PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Balls Mahoney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takeshi Naoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mahoney
vs
Naoki

182 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

KAISER

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Balls Mahoney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Takeshi Naoki!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Dean Styles and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mahoney staying out of range there.

Naoki shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mahoney's guard.
Naoki is working Mahoney over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mahoney is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mahoney really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mahoney is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Naoki is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Naoki avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Naoki won't allow Mahoney to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naoki with a nice head shot there.
Mahoney keeping moving, preventing Naoki from controlling successfully.
Naoki looking to pass the guard.
Naoki works over Mahoney with some ground and pound from guard.
Naoki really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mahoney. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Naoki is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mahoney wants to sweep here but Naoki controlling him for the moment.

Mahoney wriggles free and stands up.
Naoki misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mahoney with a lazy takedown attempt

so Naoki counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Naoki is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Naoki trying to control the position from guard on top but Mahoney is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Naoki cracks Mahoney with a solid left hand.
Naoki postures up and lands a big shot to Mahoney's brow.
Naoki keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mahoney's head.
Naoki wants to control from the top but Mahoney keeps moving.
Naoki working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mahoney's head.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Mahoney will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Naoki wants to control from the top but Mahoney keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Mahoney keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Naoki.
Balls Mahoney seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Naoki looks to land a combination but Mahoney avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahoney tries to score a power double leg takedown but Naoki sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mahoney somewhat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Naoki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mahoney.
Naoki tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mahoney's elbow.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Naoki struggles to land a body shot inside as Mahoney controls his hands.
Mahoney prevents a takedown attempt there.
Naoki prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Balls Mahoney. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naoki wants a takedown.
Mahoney gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Naoki.
Naoki misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mahoney tries to pull guard but Naoki won't allow it.
Mahoney misses with a knee to the head.
Naoki is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mahoney gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Mahoney has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Naoki avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Naoki tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mahoney's elbow.
Naoki misses with a hook from the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mahoney throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Naoki blocks it with crossed arms.
Naoki misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mahoney jumps guard but Naoki turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Mahoney letting Naoki take a breather here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takeshi Naoki dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mahoney misses with a takedown attempt - Naoki sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mahoney moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Mahoney shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Naoki pinned against the cage. Naoki gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Naoki instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Naoki throws a head punch that misses.
Naoki throws a head punch that misses.
Naoki has Mahoney pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mahoney manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naoki tries to work over Mahoney's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Naoki avoiding damage as Mahoney throws knees to the body.
Naoki is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mahoney pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Naoki is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Mahoney is defending well.
Balls Mahoney has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takeshi Naoki.
Naoki tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mahoney avoids it.
Naoki missing with knees to the body.
Mahoney on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Naoki pressing his opponent against the cage.
Mahoney looking for a takedown.
Naoki is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mahoney is defending well for now.
Naoki has a couple of punches blocked by Mahoney.

Naoki tightens his grip and picks Mahoney up, before dumping him to the ground. Mahoney manages to land in guard.

Mahoney is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Mahoney is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mahoney throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Naoki blocks it with crossed arms.

Mahoney breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mahoney is defended easily by Naoki.
Naoki tries to bum rush Mahoney with a series of wild strikes but Mahoney uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Naoki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Mahoney shoots in and bounces Naoki off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Mahoney trying to move into half guard but instead Naoki has managed to sweep!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahoney not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Naoki cracks Mahoney with a solid left hand.
Naoki with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Mahoney not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Naoki with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Naoki trying to control the position from guard on top but Mahoney is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mahoney is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Naoki presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Mahoney is trying to maintain a safe position but Naoki gets an underhook and turns Mahoney into the cage.
Naoki misses with a punch on the inside.
Naoki is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Mahoney is defending well.
Mahoney tries to pull guard but Naoki forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Mahoney blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Naoki pushes off an throws an elbow but Mahoney leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naoki has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mahoney avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Naoki is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mahoney gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Naoki struggles to land a body shot inside as Mahoney controls his hands.
Naoki is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Mahoney is looking to control Naoki's arms but Naoki gets an underhook and turns him. Now Mahoney has his back to the cage.
Naoki goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mahoney looking to throw knees to the head but Naoki is blocking nicely.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Naoki takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Mahoney drops down looking for an ankle pick but Naoki pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nice takedown defense from Naoki. No joy for Mahoney on that attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mahoney is trying hard to land a takedown here. Naoki sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mahoney slips a jab and a cross from Naoki.
Mahoney shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Naoki defends it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Takeshi Naoki will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Naoki misses with the combination.
Naoki misses with a wild body shot.
Mahoney with a lazy takedown attempt

and Naoki counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Naoki.
Naoki seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Mahoney is refusing to be controlled, as Naoki sits in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Naoki is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Mahoney on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Naoki lands a nice short elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahoney tries to roll over but Naoki keeps him under control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Naoki slaps away a takedown attempt from Mahoney, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Mahoney has taken the fight to the clinch.
Naoki doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Naoki misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Naoki has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Mahoney clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Naoki is trying to stick to Mahoney's back but Mahoney is turning into Naoki. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Naoki's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Mahoney.
Naoki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mahoney is one step ahead there.
Mahoney engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naoki has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Mahoney trying to control but Naoki is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naoki trying to keep a closed guard but Mahoney is proving a slippery customer.
Mahoney trying to control the position from guard on top but Naoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mahoney is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Naoki is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Naoki has escaped and now he's on top!

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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

Mahoney tries to sprawl but Naoki drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Naoki scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Naoki stalling away here and it's allowed Mahoney to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Naoki is in close to Mahoney's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mahoney keeping moving, preventing Naoki from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takeshi Naoki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Naoki has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takeshi Naoki!