PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Phil Harrass (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ichi Takeshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harrass's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Tomorrow. Phil Harrass has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Harrass
vs
Takeshi

171 cm
25
148 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

155 cm
38
138 lbs
22 - 15 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Phil Harrass!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ichi Takeshi!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harrass bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Takeshi's head backwards.
Takeshi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Harrass has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Hellfire Antechamber in the buildup to the fight.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Takeshi.
Harrass wants to control but Takeshi postures up.
Takeshi works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Harrass tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Takeshi wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
You can see the frustration on Harrass's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Takeshi working the ground and pound but Harrass is defending the strikes.
Harrass gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Harrass preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Takeshi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Harrass defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harrass tries to get to full guard but Takeshi has control of the leg.

Harrass looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Takeshi 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.
Harrass is trying to control but can't.
Takeshi is looking to advance position but Harrass won't allow it.
Takeshi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two 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.

Takeshi seems to be working for a kimura but Harrass defends the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Harrass gets full guard.
Harrass keeping moving, preventing Takeshi from controlling successfully.

Takeshi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Harrass has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Takeshi has managed to get both his arms back between Harrass's legs - danger averted.
Takeshi slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Harrass struggling a bit here.
Harrass manages to work his way to half guard, despite Takeshi's best efforts.
Harrass trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harrass tries to roll over but Takeshi keeps him under control.
Takeshi is thwarting Harrass's attempts to control the position.
Takeshi trying to mount his opponent but Harrass defends it.
Takeshi is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Takeshi lands with some strikes.
Harrass is looking to improve his position but Takeshi isn't that keen on the idea.
Harrass manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Harrass looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Harrass has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Takeshi escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Takeshi!
Harrass is not content to let Takeshi control the position.
You can see the frustration on Harrass's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Harrass tries to buck Takeshi off but Takeshi is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Takeshi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Harrass keeps working.
Harrass prevents Takeshi from improving position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ichi Takeshi dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Takeshi closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Harrass's guard.
Takeshi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Harrass has his foot on Takeshi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Takeshi works his way back into a safe position though.

Harrass looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ichi Takeshi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Harrass trying to keep a closed guard but Takeshi is proving a slippery customer.
Takeshi with a nice head shot there.

Harrass escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Takeshi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Harrass looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Takeshi has picked Harrass up and slammed him! Harrass can't keep hold of the triangle and Takeshi manages to pass to side control!
Takeshi in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Harrass's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Takeshi goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Harrass rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Takeshi's guard! Nice work there by Harrass!
Harrass is looking to work some ground and pound but Takeshi has wrist control.
Harrass working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Takeshi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Harrass looking to pass the guard.
Harrass wants to control from the top but Takeshi keeps moving.
Takeshi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Harrass postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Harrass will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harrass works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Harrass with the ground and pound but Takeshi uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Harrass looking to sit in guard and control but Takeshi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Takeshi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Harrass is looking for a triangle here but Takeshi uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Takeshi is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Harrass knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Harrass's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Takeshi scoring with punches from side control.
Harrass is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Takeshi is looking to take a break and control but Harrass is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Takeshi controlling the action here.
Harrass trying to control but Takeshi postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Harrass looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Harrass trying to control here.
Takeshi is nestled in close to Harrass, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Harrass tries to roll over but Takeshi keeps him under control.
Takeshi working over Harrass with some ground and pound. Harrass looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Takeshi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Takeshi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Harrass is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Takeshi pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ichi Takeshi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Harrass looks to land a right hand but Takeshi moved out of range.
Harrass throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Takeshi sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Takeshi has managed to clinch.
Harrass keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Takeshi's efforts to push away.
A nice left hand lands by Harrass.
Harrass stalling in the clinch but Takeshi improves position.

Harrass gets control of Takeshi's arms and successfully pulls guard. Harrass will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Takeshi with a nice head shot there.

Harrass working for a triangle but Takeshi defends it easily.
Harrass looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harrass utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harrass keeping moving, preventing Takeshi from controlling successfully.
Harrass is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Takeshi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Harrass is trying to keep Takeshi in close.
Harrass looking for a sweep. Not yet Harrass, not yet.
Harrass keeping moving, preventing Takeshi from controlling successfully.
Harrass wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Takeshi looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Phil Harrass has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harrass is looking for a sweep.
Harrass is trying to control Takeshi's posture but Takeshi avoids it.
Takeshi working the head with strikes.
Harrass tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Harrass struggling a bit here.

Takeshi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Takeshi tries for a kimura but Harrass is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeshi lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Harrass looks to move to half guard but instead Takeshi has passed into mount! Damn!
Takeshi lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Takeshi avoids the attempt from Harrass to control.
Harrass keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Harrass is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Takeshi.
Harrass gets back to half guard.
Takeshi landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ichi Takeshi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Takeshi is taking a breather. Harrass says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Harrass is trying to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Harrass looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Harrass slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ichi Takeshi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Takeshi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ichi Takeshi!
An out of breath Ichi Takeshi thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.