoro looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santoro stops Takahashi from standing up.
Santoro trying to control the position from guard on top but Takahashi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takahashi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Santoro is controlling him.
Santoro trying to control the position from guard on top but Takahashi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takahashi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Nicky Santoro hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Santoro drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi has momentary wrist control but Santoro slips an elbow through the middle.
Santoro 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.
Takahashi wants to stand up but Santoro is controlling him.
Santoro lands a couple of elbows.
Takahashi on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Takahashi tries to get out of the position.
Santoro showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Takahashi is looking to stand up but Santoro isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santoro's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Takahashi wants to get back to his feet but Santoro is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Takahashi being controlled here, momentarily.

Nicky Santoro has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Santoro swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Takahashi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santoro lands a jab to Takahashi's midsection.
Takahashi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Takahashi wants it to stay on the feet.
Santoro has his takedown stuffed

and Takahashi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Santoro won't be happy with that.
Santoro gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Santoro has one foot on Takahashi's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Takahashi bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Takahashi wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Santoro, who protects the arm well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicky Santoro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Santoro shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Takahashi is trying to defend but Santoro finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Santoro is pressing down on Takahashi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Takahashi is holding on for now.
Santoro controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santoro prevents Takahashi from improving his position.

Takahashi pushes Santoro off and gets back to his feet.

Santoro closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Takahashi's guard.
Santoro cracks Takahashi with a solid left hand.
Santoro not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Santoro preventing the sweep.
Santoro slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi looks like he's trying to stand up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Santoro sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Takahashi defending well though.
Santoro thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Takahashi's head.
Santoro lands strikes from half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Santoro content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Takahashi is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santoro sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Santoro's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Santoro passes to full mount!
Santoro controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santoro scores with a couple of good head shots there.

It looks like Riku Takahashi has been cut.
Santoro lands a nice shot to the head.

Takahashi is rocked!
Santoro landing strikes, looking to finish!
Oh Takahashi is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Santoro content just to control the position here.
Santoro landing strikes, looking to finish!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santoro postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Takahashi badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Santoro around the waist but Santoro pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Santoro is the winner by TKO! Santoro jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nicky Santoro!
Nicky Santoro made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'Get this pathetic scrub out of my sight, I'm making my clain in this ORG. Everyone else just a cockaroach! '.