PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Toma Takahara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raphael Nero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Takahara
vs
Nero

200 cm
28
190 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

186 cm
26
174 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Toma Takahara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Raphael Nero!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Wesley Smith and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takahara lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
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.
Nero takes one to the chin there.
Takahara bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Nero's head.
Takahara takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Takahara throws a head kick but Nero moves out of range.
Nero connects with a crisp jab.
Takahara is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Takahara fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nero avoids the head kick by Takahara.
Takahara punishes Nero's body with a nice straight punch.
Jab from Takahara.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takahara scores with a one two! Nero had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Takahara looks to land a combination but Nero avoids it well.
Nero takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahara misses with a head kick.
Takahara throws a sloppy head kick and Nero moves out of range easily.
Takahara tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nero manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Takahara misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Takahara throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Takahara misses with a series of wild punches.
Takahara throws a head kick that misses.
Nero gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Takahara.
Takahara bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Nero's head backwards.
Takahara takes one to the chin there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takahara scores with the left hand. Nero knows he should have avoided that one.
Takahara is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Takahara fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Takahara throws a body punch but Nero moves out of range.
Nero shoots for a double leg takedown but Takahara sprawls well. He's pushed Nero's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Takahara misses with a head kick.
Takahara throws a left and a right that both miss

and Nero counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Nero thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Nero is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Takahara is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Takahara managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Nero.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nero misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Nero is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Takahara has escaped the position, nice work there.
Takahara is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Nero is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Takahara tries to roll over but Nero keeps him under control.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nero lands a nice short elbow.
Nero missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Takahara taking some punishment here, with Nero in his half guard.
Takahara tries to get to full guard but Nero has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahara keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Takahara blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nero.
Nero winds up and cracks Takahara with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Nero is trying to work for a kimura but Takahara is defending well.
Nero scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nero has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ground and pound from Nero.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nero connects with a nice short shot to Takahara's temple.
Takahara is looking to improve his position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Takahara gets back to full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nero chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Raphael Nero will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nero misses with a hook to the body
and Takahara finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Takahara throws a quick inside leg kick.
Takahara is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Takahara throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Nero stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Takahara displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nero throws out the jab.
Takahara looks to land a body kick but Nero moved away.
Takahara lands a body shot.
Nero has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Takahara finds it's way round the side to connect with Nero's head.
Takahara throws an overhand right that lands on Nero's shoulder, as Nero tries to avoid the shot.
Takahara digs a good hook to Nero's body.
Takahara displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nero.
Takahara lands with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahara fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Nero has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Takahara, right into the meat.
Nero is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A lazy left from Takahara finds it's target.
Takahara throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Nero stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Takahara throws a head kick but Nero moves out of range.
Takahara misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Nero counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Takahara thinking.
Nero misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Takahara.
Takahara misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takahara jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nero takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nero swats away the attempt to clinch by Takahara.
Takahara defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nero.
Takahara misses with a jab to the body

and Nero counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Nero preventing the sweep.
Takahara controls Nero momentarily but Nero frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahara avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nero working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Takahara's head.
Nero postures up in Takahara's guard and throws a big left but Takahara blocks it.
Takahara looking for a sweep. Not yet Takahara, not yet.
Nero postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takahara avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nero slips nicely into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Nero in particular looking to stall.
Takahara won't allow Nero to pass to mount.
Raphael Nero has got the better of the ground game so far.
Takahara keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahara regains full guard. Nicely done.
Takahara wants to stand up but Nero is controlling him.
Takahara has momentary wrist control but Nero slips an elbow through the middle.

Takahara had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nero defends it easily.
Nero wants to pass the guard but Takahara is keeping the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Takahara avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nero passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Nero has an Americana. Takahara didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Nero is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Nero hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Raphael Nero!
After winning the bout, Raphael Nero thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.