PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yuki Takano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jacob Koch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Takano
vs
Koch

169 cm
30
146 lbs
18 - 14 - 0

170 cm
32
149 lbs
25 - 22 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Sully's Bar & Grill

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Yuki Takano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 22 - 0, fighting out of London, Jacob Koch!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Paul Tew and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takano does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Koch jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Koch with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Takano lands a glancing blow to the side of Koch's head.
Takano throws a body kick that misses.
Takano defending well as Koch loads up on a big left hand.
Koch's coach down at ~T~ Troid - Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Koch's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Takano uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Koch.
Takano swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Koch.
Koch walks into a left hand.
Koch throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Takano will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A head kick by Koch misses
and Takano cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Koch throws a lazy right hand but Takano sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Koch misses with a low kick as Takano jumps back.
Takano gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koch pushes Takano away with a front kick.
Takano throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Koch let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Takano checks the leg kick nicely there.
Takano lands a nice leg kick that just misses Koch's sensitive parts.
Koch throws a jab but it's blocked by Takano.
Takano chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Takano uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Koch has time to react.
Takano misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Koch.
Koch checks the leg kick.
Takano throws a lazy uppercut

and Koch counters by moving into the clinch.
Koch letting Takano take a breather here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Takano.
A short right from Takano.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koch pushes Takano back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Koch gets control of Takano's arms and successfully pulls guard. Koch will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
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!
Takano pushing down on Koch's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Koch slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Takano has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Koch had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Takano defends it easily.

Koch had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Takano defends it easily.
Takano is stalling in the full guard.
Takano stopping the sweep attempt from Koch.
Takano works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Koch looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Takano is pressing down on Koch's thigh, looking to free his foot. Koch is holding on for now.
Koch is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Takano takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Takano's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Koch wants to control but Takano is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takano sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Koch moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Takano trying to control but Koch is working from the bottom.

Koch is looking for a triangle but Takano pushes his legs off easily.
Takano controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Koch is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Takano is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Takano blocks a jab.
Takano throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Koch counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Takano clinches with his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Yuki Takano will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Takano looks to clinch
and Koch counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Takano tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Koch was well out of range. Poor timing from Takano.
Koch throws a head kick but Takano moves out of range.
Takano blocks a head kick by Koch.
Yuki Takano is winning the standup battle so far.
Takano thows a leg kick but Koch checks it
and Koch counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That kick from Koch tenderised Takano's leg. Takano is trying to keep his angry face on.
Takano misses with a leg kick
and Koch connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Koch connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Koch is looking to land body kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koch changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Koch misses with a head kick.
Takano connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Takano has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Takano there as he acknowledges the shot.
Takano moves out of range of the strikes.
Yuki Takano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koch takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Takano takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Koch tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Takano lands a nice shot to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Koch.
Takano clobbers Koch with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Takano dips to his left and cracks Koch with an uppercut!
Takano connects with a single shot there.
Takano throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Koch! But no joy.
Koch takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takano buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Takano takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Takano throws an overhand right that lands on Koch's shoulder, as Koch tries to avoid the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takano feints and then cracks Koch's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Koch down.
Koch misses with a body kick.
Koch throws a front kick aimed at Takano's knee but Takano avoids it well.
Takano misses with a wild body shot.
Takano throws the left hand but Koch avoids the punch easily.
Koch throws out a counter right but Takano avoids it with no problem.
A head kick misses from Takano.
Takano scores with a jab. Koch acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Koch misses with a hook.
Takano fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Takano lands a nice leg kick that just misses Koch's sensitive parts.
Takano will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Koch uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Takano.
Takano dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koch moves out of range as Takano strikes.
Koch's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Takano is looking to slow Koch down with leg kicks.
Koch throws a hook but Takano avoids it easily.
Takano fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Koch is out of range.
Koch throws a body punch but Takano moves out of range.
Takano tries to work over Koch's front leg with a kick but Koch checks it.
A little jabbing left from Koch on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A chopping leg kick lands by Takano.
Koch showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Takano.
Takano throws a poor cross that misses
letting Koch counter with a right hand.
Koch is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Takano connects with an inside leg kick.
Takano misses with a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koch on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Takano. Takano obviously looking to wear him down.
Takano tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Koch manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Takano takes a shot right to the bread basket.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Koch on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Takano. Takano obviously looking to wear him down.
A chopping leg kick lands by Takano.
A chopping leg kick lands by Koch.
Takano gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Koch counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Koch throws out a loose jab but Takano uses good head movement to avoid it.
Koch throws a front kick aimed at Takano's knee but Takano avoids it well.
Koch throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Koch misses with an uppercut.
Koch punishes Takano's body with a nice straight punch.
Takano misses with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Yuki Takano will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Takano lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Koch uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Takano.
It seemed like Koch was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Takano fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Koch checks it well.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Takano lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Koch has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Koch and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Koch tries to counter with a clinch but Takano shakes him off and moves away.
Takano misses with an uppercut
and Koch connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Koch is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Takano.
It looked like Takano wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Koch lands a slapping body shot.
Takano ducks under a wild hook from Koch.
Takano looks to land a left hand but Koch moved out of range nicely.
Koch tries to counter by closing the distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Takano gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Takano working aggressively here.
Koch stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A shot in the inside from Koch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takano misses with a punch to the body.
Koch misses with a hook to the ribs.
Still in the clinch, Takano scores with a nice short uppercut.
Koch tries to pull guard but Takano won't allow it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Takano.
Koch tries to pull guard but Takano holds him up against the cage and eventually Koch drops back down to his feet.
Takano tries a body shot but Koch blocks it.
Koch fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Takano misses with a punch to the body.

Koch has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Takano uses from the top position.
Koch keeping moving, preventing Takano from controlling successfully.
Takano stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Koch swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Takano showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Jacob Koch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koch is adopting a defensive guard.
Koch looking to hit a scissor sweep but Takano is one step ahead there.

Takano avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Takano stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Koch swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Takano won't allow Koch to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takano sitting in guard here, content to control.
Koch looking to hit a scissor sweep but Takano is one step ahead there.

Koch working for a triangle but Takano defends it easily.
Takano is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A jab from Takano misses.

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.
Koch wants to land a leg kick but Takano is out of range.
Takano fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Koch manages to avoid it.
A nice side step and Koch releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Koch tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Takano was well out of range. Poor timing from Koch.
Takano scores with the left hand. Koch knows he should have avoided that one.
An inside leg kick lands from Takano.
Takano dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Koch wants to clinch up but Takano keeps it at a distance.
Takano appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Takano misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Takano tries to work over Koch's front leg with a kick but Koch checks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A nice inside leg kick there by Takano. That's going to slow Koch down.
Koch connects with a good right hand that stumbles Takano. Takano circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Takano with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Takano misses with a lunging right hand
and Koch counters with a nice body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuki Takano showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Takano, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Yuki Takano!
In his post fight interview, Yuki Takano started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.