PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cu IV (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ichi Takeshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cu IV has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

IV
vs
Takeshi

178 cm
27
151 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

155 cm
28
138 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cu IV!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ichi Takeshi!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Fedor Mirinova and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
IV takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
IV misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
IV has a takedown stuffed.

Takeshi shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches IV napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Takeshi is trying to get an arm triangle but IV is defending well.
The strikes coming from Takeshi are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Takeshi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Takeshi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Takeshi working away.
IV is pushing Takeshi's head away, looking to escape. Takeshi manages to hold on to the position though.
IV defending against the ground and pound.
IV parries the strikes from Takeshi easily there. Takeshi is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable IV to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
IV is trying to work for a sweep but Takeshi has mounted him!
My spies in LOW FIGHTERS PER TRAINERS inform me that Takeshi has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Takeshi misses with a head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takeshi throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
IV tries to reverse the position but Takeshi maintains control.
IV is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

Takeshi is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. IV can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
IV tries to hold on but Takeshi pushes him away.
Takeshi working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Takeshi moves to take his opponent's back.
IV looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Takeshi is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
IV tries to break free.

Takeshi looking to break IV's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. IV remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Takeshi will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

IV defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Takeshi's arms.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
IV trying to control the position but Takeshi manages to sink in the hooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takeshi thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Takeshi is trying to stick to IV's back but IV is turning into Takeshi. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Takeshi's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by IV.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
IV keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Takeshi's head.
IV in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:38 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Ichi Takeshi!
Ichi Takeshi seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.