PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kazuo Takashi (ranked 50 p4p, 1302 weight class) and Brett Shoenfeld (ranked 6 p4p, 74 weight class). Takashi comes to the cage accompanied by 吉田兄弟 Rising. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Takashi
vs
Shoenfeld

170 cm
27
135
18 - 0 - 0

166 cm
27
142
9 - 8 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 18 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Kazuo Takashi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brett Shoenfeld!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Sam Margolis and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shoenfeld fails with the takedown

and Takashi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Takashi wants to pass the guard but Shoenfeld is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shoenfeld is trying to keep Takashi in close.
Takashi stopping the sweep attempt from Shoenfeld.
Takashi controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Shoenfeld working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shoenfeld working for a triangle but Takashi defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shoenfeld keeping moving, preventing Takashi from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Takashi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Shoenfeld advances position into side control!
Takashi manages to get back to half guard.
Takashi is looking for a sweep. Shoenfeld is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takashi trying to control here.
Takashi is looking for a sweep. Shoenfeld is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Shoenfeld is trying to control the action in half guard but Takashi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Shoenfeld is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Takashi is just riding it out for now. Shoenfeld eventually gives up the hold.

Takashi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Shoenfeld sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shoenfeld is just content to waste time from the top position. Takashi takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Shoenfeld loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Takashi has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Shoenfeld tries to free his leg and advance position but Takashi is retaining full guard.

Takashi looking for a guillotine here but Shoenfeld defends easily.
Takashi is trying to control the position but Shoenfeld postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Takashi pulls Shoenfeld in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Takashi misses with a leg kick.
Shoenfeld is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Brett Shoenfeld seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shoenfeld fails with a takedown attempt.

Takashi moves into range and clinches up with Shoenfeld.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shoenfeld jumps guard but Takashi stands there with Shoenfeld around his waist. Shoenfeld gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kazuo Takashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brett Shoenfeld.
Takashi is pushing Shoenfeld up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Shoenfeld looks for a takedown but Takashi sprawls well.
Takashi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Shoenfeld.
Shoenfeld is trying hard to land a takedown here. Takashi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kazuo Takashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brett Shoenfeld.
Takashi misses with a low kick as Shoenfeld jumps back.

Takashi clinches up with Shoenfeld and pushes him back against the cage.
Takashi looking to stall.
Shoenfeld tries to pull guard but Takashi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Takashi tries to stall but Shoenfeld uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Shoenfeld jumps guard but Takashi stands there with Shoenfeld around his waist. Shoenfeld gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Takashi jumps guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takashi looking for a sweep. Not yet Takashi, not yet.
Shoenfeld tries to free his leg and advance position but Takashi is retaining full guard.
Shoenfeld trying to control but Takashi is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takashi can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Shoenfeld controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shoenfeld wants to pass the guard but Takashi is keeping the position.
Takashi has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Takashi keeping full guard, as Shoenfeld tries to pass.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Shoenfeld is still trying to improve position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Takashi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Takashi lands in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takashi is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Takashi stopping the sweep attempt from Shoenfeld.
Shoenfeld has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Shoenfeld looking for a guillotine here but Takashi defends easily.
Shoenfeld keeping full guard, as Takashi tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takashi is working hard here to advance position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Takashi trying to control the position from guard on top but Shoenfeld is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takashi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shoenfeld can do to turn this around?

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Takashi moves in looking to clinch but Shoenfeld pushes him off.
Shoenfeld shoots in for a takedown but Takashi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Takashi manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Shoenfeld on his heels. He'll look to pass Shoenfeld's guard now, I'm sure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shoenfeld is on top in guard.

Takashi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shoenfeld must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Takashi holds on and takes a little breather.
Shoenfeld trying to control but Takashi is working from the bottom.
Shoenfeld looking to pass the guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shoenfeld slips nicely into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuo Takashi dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Takashi fails with a takedown attempt.
Takashi stuffs the takedown.
Brett Shoenfeld is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shoenfeld shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Takashi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Shoenfeld fails to pull guard.
Kazuo Takashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brett Shoenfeld.

Takashi jumps into guard, dragging Shoenfeld to the mat.
Takashi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Takashi has his foot on Shoenfeld's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Shoenfeld works his way back into a safe position though.
Shoenfeld not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Takashi keeping full guard, as Shoenfeld tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Takashi is on top in guard.

Shoenfeld pulls Takashi in close to his closed guard and prevents Takashi from doing any damage or advancing position.
Takashi is stalling in the full guard.
Takashi's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Takashi trying to control but Shoenfeld is working from the bottom.
Shoenfeld trying to control the position.
Takashi won't allow Shoenfeld to sweep him here.
Takashi is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Shoenfeld is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shoenfeld looking to hit a scissor sweep but Takashi is one step ahead there.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Shoenfeld gets tackled into the cage by Takashi. Takashi maintains the clinch.

Shoenfeld manages to pull guard.
Takashi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Shoenfeld trying to control the position here.
Takashi looking to pass the guard.
Shoenfeld pulls Takashi in to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shoenfeld wants to sweep here but Takashi controlling him for the moment.
Takashi content to stall in guard here.

Takashi sitting in guard doing not very much at all here. Shoenfeld doesn't need a second invitation though! He's locked up a guillotine and he's squeezing tight! That is tiiiiiiiiight! Takashi paying the price for stalling here - he's pushing hard on the arm trying to free himself but it's no use! He's tapped! WOW, quick submission from Shoenfeld - great work!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Brett Shoenfeld!
Brett Shoenfeld is the new bantamweight champion!