PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Azevedo Souza (ranked 686 p4p, 270 weight class) and Kazuo Takashi (ranked 83 p4p, 38 weight class). Takashi has chosen 吉田兄弟 Rising as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Azevedo Souza
vs
Takashi

176 cm
28
150
14 - 5 - 0

170 cm
28
144
19 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Miguel Azevedo Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Kazuo Takashi!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Richard Clark and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Takashi closes the distance and pushes Azevedo Souza back into the cage.
Azevedo Souza has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Takashi looking for a takedown.
Azevedo Souza misses with the head strike.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Takashi has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

Azevedo Souza pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Takashi moves in looking to clinch but Azevedo Souza pushes him off.
A little feinted left hand from Azevedo Souza on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Takashi wants to clinch up but Azevedo Souza keeps it at a distance.
Azevedo Souza swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Takashi.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Azevedo Souza is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azevedo Souza is trying to work for a sweep but Takashi has mounted him!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takashi controlling his opponent.
Takashi tries to control but Azevedo Souza wriggling away.
Takashi manages to capitalize on a mistake by Azevedo Souza to take his back!

Takashi has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Azevedo Souza! Can he survive? No! He's out! Takashi gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Kazuo Takashi!
Kazuo Takashi spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.