PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mamoru Takamura (ranked 2294 p4p, 125 weight class) and Ickey Woods (ranked 2206 p4p, 117 weight class). Takamura comes to the cage accompanied by Pay Money To My Pain - Weight Of My Pride. Woods has chosen System of a Down- Chop Suey as his entrance music. Ickey Woods acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Takamura
vs
Woods

175 cm
26
144 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

178 cm
35
124 lbs
16 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Sportivité

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Mamoru Takamura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ickey Woods!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Steve Smith and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Woods misses with a wild body shot.
Takamura swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Takamura misses with a kick to the body
and Woods counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Woods closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Woods lands in his opponent's guard.
Takamura is adopting a defensive guard.
Woods sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Woods won't allow Takamura to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takamura keeping full guard, as Woods tries to pass.
Woods 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.
Takamura keeping moving, preventing Woods from controlling successfully.
Takamura is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Woods wants to pass the guard but Takamura is keeping the position.
Takamura trying to control the position.
Woods wants to control from the top but Takamura keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Woods won't allow Takamura to sweep him here.
Takamura trying to control the position.

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.
Takamura working a defensive guard but Woods passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takamura trying to control here.
Takamura controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Takamura is trying to maintain the position but Woods is very close to passing his half guard.
Takamura wants to improve his position but Woods is controlling well.
Woods is trying to control. Takamura wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Woods with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Woods is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Woods tries to pass to full mount but Takamura defends it.
Takamura wants to get back to full guard but Woods has mounted him!
Woods with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takamura tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Takamura tries to lock up and control but Woods gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Woods is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Takamura has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Takamura keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Woods wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Takamura tries to reverse the position but Woods maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Woods working for a guillotine from mount but Takamura is in no mood to give up.
Takamura is looking to get to half guard.

Woods working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Takamura bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Our spies down at at Touch Of Death Combat Academy inform us that Woods has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Woods doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Woods working a defensive guard here.
Woods is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Takamura 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 crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Woods looking for a guillotine here but Takamura defends easily.
Takamura controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ickey Woods dominated that round.
That's time! Takamura's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Woods blocks a jab.
Woods connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Woods has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A telegraphed right hand from Takamura misses the target.
Woods throws out a counter right but Takamura avoids it with no problem.

Woods closes the distance and clinches.
Woods is trying to pull guard but Takamura has him pressed against the cage.
Woods jumps guard but Takamura turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Takamura's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Woods lands a lovely overhand right.

Woods has closed the distance and engaged Takamura in a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Takamura.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takamura cracks Woods with a nice body shot.

Takamura breaks the clinch.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Woods tries to clinch up but Takamura circles away and keeps his distance.
Takamura takes a swing at Woods's ribcage but misses.
Woods closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Woods scores with a jab to the body.
Woods swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Takamura counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A telegraphed right hand from Takamura misses the target.
Woods is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Takamura misses with a left hand
and Woods counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Woods connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Woods shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Takamura as he avoids it easily.
A little feinted left hand from Takamura on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Mamoru Takamura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ickey Woods.
A jab from Woods misses.
Nice body punch from Takamura.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takamura throws a lazy right hand but Woods sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Woods instigates a clinch.

Takamura's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Takamura throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Woods counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woods avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Woods throws out a counter right but Takamura avoids it with no problem.
Woods moves out of range as Takamura strikes.
Takamura misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A nice side step and Woods releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Takamura.
The fighters circling - Takamura throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Woods throws the left hand but Takamura avoids the punch easily.
Takamura throws a lazy uppercut
and Woods counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Woods has closed the distance and engaged Takamura in a clinch.

Woods jumps into guard, dragging Takamura to the mat.
Woods keeping moving, preventing Takamura from controlling successfully.

Woods looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Woods keeping full guard, as Takamura tries to pass.
Woods not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Woods is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Woods looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Woods controls Takamura momentarily but Takamura frees himself.
Takamura stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Woods swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ickey Woods will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Takamura throws a quick inside leg kick.
Woods tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Takamura paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Takamura looks to land a left hand but Woods moved out of range nicely.
The crowd cheers as Takamura lands an impressive looking overhand right. Woods doesn't seem phased though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Woods connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Takamura momentarily.

Takamura lands a big uppercut and Woods crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Woods looks OK. Takamura waves Woods back to his feet!

Woods is rocked!
Takamura looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Takamura lands with a right and another and another! Woods is in big trouble! Takamura lands again and this time it's lights out for Woods! A quality knockout there for Takamura.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Mamoru Takamura!
In his post fight interview, Mamoru Takamura started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.