PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ryosuke Takahashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshihiro Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Takahashi
vs
Akiyama

180 cm
21
185 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

178 cm
22
185 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

[JMFC] Arashi Fighting Nutrition Q156 RECOVERY!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryosuke Takahashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshihiro Akiyama!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shigeki Sano and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takahashi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Akiyama moves away.
Akiyama tries to clinch but Takahashi is having none of it.
Takahashi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Horrible takedown by Takahashi or perhaps it was just good defense by Akiyama which made him look bad.
Takahashi swats away the attempt to clinch by Akiyama.
Akiyama is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Takahashi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Akiyama circles away.
Akiyama wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akiyama tries to clinch there but Takahashi circles away.
Akiyama tries to clinch but Takahashi moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Takahashi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yoshihiro Akiyama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takahashi keeps the fight on the outside.
Akiyama tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Takahashi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Akiyama tries to clinch there but Takahashi circles away.
Akiyama moves in looking to clinch but Takahashi pushes him off.
Akiyama is looking to clinch but Takahashi is avoiding it.
Akiyama tries to clinch up.
Akiyama tries to move into range but Takahashi moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Takahashi closes the distance and clinches up with Akiyama, looking for a takedown. Takahashi pushes Akiyama against the cage but Akiyama circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryosuke Takahashi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Akiyama. No joy for Takahashi on that attempt.
Takahashi keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two 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.
Takahashi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Akiyama as he avoids it easily.
Takahashi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Akiyama doesn't manage to clinch there - Takahashi circles away.
Akiyama tries to clinch but Takahashi moves out of range.
Takahashi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Takahashi keeps the fight on the outside.
Akiyama keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Akiyama wants to clinch up but Takahashi keeps it at a distance.
Akiyama is looking to clinch.
Akiyama tries to close the distance and clinch up but Takahashi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Takahashi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Akiyama pinned against the cage. Akiyama gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Akiyama fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama is looking to clinch but Takahashi is avoiding it.
Takahashi looks for a takedown but Akiyama sprawls well.
Takahashi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Akiyama tries to close the distance and clinch but Takahashi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Akiyama looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Akiyama fails with an attempt to clinch.
Akiyama fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The fight stays on the outside here - Akiyama looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Akiyama wants to clinch.
Akiyama is looking to clinch.
Akiyama fails with an attempt to clinch.
Takahashi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Akiyama swivels and escapes.
Akiyama moves in looking to clinch but Takahashi pushes him off.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Takahashi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Akiyama looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Akiyama sneaks out the side door and pushes Takahashi away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Akiyama is looking to clinch but Takahashi is avoiding it.
Takahashi shoots for a takedown but Akiyama saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Yoshihiro Akiyama will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Akiyama tries to clinch up but Takahashi circles away and keeps his distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Akiyama tries a knee to the head but Takahashi blocks it.
Akiyama tries a knee to the head but Takahashi blocks it.
Takahashi wants a takedown but no success here.
Takahashi tries to score a body lock takedown but Akiyama shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Takahashi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryosuke Takahashi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akiyama gets underhooks to prevent Takahashi's takedown attempt.
Akiyama landing knees to the head.

It looks like Ryosuke Takahashi has been cut.
Takahashi jumps guard but Akiyama stands there with Takahashi around his waist. Takahashi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takahashi tries for a takedown but Akiyama manages to get underhooks.
Akiyama with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Akiyama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Takahashi blocks it with crossed arms.
Akiyama lands a knee to the head.
Takahashi is working for takedown but Akiyama is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Akiyama avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Akiyama lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Takahashi drops down looking for an ankle pick but Akiyama pulls his leg out and moves away.
Yoshihiro Akiyama is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Horrible takedown by Takahashi or perhaps it was just good defense by Akiyama which made him look bad.
Akiyama tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Akiyama tries to clinch there but Takahashi circles away.
Akiyama tries to clinch up but Takahashi circles away and keeps his distance.
Akiyama tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Takahashi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Takahashi swats away the attempt to clinch by Akiyama.
Akiyama is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two 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.
The fight stays on the outside here - Akiyama looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Akiyama moves in looking to clinch but Takahashi pushes him off.

Akiyama instigates a clinch.
Takahashi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Akiyama walks away with a smile on his face. Takahashi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Akiyama fails in his attempt to clinch.
Akiyama is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Akiyama fails in his attempt to clinch.
Akiyama tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Takahashi paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takahashi 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.
Akiyama wants to stand but Takahashi is controlling the position.
Akiyama is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Akiyama keeping moving, preventing Takahashi from controlling successfully.

Takahashi is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Takahashi prevents Akiyama from getting back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Akiyama fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama moves in looking to clinch but Takahashi pushes him off.
Akiyama tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Akiyama doesn't manage to clinch there - Takahashi circles away.
Akiyama tries to clinch there but Takahashi circles away.
Takahashi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Akiyama as he avoids it easily.
Akiyama tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Takahashi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Takahashi swats away the attempt to clinch by Akiyama.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Takahashi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Takahashi won't allow Akiyama to get back to his feet.
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 Ryosuke Takahashi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ryosuke Takahashi's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Takahashi swats away the attempt to clinch by Akiyama.
Akiyama doesn't manage to clinch there - Takahashi circles away.
Akiyama tries to clinch there but Takahashi circles away.
Takahashi swats away the attempt to clinch by Akiyama.

Takahashi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Takahashi looking for a guillotine from mount but Akiyama is having none of it.
Akiyama is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Akiyama takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Takahashi looking for a guillotine from mount but Akiyama is having none of it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Takahashi looking for a guillotine from mount but Akiyama is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takahashi working for a guillotine from mount but Akiyama is in no mood to give up.
Akiyama is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Takahashi looking to control but Akiyama is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Akiyama wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Takahashi has control of Akiyama's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Akiyama regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Akiyama really wants to buck Takahashi off and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama is trying to stand but he's just given Takahashi his back.

Takahashi is working for a rear naked choke. Akiyama is not defending it well and Takahashi has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! Akiyama refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of Akiyama's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Ryosuke Takahashi!