PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Meguru Takayanagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kantemir Khashukaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Meguru Takayanagi is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Takayanagi
vs
Khashukaev

171 cm
23
154 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

166 cm
19
145 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Urban Fighter

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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Meguru Takayanagi!
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, Kantemir Khashukaev!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Khashukaev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Khashukaev misses with a straight right.

Khashukaev scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Takayanagi is looking to regain half guard here but Khashukaev keeps moving and retains side control.
Khashukaev scoring with punches and elbows.
Takayanagi is looking to regain half guard here but Khashukaev keeps moving and retains side control.
Khashukaev misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khashukaev cracks Takayanagi with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Takayanagi manages to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khashukaev wants to take a breather but Takayanagi is having none of it.
Takayanagi gets back to full guard.
Khashukaev lands a couple of elbows.

Takayanagi working for a triangle but Khashukaev defends it easily.

Takayanagi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Khashukaev can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Khashukaev distracts Takayanagi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Khashukaev makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Takayanagi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Khashukaev defends well.
Khashukaev content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Takayanagi has momentary wrist control but Khashukaev slips an elbow through the middle.
Khashukaev seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Takayanagi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khashukaev wants to stand but Takayanagi is controlling his posture from full guard.
Takayanagi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Khashukaev.
Khashukaev is looking to work some ground and pound but Takayanagi has wrist control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Khashukaev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Khashukaev shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Khashukaev showed some decent athleticism there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khashukaev trying to control the pace.

Takayanagi looking for submissions off his back.
Khashukaev is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Takayanagi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Khashukaev scores with a couple of nice shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kantemir Khashukaev dominated that round.
That's time! Takayanagi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nice shot by Takayanagi.
The fighters circling - Takayanagi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Takayanagi stuffs the takedown attempt from Khashukaev. Khashukaev gets slowly back to his feet.

Takayanagi tries to keep at a distance but Khashukaev has taken the fight into the clinch.
Takayanagi holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takayanagi is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Khashukaev is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Takayanagi slowing the pace effectively.
Khashukaev wants a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Khashukaev has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Takayanagi is trying to keep an underhook but Khashukaev manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Khashukaev is trying to control the action in half guard but Takayanagi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Takayanagi actively working from the bottom here.
Takayanagi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Khashukaev.
Takayanagi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Khashukaev scores with a couple of nice shots.

Takayanagi actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Still in half guard, Khashukaev seems content to control.
Khashukaev stalling away here and it's allowed Takayanagi to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Takayanagi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Khashukaev wants to control from the top but Takayanagi keeps moving.

Takayanagi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Khashukaev defends well.

Khashukaev stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Kantemir Khashukaev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Khashukaev shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Takayanagi napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Kantemir Khashukaev has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takayanagi is looking to reverse the position.
Takayanagi is trying to work for a sweep but Khashukaev has mounted him!
Takayanagi can't escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Khashukaev landing shots from mount.
Khashukaev is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Takayanagi can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Takayanagi is looking to improve his position but Khashukaev isn't that keen on the idea.
The referee warns Takayanagi that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Khashukaev controlling from mount.
Takayanagi is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khashukaev working the ground and pound effectively.
Khashukaev raining down hammerfists from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Takayanagi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Takayanagi in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kantemir Khashukaev 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!

Khashukaev is trying hard to land a takedown here. Takayanagi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Takayanagi seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Takayanagi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Khashukaev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Takayanagi.
Khashukaev fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Takayanagi. No joy for Khashukaev on that attempt.
Meguru Takayanagi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kantemir Khashukaev.
Khashukaev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Khashukaev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Khashukaev is defended easily by Takayanagi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khashukaev misses with a right hand

and Takayanagi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Takayanagi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Khashukaev is keeping the position for now.
Takayanagi trying to control but Khashukaev is working from the bottom.
Takayanagi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Khashukaev wants to stand and escape but Takayanagi is having none of it.
Takayanagi trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Khashukaev manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Khashukaev scoring with some ground and pound.
Khashukaev works over Takayanagi with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Khashukaev's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Khashukaev is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Khashukaev scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Khashukaev looking to pass the guard.
Takayanagi can't keep his opponent in guard - Khashukaev advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Ground and pound from Khashukaev.
Takayanagi is staying active underneath Khashukaev, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takayanagi actively working from the bottom here.
Khashukaev trying to control the action but Takayanagi is working from the bottom.
Khashukaev lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Well, if Khashukaev is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Takayanagi is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Meguru Takayanagi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Takayanagi on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Takayanagi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Khashukaev scores with a couple of nice shots.
Takayanagi moves into full guard.
Khashukaev trying to control the position from guard on top but Takayanagi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Takayanagi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kantemir Khashukaev.
I've got Khashukaev 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kantemir Khashukaev!
During a confident post fight interview, Kantemir Khashukaev thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.