PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ichi Takeshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yang Xinhai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Xinhai has chosen Loco as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Takeshi
vs
Xinhai

155 cm
31
138 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

169 cm
29
143 lbs
17 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Worldwide Nutrition (160q)
Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ichi Takeshi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 14 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yang Xinhai!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shirou Masuda and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xinhai uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Takeshi.
We've been informed that Xinhai has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Jab, jab by Xinhai - just one landing.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Xinhai.
Nice body kick there by Xinhai.
Takeshi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Takeshi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Xinhai counters with a nice leg kick.
Xinhai scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Takeshi doesn't seem bothered though.
Takeshi takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Takeshi throws an overhand right that lands on Xinhai's shoulder, as Xinhai tries to avoid the shot.
Takeshi throws a shot from downtown. Xinhai moves away and avoids it.
Xinhai tries to counter by closing the distance.
Xinhai fails to land with a series of punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takeshi walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Xinhai slips under a jab.
Takeshi takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Takeshi gets caught flat footed, as Xinhai shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Xinhai trying to control but Takeshi is working from the bottom.
Xinhai throwing strikes from guard but Takeshi blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takeshi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Xinhai looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takeshi working a defensive guard but Xinhai manages to pass into side control anyway.
Takeshi tries to improve position but can't.
Xinhai is working Takeshi over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's two 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.
Takeshi manages to work his way to half guard, despite Xinhai's best efforts.
Takeshi is pressing down on Xinhai's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Xinhai postures up in Takeshi's guard and throws a big left but Takeshi blocks it.
Takeshi being controlled here, momentarily.
Xinhai trying to control but Takeshi is working from the bottom.
Xinhai throws a big elbow that misses.
Xinhai throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Takeshi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Takeshi keeping moving, preventing Xinhai from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xinhai looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Xinhai slips a jab from Takeshi.
Xinhai is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Xinhai lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Donk. Takeshi catches Xinhai right on the button with a cross.
Takeshi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Xinhai throws a leg kick which misses Takeshi's front leg but catches the back leg as Takeshi tries to avoid it.
Takeshi is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Xinhai's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Takeshi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Xinhai counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nice defenses there by Xinhai.
Takeshi digs a good hook to Xinhai's body.
Xinhai misses with a low kick.
Takeshi lands with a hook. Xinhai tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Xinhai drives through with a takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Xinhai throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Xinhai throws a sloppy strike and Takeshi has hooked up an armbar on the loose arm! He's turned and extended fully! Xinhai is forced to tap! Great BJJ from Takeshi!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:21 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ichi Takeshi!
Ichi Takeshi managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, HERITAGE Threads, into his post fight interview.