PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Meguru Takayanagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mirsad Vranic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mirsad Vranic will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Takayanagi
vs
Vranic

170 cm
20
142 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

167 cm
21
143 lbs
5 - 6 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

DTK Designs (Laundry)
Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Meguru Takayanagi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Mirsad Vranic!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takayanagi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Takayanagi throws a nice looking combination but Vranic bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Takayanagi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Vranic.
Takayanagi misses with a two punch combination.
Mirsad Vranic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takayanagi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vranic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vranic throws a poor cross that misses
and Takayanagi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Vranic doesn't manage to clinch there - Takayanagi circles away.
Vranic fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Takayanagi takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Takayanagi throws a hook but Vranic blocks it.
A jab from Takayanagi misses.
Vranic punishes Takayanagi's body with a nice straight punch.
Vranic throws a body kick that misses.
Vranic moves in looking to clinch but Takayanagi pushes him off.
Takayanagi lands with a shot to the body.
A jab from Takayanagi misses.
Vranic with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takayanagi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nice cross by Vranic.
Good exchange - Takayanagi coming out on top.
Vranic tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Takayanagi was well out of range. Poor timing from Vranic.
Vranic slips a straight right by Takayanagi.
A left lands for Takayanagi.
Takayanagi keeps the fight on the outside.
A looping hook to the body misses from Takayanagi. Vranic does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vranic tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Takayanagi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Vranic connects with the punch.
Takayanagi throws a jab when Vranic was well out of range.
Takayanagi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Takayanagi there as he acknowledges the shot.
Mirsad Vranic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vranic misses with a wild body shot.
Vranic misses with a low kick.
Takayanagi throws a body punch but Vranic moves out of range.
Takayanagi misses with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takayanagi misses the jab.
Takayanagi swings widly with a right hand

and Vranic counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Takayanagi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Takayanagi is working hard here to advance position.
Vranic seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Takayanagi wants to improve his position but Vranic is controlling well.
Vranic takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Takayanagi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Vranic is working away from the top position though.
Vranic tries to pass the half guard into mount. Takayanagi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takayanagi is refusing to be controlled, as Vranic sits in half guard.
Vranic is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mirsad Vranic wasn't active enough on the ground.
Takayanagi misses with a lunging right hand

and Vranic moves into the clinch.
Takayanagi lands a body shot.
Vranic scores a nice knee to the body.
Vranic misses with an elbow over the top.
Takayanagi has a couple of punches blocked by Vranic.
Takayanagi wants to stall.
Takayanagi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Vranic is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Takayanagi slows down the pace here.
A body shot lands from Takayanagi.
Vranic trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vranic lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A left hand lands to the body for Takayanagi.
Takayanagi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Takayanagi lands a hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Mirsad Vranic has been cut.
Vranic misses with a punch on the inside.
Takayanagi tries to throw a body punch but Vranic avoids it by throwing Takayanagi back against the cage.
Vranic blocking some punches.
Takayanagi lands a hook to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Takayanagi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Vranic with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A short right from Takayanagi.
Vranic tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Takayanagi's elbow.
A short right from Takayanagi.
Vranic's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Takayanagi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Vranic is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Takayanagi to keep the fight standing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Takayanagi lands a hook that snaps the head of Vranic backwards.

Takayanagi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Takayanagi moves out of range of the leg kick from Vranic.
Takayanagi lands a nice hook to Vranic's body. Vranic takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Takayanagi takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Meguru Takayanagi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mirsad Vranic's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Takayanagi misses with a straight right.
A good leg kick by Vranic.
Vranic scores with a nice strike.
Takayanagi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Vranic wants to clinch.
Takayanagi lands a right hook to the body.
Takayanagi looks to score with a jab to the body but Vranic is just out of range.
Vranic stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Takayanagi misses with a lunging right hand

and Vranic holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Vranic tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Takayanagi's elbow.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Takayanagi.
Takayanagi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Vranics head.
Takayanagi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Takayanagi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Meguru Takayanagi has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Vranic misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Takayanagi.
Vranic blocks a body shot from Takayanagi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takayanagi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Takayanagi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Vranic tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Takayanagi smiles and moves away.
A slow jab from Vranic misses its intended target.
A jab from Takayanagi misses.
Takayanagi scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Vranic moves forwards but Takayanagi connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Vranic is rocked!
Nice defenses there by Takayanagi.
Takayanagi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vranic.

Takayanagi gets a clinch.
Takayanagi throws a head punch that misses.

Takayanagi has hold of one of Vranic's legs. Vranic is fighting the takedown attempt but Takayanagi gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Takayanagi trying to control but Vranic is working from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takayanagi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vranic swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takayanagi trying to control but Vranic is working from the bottom.
Takayanagi looking to pass the guard.
Takayanagi wants to control from the top but Vranic keeps moving.

Meguru Takayanagi has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Vranic dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Takayanagi. That did some damage!
Vranic misses with an uppercut. Takayanagi saw that one coming.
Vranic uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Takayanagi.
Vranic tries to clinch but Takayanagi moves out of range.
Takayanagi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Takayanagi moves forwards but Vranic connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Takayanagi throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Vranic counters with a takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vranic working the body and head with strikes.
Takayanagi manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Vranic trying to control the action but Takayanagi is working from the bottom.
Takayanagi is trying to control but can't.
Mirsad Vranic has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vranic is nestled in close to Takayanagi, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Vranic is trying to control the action in half guard but Takayanagi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Takayanagi gets back to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Takayanagi is on top in guard.
Takayanagi wants to control from the top but Vranic keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vranic wants to hit a switch here but Takayanagi passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Vranic there!
Vranic is desperately trying to improve his position but Takayanagi has a good base and remains in mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vranic is still trying to improve position.
Vranic tries to lock up and control but Takayanagi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Takayanagi unloads with some shots from mount but Vranic bucks and avoids them well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Takayanagi is stalling here but it's allowed Vranic to get half guard.
Vranic is looking for a sweep. Takayanagi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Meguru Takayanagi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mirsad Vranic's cut.
That's time! Takayanagi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Takayanagi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Takayanagi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Takayanagi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Takayanagi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Vranic.
Takayanagi scores with a jab.
Takayanagi swings for the body but Vranic moves out of range.
Meguru Takayanagi is winning the standup battle so far.
Vranic wants to clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Vranic.
Takayanagi looks to land a right hand but Vranic moved out of range.
Takayanagi paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
An inside leg kick lands from Vranic.
Takayanagi misses with a looping left.
Vranic takes one to the chin there.
Vranic pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takayanagi avoids a kick to the body.
Vranic tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Takayanagi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Takayanagi works Vranic's body with a nice hook.
Takayanagi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Takayanagi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Vranic.
Vranic throws a series of punches but Takayanagi avoids them all with ease.
Takayanagi takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Vranic showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Takayanagi.
Vranic goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Vranic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Takayanagi fails with an attempt to clinch.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Takayanagi checks a leg kick.
Vranic uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Takayanagi.
Vranic gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vranic throws a low kick but it's checked well by Takayanagi.
Vranic throws a sloppy head kick and Takayanagi moves out of range easily.
Vranic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vranic throws a one two combo.

Takayanagi rushes Vranic and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Vranic being controlled against the cage.
Takayanagi tries to throw a body punch but Vranic avoids it by throwing Takayanagi back against the cage.
Takayanagi takes a shot to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vranic misses with a punch to the body.
Takayanagi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Vranic backwards.
Vranic misses with a punch on the inside.
Vranic putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Takayanagi in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Vranic lands a good knee to the midsection. Takayanagi won't want to take too many of those.
Takayanagi lands with a left to the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vranic trying to land knees to the body.
Vranic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Takayanagi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Vranic backwards.
Vranic trying to land knees to the body.
Vranic fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A bit of stalling here from Takayanagi.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Takayanagi.
Vranic is still on wobbly legs! Can Takayanagi finish him?
Takayanagi lands an uppercut in the clinch that drops Vranic to his knees! Takayanagi keeps firing more shots against his stricken opponent and the referee jumps in to save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Meguru Takayanagi!
Meguru Takayanagi took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Fury Nutrition Inc. for their support in the buildup to the fight.