PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Noonan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ethelbart Takahashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Noonan comes to the cage accompanied by 3DD - Kryptonite. 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.

Noonan
vs
Takahashi

190 cm
36
260 lbs
25 - 10 - 1

190 cm
32
243 lbs
29 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Bloodlust Horde Fightwear

Hellbent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Michael Noonan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Ethelbart Takahashi!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takahashi attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Takahashi throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Noonan stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Noonan throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Takahashi.
Noonan moves out of range of the strikes.

Noonan shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Takahashi napping and manages to drive through into side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Noonan goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Takahashi has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Noonan but great work by Takahashi.
Noonan is looking for a sweep.
Noonan is working hard here to advance position.

Takahashi decides to stand up, so the ref orders Noonan to his feet.
Takahashi misses with a body shot.
Takahashi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Noonan manages to avoid it.
Noonan throws the left hand but Takahashi avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Takahashi.

It looks like Michael Noonan has been cut.
Noonan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Takahashi.
Nice cross by Noonan.
Noonan throws a leg kick which misses Takahashi's front leg but catches the back leg as Takahashi tries to avoid it.
Noonan takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Takahashi throws a leg kick that is checked
and Noonan makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Takahashi looks winded!
Takahashi takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Takahashi tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Noonan has been working on his boxing with his coaches at High Voltage Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Noonan misses with a takedown attempt - Takahashi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Takahashi throws a body kick that misses.
Noonan finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Takahashi lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Takahashi comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Noonan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi moves away from the strike by Noonan.
Ethelbart Takahashi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takahashi throws a sloppy body shot
and Noonan counters with a low kick, right behind Takahashi 's knee.
Noonan tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Takahashi tries to land a leg kick but Noonan saw it coming and moves away.
Noonan on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Takahashi. Takahashi obviously looking to wear him down.
Noonan lets loose with a powerful body kick. Takahashi will feel that in the morning.
Noonan throws a low kick but Takahashi moves out of range easily.
Noonan pivots, looking for a leg kick but Takahashi is out of range and Noonan settles back down.
A clash of legs there as Takahashi blocks the low kick.
Noonan moves out of range as Takahashi strikes.
Decent striking displayed by Takahashi there.

Noonan drops Takahashi with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Takahashi looks back up at him and smiles so Noonan waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

It looks like Ethelbart Takahashi has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noonan looks to land a body kick but Takahashi moved away.
Takahashi just misses with a punch to the body.
Noonan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ethelbart Takahashi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Noonan on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Takahashi takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Takahashi is rocked!
Noonan shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Noonan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Noonan shoots in for a double leg but Takahashi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Noonan ducks under a wild hook from Takahashi.
Takahashi lands a leg kick that knocks Noonan off balance momentarily.
Nice defenses there by Noonan.
Noonan throws a body kick that misses
and Takahashi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takahashi throws a leg kick
and Noonan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Noonan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi throws a push kick but Noonan slaps the foot to one side.
Takahashi misses with an uppercut
and Noonan counters with a good, hard body kick but Takahashi shrugs it off.
Noonan misses with an uppercut.
Takahashi finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Noonan lands a nice looking kick to the body. Takahashi takes a step back to recover.
Takahashi blocks a head kick by Noonan.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Takahashi.
Noonan throws a wild body kick that Takahashi sees coming a mile off.
Noonan dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Takahashi. That did some damage!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Noonan lands the left hand.
Takahashi on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Takahashi blocks the body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Noonan dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Noonan misses with a wild combination.
Noonan throws a sloppy head kick and Takahashi moves out of range easily.
Noonan lands a nice looking body shot.
Takahashi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Noonan manages to avoid it.
Takahashi throws a low kick but it's checked well by Noonan.
Takahashi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Takahashi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Noonan.
Noonan throws a series of punches but Takahashi avoids them all with ease.
Takahashi throws an overhand right that lands on Noonan's shoulder, as Noonan tries to avoid the shot.
Nice body kick there by Takahashi.
Noonan lands a nice leg kick that just misses Takahashi's sensitive parts.

Noonan closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Takahashi quickly recovers to half guard.
Takahashi is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
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. Noonan connects with a nice short shot to Takahashi's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noonan is looking to advance position but Takahashi won't allow it.
Noonan throwing shots but Takahashi is blocking nicely.

Noonan is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Takahashi sees it coming and defends easily.

Noonan is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Takahashi is just riding it out for now. Noonan eventually gives up the hold.

Noonan is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noonan slows the pace down in half guard.
Noonan is pressing down on Takahashi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Takahashi is holding on for now.
Takahashi is staying active underneath Noonan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Noonan is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Takahashi defends it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Noonan is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Takahashi is looking to improve his position.
Takahashi trying to hold on to Noonan's head to control him but Noonan postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noonan is stalling here. Takahashi is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Noonan seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Takahashi has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Noonan tries to bench press Takahashi off him but Takahashi keeps the position.
Noonan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Takahashi can do to turn this around?
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Takahashi has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
A nice inside leg kick there by Takahashi. That's going to slow Noonan down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Noonan dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Takahashi punishes Noonan's body with a nice straight punch.
Noonan misses with a low kick.
Takahashi with a nice cross.
Noonan misses with a low kick.
Michael Noonan is winning the standup battle so far.
Takahashi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Noonan looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A good leg kick by Takahashi.
Takahashi misses with a head kick.
Takahashi misses with a body punch
and Noonan counters with a low kick, right behind Takahashi 's knee.
Noonan walks into a jab.
Takahashi avoids a kick to the body.
Takahashi connects with a crisp jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Takahashi tries to sprawl but Noonan drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Noonan is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi gets back to full guard.
Michael Noonan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Noonan trying to control the position from guard on top but Takahashi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Noonan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Takahashi trying to control the position.
Noonan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Takahashi swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi keeping moving, preventing Noonan from controlling successfully.
Noonan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Takahashi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Noonan is pushing down on Takahashi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Takahashi is fighting to maintain full guard but Noonan has managed to sneak the leg through.
Noonan wants to stand up but Takahashi is controlling the position.
Noonan trying to pass the guard but Takahashi defending well.
Ethelbart Takahashi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi is refusing to be controlled, as Noonan sits in half guard.
Takahashi wants to get back to full guard.
Noonan thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Noonan is trying to control. Takahashi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Noonan prevents Takahashi from improving his position.
Noonan slows the pace down in half guard.
Michael Noonan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noonan trying to pass the guard but Takahashi defending well.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Takahashi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Noonan.
Noonan is trying to control. Takahashi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Noonan is really struggling to control Takahashi but he's trying to hold on to the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Michael Noonan.
Well Noonan has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Noonan!
Michael Noonan very nearly forgot to thank Bloodlust Horde Fightwear amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.