PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gus Dengel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Meguru Takayanagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dengel's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Papillon. Takayanagi has chosen All Rounder Meguru as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Dengel
vs
Takayanagi

150 cm
35
148 lbs
30 - 20 - 0

171 cm
25
160 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 20 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gus Dengel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Meguru Takayanagi!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Donald Grub and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dengel with a lazy takedown attempt

and Takayanagi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Takayanagi is a very stocky fighter. Infact he's such a weird shape that he's almost like some sort of comedy character - it's hard to believe he's real.
Dengel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dengel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Takayanagi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dengel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Takayanagi tries to free his leg and advance position but Dengel is retaining full guard.
Takayanagi won't allow Dengel to sweep him here.
Takayanagi wants to control from the top but Dengel keeps moving.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Meguru Takayanagi hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Takayanagi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dengel will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Dengel takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Dengel shoots and misses
and Takayanagi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gus Dengel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dengel with a poor takedown

and Takayanagi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Dengel's guard now.
Takayanagi wants to pass the guard but Dengel is keeping the position.
Dengel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Takayanagi wants to control from the top but Dengel keeps moving.

Dengel looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Takayanagi has picked Dengel up and slammed him! Dengel can't keep hold of the triangle and Takayanagi manages to pass to side control!
Takayanagi has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Lock and Roll Grappling Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takayanagi working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takayanagi fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Dengel is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Takayanagi wants to pass the guard but Dengel is defending well.
Takayanagi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Dengel is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Takayanagi scores with a couple of nice shots.
Dengel is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at CEC Underdark, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dengel works his way to full guard. Good work.
Takayanagi passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Takayanagi trying to control the action but Dengel is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dengel manages to get back to half guard.
Takayanagi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dengel keeps working.
Takayanagi is just content to waste time from the top position. Dengel takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Takayanagi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dengel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Takayanagi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Takayanagi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Takayanagi wants to control from the top but Dengel keeps moving.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Meguru Takayanagi wasn't active enough on the ground.
An inside leg kick lands from Takayanagi.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Dengel fails with the takedown.
Takayanagi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Takayanagi scores with a head kick. Dengel tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Dengel fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Dengel has his takedown stuffed
and Takayanagi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Dengel doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Takayanagi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
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!

Dengel looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Takayanagi has picked Dengel up and slammed him! Dengel can't keep hold of the triangle and Takayanagi manages to pass to side control!
Dengel is breathing heavily.
Takayanagi is looking to take a break and control but Dengel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Takayanagi works to advance to full mount. Dengel defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Takayanagi with good strikes from the mount here!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Takayanagi tries to control but Dengel wriggling away.
Dengel can't escape the position.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Takayanagi tries to control but Dengel wriggling away.
Dengel keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Dengel is trying to reverse the position but instead Takayanagi has taken his back - oops!
Takayanagi lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Takayanagi is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Takayanagi gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Takayanagi gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Takayanagi apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Dengel tries for a takedown but Takayanagi circles away easily
and Takayanagi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Dengel gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Takayanagi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Dengel gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dengel shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Takayanagi as he jumps to the side.
A slapping leg kick lands for Takayanagi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Meguru Takayanagi dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dengel has his takedown stuffed
and Takayanagi counters with a slapping leg kick.
Takayanagi is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Dengel shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Takayanagi counter with a right hand.
Takayanagi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dengel is fending him off so far but Takayanagi persists. Nope, Dengel circles away and we're back to standing.

Takayanagi scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Takayanagi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dengel keeps working.
Dengel regains half guard there - taking advantage of Takayanagi's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Takayanagi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takayanagi is looking for a kimura here.
Takayanagi is trying to control the action in half guard but Dengel is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Dengel might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Takayanagi throws a strike but Dengel avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Takayanagi slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Takayanagi wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Dengel, who protects the arm well.
Dengel manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dengel is looking for a kimura but Takayanagi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Dengel to get the leverage.

Dengel wants to work for an arm triangle but Takayanagi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Takayanagi works his way to full guard. Good work.

Dengel has gone for a leg lock! Takayanagi slips out almost immediately though and dives into Dengel's guard.
Takayanagi advances to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dengel gets back to full guard.
Takayanagi trying to control the position from guard on top but Dengel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takayanagi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dengel swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Takayanagi trying to control the position from guard on top but Dengel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takayanagi is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Meguru Takayanagi has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Dengel fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gus Dengel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dengel fails with the takedown.
Takayanagi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dengel as he avoids it easily.

Takayanagi moves into the clinch.
Dengel tries to score a body lock takedown but Takayanagi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Takayanagi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Dengel pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Dengel is working for takedown but Takayanagi is calmly controlling the position for now.
Takayanagi wants to break free but Dengel has control.

Takayanagi lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Dengel is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Takayanagi scores with a couple of nice shots.

Takayanagi is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Dengel is just riding it out for now. Takayanagi eventually gives up the hold.
Takayanagi passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Dengel!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

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

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Takayanagi is looking to take a break and control but Dengel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Dengel tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Takayanagi wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Takayanagi goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Dengel rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Takayanagi's guard! Nice work there by Dengel!
Takayanagi trying to keep a closed guard but Dengel is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Meguru Takayanagi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Takayanagi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Dengel paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Takayanagi leaves Dengel with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Dengel with a poor takedown
and Takayanagi counters with a stiff right hand.
Gus Dengel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takayanagi scoring well with a low kick there.
Takayanagi has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Dengel looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gus Dengel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Takayanagi scores with a nice head shot.
Dengel doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Takayanagi counter with a right hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Takayanagi shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Dengel tries to get to full guard but Takayanagi has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takayanagi takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Dengel wants to sweep but Takayanagi has passed to side control!

Takayanagi swings around for an armbar but Dengel sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Takayanagi's guard.
Meguru Takayanagi has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dengel pushes down on Takayanagi's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Takayanagi regains full guard. Nicely done.
Dengel postures up.
Dengel looking to sit in guard and control but Takayanagi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Takayanagi throws a sloppy strike and Dengel has hooked up an armbar on the loose arm! He's turned and extended fully! Takayanagi is forced to tap! Great BJJ from Dengel!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Gus Dengel!
Gus Dengel seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.