PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Steve Cox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuki Takano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cox
vs
Takano

167 cm
20
146 lbs
7 - 0 - 1

169 cm
20
146 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Master Lee's One Stop
Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry)

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 7 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Steve Cox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yuki Takano!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Chris Saunders and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takano misses with a body shot.
Cox blocks the body kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Cox blocks the leg kick.
Yuki Takano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takano thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cox misses the shot to the body.
Takano looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Takano tries a low kick but Cox avoids it.
Takano scores with a nice right hand.
Takano throws a leg kick but Cox moved away.
Cox throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Takano throws a nice outside leg kick.
Cox misses with a hook. Takano ducked under it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cox tries for a takedown but Takano sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Cox bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Takano controls the position for a moment.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Takano tries to buck Cox off but Cox is having none of it.
We've been hearing good reports from Cox's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cox is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Takano has escaped the position, nice work there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takano tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cox wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Cox misses with the ground and pound.
Cox sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Takano is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Cox scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Takano to see if he's OK.

Cox tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cox has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Takano tries to improve position but can't.
Cox trying to control the position but Takano is working away.
Takano tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cox wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Cox tries for a kimura but Takano is defending well.
Takano regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cox is trying to control. Takano wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Takano tries to get to full guard but Cox has control of the leg.
Cox sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Takano defending well though.
Cox not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cox thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Cox seems to be working for a kimura but Takano defends the submission attempt.
Takano wants to improve his position but Cox is controlling well.
Cox has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cox working over Takano with some ground and pound. Takano looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Takano is staying active underneath Cox, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Takano is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cox is taking a breather. Takano says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takano trying to control but Cox postures up.
Cox thows a huge punch but Takano dodges it nicely.
Takano has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cox is working away from the top position though.
Takano is not content to let Cox control the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Takano is trying to control but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cox. Takano does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cox throws a body shot but no joy.
Yuki Takano is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Takano moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Takano ducks under a wild hook from Cox.
Cox misses the shot to the body.
Cox checks a low kick from Takano.
Cox pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Takano moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Cox misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Takano.
Cox throws a big shot that misses.
Cox misses the jab.
Cox throws the left hand but Takano avoids the punch easily.
Cox swings widly with a right hand
and Takano counters with a good low kick that Cox was not able to check.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Takano lands the left hand.
Cox shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Takano as he jumps to the side.
Takano is looking to chop away at Cox's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Cox dominated that round.
That's time! Cox's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cox throws a body punch but Takano moves out of range.
Takano throws a one two combo.

It looks like Steve Cox has been cut.
A nice leg kick lands there from Takano.
Takano blocks a jab.
Cox slips under a jab from Takano.
Cox checks a low kick from Takano.
Cox throws a jab when Takano was well out of range.
Cox blocks a jab.
Nice body kick there by Takano.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cox fails to land the takedown.
Takano stuffs the takedown.
Takano moves out of range of the strikes.
Cox swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takano ducks under a wild hook from Cox.
Takano connects with an inside leg kick.
Cox misses with a straight right.

Cox feints and as Takano raises his hands in defense, Cox changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Takano not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Takano has Cox pulled in close to control his posture.
Cox trying to control the position from guard on top but Takano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cox stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Takano swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Takano not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Cox with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cox accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Steve Cox overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cox pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Takano is keeping the position for now.
Takano looking to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Cox misses with a body shot.
Cox misses with a looping right.
Cox thows a left - swing and a miss!
Takano goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cox misses with a straight left.
Cox misses with a wild body shot.
Takano fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Cox checks it well.
Takano throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cox throws a jab when Takano was well out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Takano. That's going to slow Cox down.
Takano throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Takano misses the shot to the body.
Takano connects with a leg kick. Cox looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Takano jabs Cox right on the nose. Cox blinks but takes it well.
Yuki Takano seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cox throws a body shot but no joy.
Takano feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Coxs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Takano throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cox. Takano does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cox misses with a hook. Takano ducked under it nicely.
Cox lands with a good body shot.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cox.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Cox. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takano fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Cox on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takano connects with a nice looking jab.

Cox drives through with a takedown into guard.
Takano is pulling down on Cox's head. It's preventing any offense from Cox, at least for the moment.
Cox wants to control from the top but Takano keeps moving.
Takano pulls Cox in to control the position.
Takano is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuki Takano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Steve Cox's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Takano scores with a leg kick.
Takano takes a swing at Cox's ribcage but misses.
Takano throws a hook but Cox avoids it easily.
Takano takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Takano tries to score with a low kick but Cox moves his leg out of the way.
Takano fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Takano throws a leg kick which misses Cox's front leg but catches the back leg as Cox tries to avoid it.

Cox shoots in and gets a takedown into Takano's guard.
Cox being controlled here momentarily.
Cox passes Takano's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takano is trying to get back to full guard.
Takano is concentrating on defense, preventing Cox from advancing position.
Cox looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Takano with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Cox thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Takano's head.
Cox trying to pass the guard but Takano defending well.
Cox trying to control from half guard but Takano is working away.

Cox is working for a kimura but Takano is defending it quite comfortably.
Takano is looking to control Cox's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Takano avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Takano keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Cox wants to work for an arm triangle but Takano is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Cox is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Cox missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Takano trying to control here.
Takano is looking to improve his position.

Cox seems to be working for a kimura but Takano defends the submission attempt.

Cox is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takano is looking to improve his position.
Cox lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Takano slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Cox connects with a couple of short punches.
Takano has control of Cox's left arm, preventing Cox from doing any damage.
Cox missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Takano has his hands on Cox's head, controlling the position.
Takano trying to keep a closed guard but Cox is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Cox trying to control the position from guard on top but Takano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takano trying to control the position.
Cox trying to control but Takano is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Takano misses with a straight right.
Takano throws out a loose jab but Cox uses good head movement to avoid it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Takano connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Takano takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A cross from Takano lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Cox showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cox has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Cox!
An out of breath Steve Cox thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.