PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Carl Sagan (ranked 3188 p4p, 24149 weight class) and Genkei Takahashi (ranked 347 p4p, 709 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Sagan
vs
Takahashi

170 cm
20
155
2 - 4 - 0

183 cm
21
169
0 - 1 - 1

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Self confident

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

The Stuff

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Carl Sagan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Genkei Takahashi!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Elvis Blanc and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sagan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Takahashi.
Sagan throws a head kick but Takahashi moves out of range.
Sagan misses with the body kick

and Takahashi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've been hearing good reports from Sagan's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Takahashi trying to control but Sagan is working from the bottom.
Takahashi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Takahashi sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Takahashi slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Sagan is trying to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takahashi looks up at the clock and then as Sagan takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Takahashi smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Sagan struggling a bit here.
Sagan is trying to improve his position.
Takahashi working the head and body with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sagan manages to work his way to half guard, despite Takahashi's best efforts.
Sagan has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Takahashi is working away from the top position though.
Still in half guard, Takahashi seems content to control.

Sagan looking for submissions off his back.
Sagan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Takahashi not doing much here.
Let's hope that Takahashi has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Sagan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
It looks like Takahashi might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sagan is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Takahashi pulls his head out easily.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Takahashi wants to work for an arm triangle but Sagan is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Takahashi controlling the action here.
Takahashi prevents Sagan from improving his position.
Sagan is working hard here to advance position.

Sagan is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Takahashi pulls his head out easily.
Sagan wants to control but Takahashi is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Takahashi slows the pace down in half guard.

Takahashi is looking for a kimura but Sagan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Takahashi to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Takahashi there.
Takahashi controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takahashi landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Still in half guard, Takahashi seems content to control.
Sagan is trying to get back to full guard.

Takahashi is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sagan defends it well.

Sagan is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Takahashi pulls his head out easily.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Takahashi connects with a nice short shot to Sagan's temple.
Takahashi prevents Sagan from improving his position.
Sagan is trying to control but can't.
Takahashi slows the pace down in half guard.
Sagan wants to improve his position but Takahashi is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi not doing much here.
Sagan is looking to improve his position.

Sagan looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Takahashi seems to be working for a kimura but Sagan defends the submission attempt.

Takahashi is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Takahashi trying to control the pace.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Takahashi looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sagan has momentary wrist control but Takahashi slips an elbow through the middle.
Takahashi with a nice head shot there.
Takahashi trying to control the position from guard on top but Sagan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takahashi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Takahashi works over Sagan with some ground and pound from guard.
Takahashi is working Sagan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sagan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sagan being controlled here, momentarily.
Sagan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Takahashi.
Sagan wants to sweep but no luck.
Takahashi 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.
Takahashi wants to control from the top but Sagan keeps moving.

Sagan is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sagan wants to sweep but no luck.
Takahashi controlling from the top position.
Takahashi is pushing down on Sagan's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sagan is fighting to maintain full guard but Takahashi has managed to sneak the leg through.

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 is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Sagan looking for submissions off his back.
Sagan is looking to improve his position.
Takahashi not doing much here.
Sagan on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Takahashi is working for a submission of some sort.
Takahashi trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Sagan trying to hold on to Takahashi's head to control him but Takahashi postures up.
Takahashi working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Sagan is looking to improve his position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Takahashi lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Takahashi scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Takahashi is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Well, if Takahashi 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi is continuing to stall.
Takahashi lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Takahashi seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The adventures of Takahashi the control monster continue. Boring.
Takahashi lands strikes from half guard.

Sagan is rocked!

Takahashi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sagan doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Takahashi.
Oh Sagan is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Takahashi is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Sagan actively working from the bottom here.
Ground and pound from Takahashi.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Genkei Takahashi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Sagan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sagan just misses with a punch to the body.
Sagan seems to have got his legs back now.
Sagan lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Takahashi gets the takedown into side control.
Sagan is looking to reverse the position.
Takahashi working away.
Takahashi staying calm.
Sagan tries to bench press Takahashi off him but Takahashi keeps the position.
Takahashi slows the pace down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sagan on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Sagan is trying to control Takahashi's posture but Takahashi avoids it.
Takahashi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sagan is not content to let Takahashi control the position.
Takahashi is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Sagan will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sagan tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Takahashi wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Takahashi working away.
Sagan tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Takahashi wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Takahashi working the head and body with strikes.
Takahashi taking a breather here.
Sagan is working to avoid the ground and pound but Takahashi connects with a decent elbow.
Sagan is looking for a sweep.
Takahashi is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Sagan will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Takahashi tries for a kimura but Sagan is defending well.
Takahashi in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Sagan tries to bench press Takahashi off him but Takahashi keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sagan manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Takahashi wants to work for an arm triangle but Sagan is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Takahashi is trying to control the action in half guard but Sagan is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sagan is trying to get back to full guard.
Takahashi seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sagan wants to get back to full guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Takahashi connects with a nice short shot to Sagan's temple.
Takahashi takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Sagan wants to improve his position but Takahashi is controlling well.
Takahashi stalling.
Sagan is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi controlling the action here.
Sagan moves into full guard.

Sagan working for a triangle but Takahashi defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sagan looking for a sweep. Not yet Sagan, not yet.
Takahashi content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Takahashi slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Takahashi cracks Sagan with a big elbow.
Sagan tries to bench press Takahashi off him but Takahashi keeps the position.
Takahashi has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Sagan!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi prevents Sagan from getting the reversal.
Takahashi punishing his opponent with strikes.
Takahashi lands a nice shot to the head.
Takahashi controlling the pace for now.
Takahashi lands a big elbow - Sagan is in trouble! More strikes from the mount and Sagan is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Genkei Takahashi!
Genkei Takahashi decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.