PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ryo Takajiri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Isaac Curtis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Curtis has chosen Schubert - Ave Maria as his entrance music. Ryo Takajiri has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Takajiri
vs
Curtis

171 cm
20
163 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

176 cm
25
162 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Sun-Tzu

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Ryo Takajiri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Isaac Curtis!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Mauricio Rocha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Curtis misses with a straight left.
Takajiri swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Takajiri lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Isaac Curtis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice cross by Curtis.

Curtis closes the distance and pushes Takajiri back into the cage.
Takajiri blocks a body shot from Curtis.
Still in the clinch, Curtis scores with a nice short uppercut.

It looks like Ryo Takajiri has been cut.
Takajiri can't find room to land a body shot as Curtis controls the action.
Curtis lands on the inside with an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Curtis tries to throw a body punch but Takajiri avoids it by throwing Curtis back against the cage.
Curtis slowing the pace effectively.
Takajiri blocking some punches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Curtis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curtis working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Curtis lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Takajiri.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Curtis working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Curtis lands a hook that snaps the head of Takajiri backwards.
Curtis scores with a shoulder strike.
Curtis throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Takajiri.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Curtis.
Curtis works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Curtis lands with a short shot to the head.
Curtis lands an uppercut.

Takajiri is rocked!

Curtis drops Takajiri onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Takajiri is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!
Oh Takajiri is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Curtis leaning against his opponent.
Curtis throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Takajiris head.
Curtis lands with a left to the head.
Curtis lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Takajiri trying to stall but Curtis improves his position.
Curtis lands a right hand.
Curtis working aggressively here.
Nice body punch from Curtis - that landed with a thud.
Curtis misses with the head strike.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Curtis as Takajiri tries to tie him up.
Takajiri seems to have got his legs back now.
Curtis lands with a left to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Curtis.

Curtis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Takajiri seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

Curtis clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Curtis lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Takajiri or not.
Curtis misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Takajiri tries to work over Curtis's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Curtis misses with the head strike.
Curtis lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Curtis lands a hook that snaps the head of Takajiri backwards.
Curtis slows down the pace here.
Curtis lands a nice uppercut.
Curtis throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Takajiris head.
Curtis scores with a shot to the side of Takajiri's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takajiri has had enough of the clinch but Curtis keeps him there for the moment.
Curtis lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Takajiri backwards.

Curtis pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A shot to the body from Curtis misses
and Takajiri counters with a nice body kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Curtis fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Takajiri manages to avoid it.
Takajiri tried to counter with a leg kick but Curtis avoided it.
Curtis throws a right hand that misses
and Takajiri counters with a body kick.
Takajiri steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Curtis.
Takajiri avoids the body shot from Curtis.
Takajiri tried to counter with a leg kick but Curtis avoided it.
Curtis bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Takajiri's head backwards.
Curtis misses with a shot to the body
and Takajiri counters with a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Isaac Curtis dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ryo Takajiri's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Takajiri on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Curtis misses with a looping right.
Curtis misses with a straight right.
Takajiri appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Curtis's coach down at Barbell Brigade was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Curtis's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Takajiri avoids the body shot from Curtis.
Takajiri throws a quick counter kick to the body but Curtis avoids it.
Curtis lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Takajiri circles away quickly and effectively.
Curtis misses with a combination
and Takajiri counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Curtis jabs at Takajiri's body.
Curtis throws a body punch but Takajiri moves out of range.
Takajiri thinks about countering with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curtis throws a jab but it's blocked by Takajiri.
Takajiri moves out of range as Curtis strikes.
Takajiri avoids the body shot from Curtis.
Takajiri throws a counter high kick but Curtis was just alert enough to avoid it.

Curtis moves into the clinch.
Takajiri is trying to maintain a safe position but Curtis gets an underhook and turns Takajiri into the cage.
Isaac Curtis seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Takajiri tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Curtis's elbow.
Curtis struggles to land a body shot inside as Takajiri controls his hands.
Curtis throws a head punch that misses.
Curtis lands a hook that snaps the head of Takajiri backwards.
Curtis tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Curtis holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Takajiri takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Curtis cracks Takajiri with a nice body shot.
Curtis lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Curtis blocks a body shot from Takajiri.

Curtis breaks from the clinch.
Curtis on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Takajiri. Takajiri obviously looking to wear him down.
Curtis works Takajiri's body with a nice hook.
Takajiri takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Takajiri gets tackled into the cage by Curtis. Curtis maintains the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Curtis lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Curtis is leaning against Takajiri and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Curtis lands a right hand.
Takajiri blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Curtis misses with some punches.
Takajiri trying to control the position but instead, Curtis has worked for underhooks and has pushed Takajiri into the cage.
Curtis lands with a left to the head.
Curtis effectively controlling the action here.
Curtis lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Takajiri backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Curtis lands a hook to the side of the head.
Curtis lands a left hand.
A right handed body shot lands from Curtis.
Curtis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Curtis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Curtis getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Curtis misses with a telegraphed body shot
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Curtis changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Takajiri throws a half hearted mid kick.
Curtis throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Takajiri sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Takajiri half committed to a counter leg kick.
Curtis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
As Curtis backs away, Takajiri returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Isaac Curtis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ryo Takajiri's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Curtis throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Takajiri dodges the punch combination from Curtis.
Curtis cracks Takajiri with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Takajiri misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Curtis throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Takajiri thinks about countering with a body kick.
Takajiri takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Curtis lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curtis swings for the body but Takajiri moves out of range.
As Curtis backs away, Takajiri returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Curtis misses the shot to the body.
Takajiri appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Takajiri takes one on the button.
Takajiri throws a sloppy head kick
and Curtis counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Curtis is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Takajiri.
Curtis throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Curtis misses with an uppercut.
Takajiri throws a quick counter head kick but Curtis was just out of range.
Takajiri moves out of range of the strikes.
Takajiri thinks about countering with a body kick.
Takajiri slips under a jab.
Takajiri is looking to counter with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Curtis finds it's target.
Takajiri takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Curtis lands an uppercut out of nowhere! Takajiri falls backwards - clearly groggy! Curtis dives in and finishes the fight with more strikes for a TKO finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Isaac Curtis!
Post fight, Isaac Curtis stared into the camera and said 'The once and future king. '.