PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Meguru Takayanagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sub Norris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takayanagi comes to the cage accompanied by All Rounder Meguru. Norris has chosen Norris Man - When Your Time Is Up as his entrance music. Meguru Takayanagi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Takayanagi
vs
Norris

171 cm
30
160 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

180 cm
30
154 lbs
26 - 21 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Meguru Takayanagi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sub Norris!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Takayanagi gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Norris to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Takayanagi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Takayanagi looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Norris puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Takayanagi wants to improve his position but Norris is controlling well.

Takayanagi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Norris pulls his head out easily.
Takayanagi is pressing down on Norris's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Norris trying to control but Takayanagi is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Norris drops back, looking for a kneebar! Takayanagi looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Takayanagi looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Takayanagi!

Takayanagi throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Norris works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takayanagi passes to side control.
Takayanagi throwing strikes but Norris manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

Norris looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Takayanagi is looking for a sweep.

Norris is trying to get an arm triangle but Takayanagi is defending well.

Norris is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Takayanagi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takayanagi tries to buck Norris off but Norris is having none of it.

Norris is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Takayanagi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Takayanagi is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Takayanagi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Takayanagi is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Norris off and has taken his back!
Oooh a big shot gets through from Takayanagi. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takayanagi throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Takayanagi lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Takayanagi wants to control but Norris is keeping busy.

Takayanagi looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Norris is controlling Takayanagi 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.
Norris pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Takayanagi is keeping the position for now.

Takayanagi has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Norris is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Takayanagi.

Norris is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Takayanagi has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takayanagi is trying to get back to half guard.
Norris wants to lay and pray for a moment but Takayanagi keeps working.
Norris might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Takayanagi haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Norris working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Takayanagi is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sub Norris will probably get the nod.
That's time! Takayanagi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Norris gets a double leg takedown into Takayanagi's guard.
Norris pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Takayanagi is keeping the position for now.

Takayanagi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Norris defends well.
Sub Norris has got the better of the ground game so far.
Takayanagi keeping full guard, as Norris tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norris slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Norris tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takayanagi gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Norris seems to be looking for submissions.

Norris is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Takayanagi is trying to get back to full guard.
Takayanagi misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Norris has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Norris is pressing down on Takayanagi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Takayanagi is holding on for now.
Takayanagi is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Takayanagi is defending against the submission attempts here by Norris.
Takayanagi throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Norris seems to be working for a kimura but Takayanagi defends the submission attempt.

Norris is working for a kimura but Takayanagi is defending it quite comfortably.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norris moves nicely into side control.
Takayanagi manages to get back to half guard.
Takayanagi landing rabbit punches to the side of Norris's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.

Norris is working for a kimura but Takayanagi is defending it quite comfortably.
Takayanagi wants to control but Norris is keeping busy.
Takayanagi moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Norris stopping the sweep attempt from Takayanagi.
Takayanagi is working hard here to advance position.
Norris tries to free his leg and advance position but Takayanagi is retaining full guard.
Takayanagi keeping moving, preventing Norris from controlling successfully.

Takayanagi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Takayanagi looking for a sweep. Not yet Takayanagi, not yet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Takayanagi is looking for a triangle but Norris pushes his legs off easily.
Takayanagi keeping moving, preventing Norris from controlling successfully.
Norris wants to pass the guard but Takayanagi is keeping the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sub Norris showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Takayanagi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Norris shoots in for a takedown but Takayanagi shows good takedown defense.

Norris shoots in and bounces Takayanagi off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Norris won't allow Takayanagi to sweep him here.
Norris passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Norris avoids the strikes from the bottom by Takayanagi.
Norris working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Norris is trying to get an arm triangle but Takayanagi is defending well.
Takayanagi is looking to regain half guard here but Norris keeps moving and retains side control.
Takayanagi struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takayanagi is looking for a sweep.
Takayanagi manages to get back to half guard.

Norris is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Takayanagi defends it well.

Takayanagi actively working from the bottom here.
Takayanagi is trying to control but Norris passes into side control!

Norris swings around for an armbar but Takayanagi sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Norris's guard.
Norris trying to keep a closed guard but Takayanagi is proving a slippery customer.
Our spies down at at Irish Collar-and-Elbow Academy inform us that Norris has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norris is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Norris looking for a guillotine here but Takayanagi defends easily.
Takayanagi is pushing down on Norris's leg trying to pass to half guard. Norris is fighting to maintain full guard but Takayanagi has managed to sneak the leg through.
Norris trying to control but Takayanagi postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takayanagi is working for a kimura but Norris is defending it quite comfortably.
Norris tries to get to full guard but Takayanagi has control of the leg.
Norris wants to get back to full guard but Takayanagi has mounted him!
Sub Norris is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Takayanagi working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Takayanagi thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Norris keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Takayanagi scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Norris?
Norris is in all sorts of trouble here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Norris tries to hold on but Takayanagi pushes him away.
Meguru Takayanagi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Takayanagi pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Meguru Takayanagi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Norris has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sub Norris!
Sub Norris is the new featherweight champion!
Sub Norris thanked the fans post fight for their support.