PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ryoto Takahashi (ranked 295 p4p, 487 weight class) and Justin Case (ranked 20 p4p, 33 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Takahashi
vs
Case

175 cm
23
145
7 - 0 - 0

166 cm
24
143
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
Conquer

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryoto Takahashi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Justin Case!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Alexandre Firmino and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Case needs to keep his hands up - Takahashi had a free shot at his head there.
Case misses the jab.
Takahashi throws a quick counter kick to the body but Case avoids it.
Case just misses with a punch to the body.
Takahashi throws a shot from downtown. Case moves away and avoids it.
Case swings widly with a right hand

and Takahashi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Takahashi tries to throw a body punch but Case avoids it by throwing Takahashi back against the cage.
Takahashi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Case tries to work over Takahashi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Takahashi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Takahashi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Takahashi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takahashi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Takahashi tries to work over Case's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Takahashi lands an uppercut.
Case blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Takahashi throws a head punch that misses.

Case's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Takahashi looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Takahashi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Case throws a shot from downtown. Takahashi moves away and avoids it.
Takahashi slips a jab from Case.
Takahashi throws a leg kick
and Case counters with a straight right hand.
Case scores with a shot to the body.
Takahashi tries to land a leg kick but Case saw it coming and moves away.
Case keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Takahashi throws a leg kick which misses Case's front leg but catches the back leg as Case tries to avoid it.
Case misses with an uppercut.
Takahashi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Case jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Case misses with a low kick.
Takahashi is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Takahashi defending well as Case loads up on a big left hand.
Case missing with a left hand there. Takahashi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Case tries to move into range but Takahashi moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A low kick from Case is predictable there
and Takahashi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like Justin Case has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takahashi slips under a jab from Case.
An attempted straight right counter from Takahashi misses the target.
Justin Case seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice shot lands for Case.
Case wants to slow Takahashi down by chopping away at his legs.
Takahashi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A lazy left from Case finds it's target.
Takahashi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Takahashi throws a leg kick but Case sees it coming and moves out of range.
Takahashi misses with a low kick.
Takahashi slips under a jab.
Takahashi looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Case misses the shot to the body.
Case missing with a left hand there. Takahashi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Takahashi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Takahashi 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.
Case throws out a powerful jab.
Takahashi slips under a jab from Case.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi moves out of range of the strikes.

Takahashi closes the distance and clinches.
Takahashi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Takahashi has a couple of punches blocked by Case.
Takahashi's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Takahashi tries a body shot but Case blocks it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Case.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takahashi struggles to land a body shot inside as Case controls his hands.
Case blocking some punches.
Case blocks an uppercut.
Takahashi lands a body punch in the clinch.
Takahashi misses with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Takahashi.
Case blocking some punches.
A frustrated look appears on Case's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Takahashi presses Case against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ryoto Takahashi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Justin Case's cut.
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.

Takahashi stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Case.
A telegraphed right hand from Case misses the target.
Takahashi misses with a left hand
enabling Case to counter with a crisp jab.
Case throws a shot to the body.
Case swings widly with a right hand

and Takahashi counters by clinching up.
A frustrated look appears on Case's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Takahashi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Takahashi digs a right hand underneath Case's ribcage. Case let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Takahashi swings wildly with an uppercut but Case uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takahashi misses with the head strike.
Case wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Takahashi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Case blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Takahashi lands a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Takahashi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Case's elbow.
Takahashi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Takahashi throws a punch but it's blocked by Case.
A short right from Takahashi.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Case.
Good body shot from Case.
Case misses with a body punch.
Takahashi misses with a short punch on the inside.

Case escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Justin Case seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A nice leg kick from Takahashi, right into the meat of the thigh.
Case misses with a looping right.
Case lands a leg kick that knocks Takahashi off balance momentarily.
Takahashi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Case throws out the jab.
Takahashi appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Takahashi.
Case throws out a powerful jab.
Case chopping away at his opponent's legs.
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!
Case lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Case throws a hook to the side of Takahashi's head but Takahashi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Takahashi throws the left hand but Case avoids the punch easily.
Case throws a body shot but no joy.
Case ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Takahashi throws a leg kick
and Case counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Takahashi wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Case keeps the fight on the outside.
Case swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Case takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Case throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Takahashi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Takahashi with the inside leg kick.
Case looks to land a right hand but Takahashi moved out of range.
Case misses with an uppercut
and Takahashi counters with a straight right hand.
Takahashi throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Good leg kick by Case.
Takahashi ducks under a wild hook from Case.
Takahashi scores with a crisp jab that stopped Case in his tracks.
Takahashi fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi slips a jab from Case.
Takahashi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Case swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Case misses with a hook.
Takahashi 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.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Takahashi lands a slapping body shot.
Case misses with a wild combination.
A little feinted left hand from Takahashi on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Case throws a low kick but it's checked well by Takahashi.
Takahashi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
It looked like Takahashi wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
No joy there for Takahashi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Takahashi misses with a wild body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ryoto Takahashi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Justin Case's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Takahashi on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Takahashi throws a shot from downtown. Case moves away and avoids it.
Case jabs Takahashi to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Takahashi looks to land a body kick but Case moved away.
Nice shot lands for Takahashi.

Takahashi clinches up with Case and pushes him back against the cage.
Case has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Takahashi lands a left hand that snaps the head of Case backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takahashi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Case is trying to break the clinch but Takahashi has him pressed against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Takahashi.
Takahashi working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Takahashi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Case backwards.
Case prevents a body shot from Takahashi.
Takahashi misses with a punch to the body.
Case wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Takahashi.
Case tries to break free but Takahashi pushes him back against the cage.
Case digs a right hand into Takahashi's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Takahashi's gas tank.

Case breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Takahashi takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Takahashi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Case.
Takahashi throws a predictable looking body shot
and Case counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Case throws a hook but Takahashi blocks it.
Case checks a leg kick.
Takahashi lands with a nice body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi throws a push kick but Case slaps the foot to one side.
Case lands a nice leg kick that just misses Takahashi's sensitive parts.
Takahashi slips under a jab from Case.
It looked like Takahashi wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Case has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Takahashi finds it's way round the side to connect with Case's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Case just misses with a punch to the body.
Takahashi thinks about countering with a body kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Case.
Case gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Takahashi is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Takahashi moves into the clinch.
Case blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Case is trying to push Takahashi away but Takahashi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A shot in the inside from Takahashi.
Takahashi prevents a body shot from Case.
Takahashi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Takahashi gets through Case's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Takahashi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Takahashi lands a hook that snaps the head of Case backwards.
Takahashi is working Case over against the cage.
Takahashi misses with some punches.
Case working aggressively here.
Takahashi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Takahashi tries a body shot but Case blocks it.
Takahashi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Case can do to turn this around?
Case is looking to break free of the clinch but Takahashi has double underhooks.
A shot in the inside from Case.
Takahashi lands a nice shot to the body.
A short body shot lands from Takahashi as the two fighters clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi scores with a shoulder strike.
Takahashi scores with a shot to the side of Case's head.
Case's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takahashi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Takahashi misses with a body punch.
Case prevents a body shot from Takahashi.
Case prevents a body shot from Takahashi.
Takahashi digs a right hand into Case's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Case's gas tank.
Case takes a shot to the head.
Case takes a shot to the head.
Case blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Case has a couple of punches blocked by Takahashi.
Takahashi scores with a nice hook to the head.
A short left from Takahashi.
Takahashi struggles to land a body shot inside as Case controls his hands.
Takahashi lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ryoto Takahashi clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Justin Case's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Case throws a hook to the side of Takahashi's head but Takahashi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Case with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Takahashi cracks Case with a right hand to the side of the head.
Takahashi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Case throws out the jab.
Takahashi throws a leg kick that misses.
Takahashi misses with a low kick.
Case throws a hook but Takahashi avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takahashi throws a lazy uppercut
and Case counters with an outside leg kick.
Takahashi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A telegraphed right hand from Case misses the target.
Takahashi fires out a quick counter leg kick but Case just manages to avoid it.
Case uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Takahashi.
Case is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Takahashi with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Case misses with a low kick.
Takahashi is looking to chop away at Case's legs.
Takahashi takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
An inside leg kick lands from Case.
Takahashi walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Case checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Case swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Case scores with a jab to the head.
A big right from Takahashi misses.
It seemed like Case was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Takahashi keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Case dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Takahashi. That did some damage!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Case misses with a hook.
Case misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Takahashi to counter with a crisp jab.
Case rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Case takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Case throws a lazy right hand but Takahashi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Case turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Case misses with a right hand
and Takahashi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Takahashi throws a nice outside leg kick.
Case comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Case moves out of range as Takahashi throws a body kick.
Takahashi misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Case misses with a body punch
enabling Takahashi to counter with a crisp jab.
A shot to the liver by Takahashi. Beautiful body shot.

Takahashi takes the fight into the clinch.
Case is trying to break the clinch but Takahashi is controlling him.
Case misses with a short punch on the inside.
Case throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Takahashis head.
Takahashi lands a left hand that snaps the head of Case backwards.
Takahashi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ryoto Takahashi has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Case blocks an uppercut.
Takahashi misses with a punch on the inside.
Takahashi misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Takahashi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Takahashi tries a body shot but Case blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Case.
Takahashi misses with the head strike.
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!
Case blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Case looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Takahashi lands a nice shot to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Takahashi.
Takahashi tries to work over Case's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Takahashi can't find room to land a body shot as Case controls the action.
Takahashi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Takahashi cracks Case with a nice body shot.
Takahashi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Case's elbow.
Takahashi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Takahashi lands a nice shot to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ryoto Takahashi had his way with Justin Case in that round.
The cut man is working on Justin Case's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Case lands a glancing blow to the side of Takahashi's head.
Takahashi lands with an uppercut that bounces Case off the cage and back into range.
Case throws a lazy right hand but Takahashi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Takahashi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Takahashi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Case blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Case breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Takahashi connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takahashi slips a straight right by Case.
Case throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Case misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Takahashi drives through and clinches with Case against the cage.
Case's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Takahashi digs a right hand underneath Case's ribcage. Case let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Case blocks an uppercut.
Takahashi lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Case.
Case blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Takahashi misses with a punch to the body.
Case tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Takahashi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Case gets through Takahashi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Case blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Takahashi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Case's elbow.
Takahashi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Case blocks a body shot from Takahashi.
Takahashi throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Justin Case has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Case is trying to break free.
Case wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Takahashi lands a left hand.
Takahashi scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Takahashi tries to work over Case's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Takahashi stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Case is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Still in the clinch, Takahashi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takahashi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Takahashi throws a punch but it's blocked by Case.
Case prevents a body shot from Takahashi.
Good body shot from Takahashi.
Case struggles to land a body shot inside as Takahashi controls his hands.
A short uppercut from Case.
Takahashi lands a body shot in the clinch.
Case swings wildly with an uppercut but Takahashi uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Case tries to circle away but Takahashi has him pinned against the cage.
Takahashi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A frustrated look appears on Case's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Case misses with a body punch.
Case goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Case prevents a body shot from Takahashi.
Takahashi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Case prevents a body shot from Takahashi.
Case lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Takahashi lands a shoulder strike.

Case breaks from the clinch.
Case rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Takahashi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Takahashi looks to throw a body kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Takahashi walks into a stiff left hand from Case.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Case.
Case steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Takahashi. That one must have hurt.
Takahashi throws a leg kick but Case checks it.
Case throws a lazy uppercut
and Takahashi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Case misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Takahashi.
Takahashi misses with a shot to the body
and Case counters with a stiff right hand.
Case circles away from the clinch attempt.
Takahashi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Case.
Takahashi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryoto Takahashi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Takahashi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 50:45
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 50:45
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryoto Takahashi!
Ryoto Takahashi retains his bantamweight title!
Ryoto Takahashi thanked the fans post fight for their support.