PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Proper Communist (ranked 2795 p4p, 297 weight class) and Eigi Takagi (ranked 2806 p4p, 298 weight class). Takagi is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Welcome to the Jungle. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Communist
vs
Takagi

176 cm
28
160 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

177 cm
29
166 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Proper Communist!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Eigi Takagi!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Communist misses the target.
Proper Communist seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takagi tries to move into range but Communist moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Communist swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Communist pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Communist comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
The fighters circling - Communist throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Communist forces Takagi back against the ropes and clinches.
Takagi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Communist just stands there and leans against the ropes.

Takagi jumps into guard, dragging Communist to the mat.
Takagi 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.

Communist stands up and waves to Takagi to follow him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Communist lands with a slapping head kick.
Communist connects with the punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Communist lands with an uppercut that bounces Takagi off the ropes and back into range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Communist lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Communist scores with a nice head shot.
Communist's jab looks to have found its range, popping Takagi under the eye.
Communist connects with the punch.
Communist misses with a looping left.
Takagi throws out a counter right but Communist avoids it with no problem.
Communist lands a nice shot to the body.
Takagi takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Communist clobbers Takagi with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Communist slips a jab and a cross from Takagi.

Communist moves into range and clinches up with Takagi.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takagi dodges an elbow strike from Communist.
Communist lands an elbow inside that Takagi shrugs off.
Communist tries to work over Takagi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Communist lands an elbow inside that Takagi shrugs off.
Takagi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Takagi tries to pull guard but Communist forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
Proper Communist has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eigi Takagi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takagi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Communist smiles and moves away.
Communist seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Communist slips a straight right by Takagi.

Communist darts in and clinches Takagi up against the ropes.
Communist swings wildly with an uppercut but Takagi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Communist lands a right hand that snaps the head of Takagi backwards.
Communist lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Communist lands a body punch.

Takagi tightens his grip and picks Communist up, before dumping him to the ground. Communist manages to land in guard.
Communist keeping full guard, as Takagi tries to pass.
Communist wants to stand and escape but Takagi is having none of it.
Communist keeping full guard, as Takagi tries to pass.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Communist is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Communist trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Proper Communist dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Communist throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nice straight punches there by Communist. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Communist.
Communist ducks under a wild hook from Takagi.
Communist throws a nice head kick!
Takagi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Communist fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Takagi has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Takagi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Communist but Communist pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Communist throws a quick inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Communist finds it's way through Takagi's defenses.
Communist is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Takagi can do to turn this around?
Communist fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Takagi has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Takagi stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Communist.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Communist catches Takagi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
The fight stays on the outside here - Communist looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takagi lunges at Communist with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Communist's hand.
Communist feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Takagi's calf.

Communist moves into the clinch.
Communist lands with a left to the head.
Communist lands an uppercut.
A short right from Communist on the inside.

Takagi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Communist bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Takagi tries to move into range but Communist moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Takagi throws a body punch but Communist moves out of range.
Takagi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Communist sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Proper Communist is winning the standup battle so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jab, jab by Communist - just one landing.
Takagi swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Communist lands a head shot.
Takagi has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Proper Communist is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Communist stuffs the takedown.
Proper Communist has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eigi Takagi.
Communist connects with a leg kick. Takagi looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Eigi Takagi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A slapping leg kick lands for Communist.
A punch lands to the side of Takagi 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Communist lands with a thumping leg kick.
Takagi on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Takagi closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Takagi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Communist doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Takagi.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Communist wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Proper Communist dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
An inside leg kick lands from Communist.
Eigi Takagi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Communist ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Communist scores with a head kick. Takagi tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Communist looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Communist throws a front kick aimed at Takagi's knee but Takagi avoids it well.
Communist throws a combination. Takagi tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Communist digs a good body shot into Takagi's ribs.
Takagi blocks a low kick nicely.
Takagi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Communist circles away.
Takagi's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Communist's corner calls for a 1-2. Communist obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takagi takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Communist lands with a good body shot.
Communist throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Takagi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Communist throws out a powerful jab.
Takagi is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.

Communist forces Takagi back against the ropes and clinches.
Communist lands a body punch in the clinch.
Communist lands a shoulder strike.

Takagi is rocked!

Communist breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice cross by Communist.
Takagi is still on wobbly legs! Can Communist finish him?
Communist wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Communist throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Takagi on the side of the head.
Takagi has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Communist lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Takagi gets caught by a big overhand right and goes down! Communist gets on top of him and starts throwing some serious punches until the ref intervenes and stops the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Proper Communist!
In his post fight interview, Proper Communist started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.