PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Amir Taake (ranked 6436 p4p, 441 weight class) and Kazuo Koizumi (ranked 8432 p4p, 490 weight class). Kazuo Koizumi is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Taake
vs
Koizumi

166 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

168 cm
20
142 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Amir Taake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kazuo Koizumi!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Anthony Taglia and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Taake closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Koizumi quickly recovers to half guard.
Koizumi throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Taake wants to take a breather but Koizumi is having none of it.
Koizumi misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Koizumi tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Taake prevents Koizumi from improving his position.
Koizumi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Koizumi tries to strike from the bottom.
Koizumi managing to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Koizumi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Koizumi throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taake trying to stand up but can't free himself from Koizumi's guard.
Koizumi keeping moving, preventing Taake from controlling successfully.
Koizumi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Koizumi throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Koizumi tries to strike from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Taake throws a leg kick

and Koizumi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Taake takes a knee to the side of the body.
Koizumi is trying to pull guard but Taake has him pressed against the ropes.
Taake is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Koizumi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koizumi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Koizumi is looking to control Taake's arms but Taake gets an underhook and turns him. Now Koizumi has his back to the ropes.

Koizumi jumps into guard, dragging Taake to the mat.
Taake trying to control but Koizumi is working from the bottom.
Koizumi wants to sweep but no luck.
Koizumi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Taake wanted to stand there but Koizumi had control of the position.
Koizumi keeping full guard, as Taake tries to pass.
Koizumi trying to strike off his back.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Taake wants to control from the top but Koizumi keeps moving.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koizumi will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Amir Taake seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Koizumi enables Taake to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Koizumi manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Taake with a nice head shot there.
Taake working some strikes from top position.
Koizumi keeping moving, preventing Taake from controlling successfully.
Taake won't allow Koizumi to sweep him here.
Taake trying to control but Koizumi is working from the bottom.
Koizumi looking for a sweep. Not yet Koizumi, not yet.

Koizumi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koizumi trying to strike off his back.
Taake trying to control but Koizumi is working from the bottom.

Koizumi has his feet on Taake's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Taake feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Koizumi trying to keep a closed guard but Taake is proving a slippery customer.
Taake stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Koizumi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Koizumi wants to stand but Taake is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kazuo Koizumi will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Koizumi tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Taake counters with a three punch combo that has Koizumi backing up. Koizumi nods at Taake to acknowledge the strikes.

Koizumi looking to score a takedown here. Taake is defending well but Koizumi drives through and ends up in Taake's guard.
Koizumi trying to control but Taake is working from the bottom.

Koizumi postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Taake is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Koizumi, into his guard.

Koizumi will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koizumi wants to get back to his feet but Taake is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Taake drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Taake jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koizumi throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Taake slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Koizumi striking off his back but it's not causing Taake any problems.
Koizumi looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Taake lands a couple of digs.
Koizumi tries to strike from the bottom.
Taake trying to control but Koizumi is working from the bottom.
Koizumi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Taake manages to get himself to full guard.

Taake keeping moving, preventing Koizumi from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taake on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Taake tries to get out of the position.
Koizumi throws a big elbow that misses.
Koizumi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Taake is controlling Koizumi's posture.
Koizumi lands a couple of elbows.
Koizumi wants to control from the top but Taake keeps moving.
Taake wants to get back to his feet but Koizumi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Taake trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Amir Taake is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Taake shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koizumi tries to strike from the bottom.
Koizumi throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Taake won't allow Koizumi to sweep him here.
Koizumi throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Taake has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Koizumi is looking for a triangle but Taake pushes his legs off easily.
Taake trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Koizumi keeping moving, preventing Taake from controlling successfully.
Koizumi wants to sweep here but Taake controlling him for the moment.
Koizumi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Taake is controlling him.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's four 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.

The fighters are working up against the ropes. Koizumi manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the ropes.

Taake pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Koizumi.
Koizumi is breathing heavily.

Taake tries to sprawl but Koizumi drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taake is trying to maintain the position but Koizumi is very close to passing his half guard.
Taake is trying to stand back up but Koizumi is controlling him

Koizumi 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kazuo Koizumi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Taake shoots in and gets a takedown into Koizumi's guard.
Koizumi striking off his back but it's not causing Taake any problems.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Taake avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Taake would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Taake wants to pass the guard but Koizumi is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Koizumi has his foot on Taake's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Taake works his way back into a safe position though.
Koizumi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kazuo Koizumi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Taake trying to control the position from guard on top but Koizumi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taake stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Koizumi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Taake throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Taake knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Koizumi on the ground.
Koizumi working a defensive guard here.
Koizumi throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Koizumi looking for a sweep. Not yet Koizumi, not yet.
Koizumi has momentary wrist control but Taake slips an elbow through the middle.

Koizumi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Koizumi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Taake scoring with some ground and pound.
Koizumi working a defensive guard here.
Koizumi trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Koizumi keeping full guard, as Taake tries to pass.
Koizumi wants to sweep but no luck.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Koizumi shoots in looking for a takedown. Taake tries to sprawl out of it but Koizumi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Taake manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Koizumi gets caught flat footed, as Taake shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Koizumi keeping full guard, as Taake tries to pass.
Taake working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Koizumi's head.
Koizumi doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Koizumi throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Taake tries to free his leg and advance position but Koizumi is retaining full guard.
Kazuo Koizumi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Koizumi is trying to control the position but Taake postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taake trying to control but Koizumi is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Taake trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Taake scores with a takedown into Koizumi's guard.
Taake trying to control the position from guard on top but Koizumi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Koizumi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Amir Taake showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Koizumi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazuo Koizumi!