PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Yoshihiro Takayama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gaston Means (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yoshihiro Takayama could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Gaston Means's chin.

Takayama
vs
Means

195 cm
24
243 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

189 cm
25
240 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yoshihiro Takayama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gaston Means!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Albert Achterberg and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Takayama has managed to clinch.
Takayama with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
I was talking to Takayama's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Means is trying to break the clinch but Takayama is controlling him.
Takayama blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Means gets through Takayama's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Takayama lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Gaston Means has been cut.
Takayama tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Takayama tries a knee to the head but Means blocks it.
Takayama with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Takayama lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Takayama blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Means misses with a hook to the ribs.
Means throws a head punch that misses.
Means doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Takayama tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Means avoids it.
Takayama with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Means scores with a nice hook to the head.
Means on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Means throws a punch but it's blocked by Takayama.
Means blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Takayama tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Means avoids it.
Takayama is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Means is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Takayama.
A short left from Means.
A frustrated look appears on Means's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Means on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Takayama misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Means.
Takayama blocking some punches.
Means fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Means working aggressively here.
Takayama trying to land knees to the body.
Means on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Takayama using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Means has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Takayama with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Means digs a right hand underneath Takayama's ribcage. Takayama let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Takayama is breathing heavily.
Means is trying to break the clinch but Takayama has him pressed against the ropes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Means lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Takayama looking to throw knees to the head but Means is blocking nicely.
Means working aggressively here.
Takayama tries to land knees in the clinch but Means avoids the damage to the body.
Takayama tries a knee to the head but Means blocks it.
Means misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Means lands with a light punch inside.
Means managing to block the knees to the body from Takayama.
Takayama blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Takayama with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Takayama tries to land knees in the clinch but Means avoids the damage to the body.
Takayama is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Takayama lands a knee to the body.
Means misses with a hook from the clinch.
Takayama looking to throw knees to the head but Means is blocking nicely.
Means is trying to break the clinch but Takayama is controlling him.
Takayama tries to land a knee to the head but Means blocks with his arms.
Takayama landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Takayama misses with a knee strike.
Takayama is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Means is defending well for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A head punch on the inside from Means fails to land.
Takayama unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Means has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Takayama seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Means can turn it around.
Takayama with a knee to the head.
Means tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshihiro Takayama dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gaston Means's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Means fails to land with a series of punches.
Means swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Means attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Means circles away from the clinch attempt.
Means misses with a few strikes there.

Means gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Takayama has Means pressed against the ropes, preventing Means from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Takayama blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Means managing to block the knees to the body from Takayama.
Takayama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Means blocks it with crossed arms.
Takayama lands a nice knee to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takayama lands a good knee to the midsection. Means won't want to take too many of those.
Means is breathing heavily.
Takayama with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Takayama unloads a knee to the mid-section. Means lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Takayama misses with a knee strike.
Takayama lands a nice knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takayama connects with a knee to the head.
Takayama lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Yoshihiro Takayama has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Means takes a knee to the side of the body.
Takayama connects with a knee to the head.
Takayama trying to land knees to the body.
Takayama tries to land a knee to the head but Means blocks with his arms.
Means misses with a punch to the body.
Takayama tries to land a knee to the head but Means blocks with his arms.
Takayama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Means blocks it with crossed arms.
Takayama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Means blocks it with crossed arms.
Means has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Means misses with a body punch.
Takayama tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Takayama misses with a knee to the head.
Takayama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Means blocks it with crossed arms.
Means avoiding damage as Takayama throws knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Takayama looking to throw knees to the head but Means is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Means lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Takayama backwards.
Takayama landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Takayama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Means blocks it with crossed arms.
Takayama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Means blocks it with crossed arms.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Takayama.
Takayama blocking some punches.
Means can't break the clinch.
Means scores with a shot to the side of Takayama's head.
Takayama throws a knee to the head but misses.
Means swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Means working hard to break the clinch.
Means managing to block the knees to the body from Takayama.
Means blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Takayama tries to land a knee to the head but Means blocks with his arms.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Means lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Takayama is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Means is defending well for now.
Takayama is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Means is defending well for now.
Takayama tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Means avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshihiro Takayama dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gaston Means's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Takayama takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Takayama avoids a punch combination nicely.

Takayama tries to keep at a distance but Means has taken the fight into the clinch.
Takayama tries to land a knee to the head but Means blocks with his arms.
Takayama keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Means's efforts to push away.
Takayama tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Means avoids it.
Takayama lands a nice knee to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Means.
Takayama landing knees to the body.
Takayama blocks an uppercut.
A short uppercut from Means.
Takayama tries to land knees in the clinch but Means avoids the damage to the body.
Takayama tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Takayama connects with a nasty looking knee right to Means's face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takayama landing knees to the body.
Takayama looking to throw knees to the head but Means is blocking nicely.
Takayama misses with a knee strike.
Means managing to block the knees to the body from Takayama.
Means is trying to break the clinch but Takayama has him pressed against the ropes.
Means working aggressively here.
Takayama tries to land knees in the clinch but Means avoids the damage to the body.
Means on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Means lands a left hand.
Takayama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Means blocks it with crossed arms.
Takayama throws a knee to the head but misses.
Means misses with a punch to the body.
Means is looking to break free of the clinch but Takayama has double underhooks.
Means lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Means misses with a punch to the body.
Takayama blocks a body shot from Means.
Means tries to break the clinch but Takayama is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takayama trying to land knees to the body.
Takayama lands a knee to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Takayama looking to throw knees to the head but Means is blocking nicely.
Takayama's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Means lands a right hand that snaps the head of Takayama backwards.
Means tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Takayama unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Takayama blocks an uppercut.
Takayama with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Takayama looking to throw knees to the head but Means is blocking nicely.
Takayama with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Means fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Takayama lands a nice knee to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Means lands an uppercut.
Means misses with a hook from the clinch.
Means misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Takayama.
A head punch on the inside from Means fails to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Yoshihiro Takayama did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The cut man is working on Gaston Means's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Means fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Takayama, pushing him back against the ropes.
Means is trying to break the clinch but Takayama is controlling him.
Means working aggressively here.
Takayama with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Means tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Means managing to block the knees to the body from Takayama.
Means has a couple of punches blocked by Takayama.
Takayama landing knees to the body.
Takayama putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Means in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Takayama unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Means tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Takayama lands a nice knee to the body.
Takayama is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Takayama lands a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Takayama obliges.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Takayama misses with a knee strike.
Takayama lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takayama with a knee to the head.
Takayama connects with a knee to the head.
Takayama using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Means struggles to land a body shot inside as Takayama controls his hands.
Means scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Takayama blocks an uppercut.
Takayama connects with a knee to the head.

Means is rocked!
Means tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Means is still on wobbly legs! Can Takayama finish him?
Means swings wildly with an uppercut but Takayama uses good head movement to avoid it.
Means seems to have recovered his senses.
Takayama lands a nice knee to the body.
Takayama is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Takayama unloads a knee to the mid-section. Means lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Takayama is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Means can do to turn this around?
A knee to the head by Takayama.
Takayama lands a good knee to the midsection. Means won't want to take too many of those.
Means takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takayama landing knees to the head.
Takayama utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Takayama using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Means avoiding damage as Takayama throws knees to the body.
Means tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Takayama lands a knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Takayama.
Means blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Takayama.
Takayama tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Means avoids it.
Means misses with a hook from the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Takayama tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Takayama tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Means wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Takayama blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Means is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshihiro Takayama had his way with Gaston Means in that round.
The cut man is working on Gaston Means's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Means throws a right and a left that both miss.
Means throws a series of punches but Takayama moves out of range.

Takayama closes the distance and clinches.
Takayama with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Takayama using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Takayama misses with a knee to the head.
Takayama misses with a knee strike.
Means blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Means tries to throw a body punch but Takayama avoids it by throwing Means back against the ropes.
Means swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Takayama tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Means avoids it.
Takayama using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Means is looking to break free of the clinch but Takayama has double underhooks.
Takayama landing knees to the head.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Means managing to block the knees to the body from Takayama.
Takayama keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Means's efforts to push away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takayama keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Means's efforts to push away.
Takayama tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Means misses with a punch on the inside.
Means can't find room to land a body shot as Takayama controls the action.
Takayama misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Means.
Means tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Means misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gaston Means has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Means breaks the clinch.

Means closes the distance and clinches.
Means tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Takayama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Means blocks it with crossed arms.
Means blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Means managing to block the knees to the body from Takayama.
Takayama with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Takayama tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Means avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Takayama.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Means.
Means misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch on the inside from Means fails to land.
Means misses with a short punch on the inside.
Means throws a head punch that misses.
Takayama with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Takayama.
Means managing to block the knees to the body from Takayama.
A head punch on the inside from Means fails to land.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Means throws a punch but it's blocked by Takayama.
Means misses with some punches.
Takayama with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Takayama with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Takayama using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Means has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Means tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Takayama's elbow.
Takayama tries to land a knee to the head but Means blocks with his arms.
Takayama takes a shot to the head.
Takayama missing with knees to the body.
Takayama blocks an uppercut.

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 Yoshihiro Takayama.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Takayama, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 50:45
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 50:45
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoshihiro Takayama!
Yoshihiro Takayama decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.