PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Keisuke Takasugi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aristos Ioannidis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ioannidis is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by If I Can't - 50 Cent. 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.

Takasugi
vs
Ioannidis

177 cm
24
179 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

185 cm
28
185 lbs
8 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Keisuke Takasugi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Aristos Ioannidis!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Gregory Folan and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ioannidis scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ioannidis passes to side control.
Takasugi seems a little lost for a moment, as Ioannidis dominates the positioning.
Ioannidis tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Ioannidis is working Takasugi over with some ground and pound from side control.
Takasugi regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ioannidis prevents Takasugi from improving his position.
Ioannidis uses his free foot to push down on Takasugi's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Takasugi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ioannidis avoids the attempt from Takasugi to control.
Takasugi is trying desperately to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takasugi regains half guard.

Takasugi looking for submissions off his back.
Takasugi is refusing to be controlled, as Ioannidis sits in half guard.
Takasugi is looking to improve his position.
Takasugi is trying to maintain the position but Ioannidis is very close to passing his half guard.

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

Ioannidis looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Takasugi is trying to get back to full guard.
Ioannidis trying to pass the guard but Takasugi defending well.
Ioannidis working Takasugi over with strikes.
Takasugi tries to get to full guard but Ioannidis has control of the leg.
Ioannidis is trying to control. Takasugi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takasugi tries to get to full guard but Ioannidis has control of the leg.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Ioannidis working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Takasugi moves into full guard.
Ioannidis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Takasugi is keeping the position for now.

Takasugi throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Ioannidis escapes and throws Takasugi's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Ioannidis trying to control the position but Takasugi is working away.
Ioannidis working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takasugi tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ioannidis wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Takasugi gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Takasugi actively working from the bottom here.
Ioannidis prevents Takasugi from improving his position.
Takasugi is refusing to be controlled, as Ioannidis sits in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Takasugi is trying to get back to full guard.

Takasugi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aristos Ioannidis dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ioannidis goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Ioannidis shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ioannidis tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Takasugi.
Ioannidis wants to take a breather but Takasugi is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takasugi is trying to control but can't.
Takasugi is looking for a sweep. Ioannidis is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Takasugi has hold of a guillotine but he's not going to be able to crank on it really with only half guard, so it's no trouble for Ioannidis. Oh but Takasugi has got full guard now! Oh boy! This one could be over very soon! Ioannidis goes limp - he's gone! Takasugi jumps up and celebrates with the crowd - fantastic submission finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Keisuke Takasugi!
A very excited looking Keisuke Takasugi made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.