PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kazuo Takashi (ranked 74 p4p, 1466 weight class) and Harry Henderson (ranked 7 p4p, 81 weight class). Takashi comes to the cage accompanied by 吉田兄弟 Rising. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Takashi
vs
Henderson

170 cm
27
135
12 - 0 - 0

159 cm
26
135
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 12 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kazuo Takashi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Harry Henderson!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Sandra Marshall and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson shoots in looking for a takedown but Takashi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Henderson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Takashi drives through and clinches with Henderson against the cage.
Takashi misses with a body punch.
Henderson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Takashi has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Henderson uses from the top position.
Henderson slips nicely into half guard.

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

Henderson is working for a submission of some sort.

Henderson is working for a submission of some sort.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takashi is looking to control Henderson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Takashi avoid being mounted?

Henderson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Takashi has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Henderson is looking for a kimura here.

Henderson is working for a submission of some sort.
Takashi's coaches at Island project have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.

Henderson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Takashi sees it coming and defends easily.
Takashi won't allow Henderson to pass to mount.
Takashi wants to control but Henderson is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Takashi is trying to get back to full guard.
Takashi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Henderson is working away from the top position though.

Henderson wants to work for an arm triangle but Takashi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Takashi tries to get to full guard but Henderson has control of the leg.

Henderson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Takashi sees it coming and defends easily.
Takashi manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson looking to pass the guard.
Henderson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Henderson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Henderson postures up.

Henderson 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.
Henderson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Henderson keeps trying to improve his position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Takashi throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Henderson was covering up waiting for the punch and Takashi finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Takashi works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Henderson looking for submissions off his back.
Takashi trying to pass the guard but Henderson defending well.

Henderson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Takashi pulls his head out easily.
Takashi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Henderson keeps working.

Henderson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Takashi pulls his head out easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Henderson actively working from the bottom here.
Takashi with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuo Takashi dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Henderson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Takashi defends well and Henderson ends up having to push Takashi into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Harry Henderson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Takashi lands an overhand right.
Takashi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Henderson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Takashi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Henderson as he jumps to the side.
Henderson slaps away a takedown attempt from Takashi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown but Takashi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Takashi throws a low kick but it's checked well by Henderson.
Henderson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Takashi circles away.
Kazuo Takashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harry Henderson.
Henderson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Takashi holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Henderson wants the takedown. Takashi is fighting it off but Henderson persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Takashi's guard against the cage.
Takashi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Henderson 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.

Takashi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Henderson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Takashi has his feet on Henderson's thighs here. He's pushed Henderson off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Henderson screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kazuo Takashi!
Kazuo Takashi retains his bantamweight title!
An out of breath Kazuo Takashi thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.