PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zachary Talley (ranked 4536 p4p, 24293 weight class) and Meguru Takayanagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Talley
vs
Takayanagi

175 cm
20
145
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
148
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zachary Talley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Meguru Takayanagi!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Takayanagi gets caught flat footed, as Talley shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Takayanagi wants to control the position but Talley says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Takayanagi missing with punches from the bottom.

Talley decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Takayanagi closes the distance but Talley moves to the side
and Talley counters with a nice uppercut.
Takayanagi doesn't manage to clinch there - Talley circles away.
Takayanagi tries to clinch there but Talley circles away.
Takayanagi looks to clinch
and Talley counters with a lovely shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Talley. No joy for Takayanagi on that attempt.

Takayanagi closes the distance and pushes Talley back into the cage.
Takayanagi goes for a takedown attempt but Talley pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Talley misses with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Talley gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Takayanagi is pressed up against the cage. Talley has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Takayanagi down to the mat. Takayanagi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Takayanagi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Talley throws a head kick but Takayanagi moves out of range.
Takayanagi is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Takayanagi fails with the takedown
and Talley counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zachary Talley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Meguru Takayanagi.
Takayanagi looks winded!
Talley throws the kick towards the body but Takayanagi avoids it.

Talley closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Talley lands in his opponent's guard.
Talley advances position into side control!
Talley passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Takayanagi!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talley looking to control and managing it successfully.
Talley seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Takayanagi for as long as he can get away with.
Talley lands a big elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Talley looking for a guillotine from mount but Takayanagi is having none of it.
Takayanagi is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Talley goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Takayanagi turns into him and now he's in Talley's guard.

Takayanagi stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Takayanagi shoots in looking for a takedown. Talley tries to sprawl out of it but Takayanagi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Talley manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Talley has Takayanagi up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talley wants to break free but Takayanagi has control.
Talley fails to pull guard.
Takayanagi looking to stall.
Talley is trying to break the clinch but Takayanagi is controlling him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Talley fails to pull guard.
Talley tries a knee to the head but Takayanagi blocks it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zachary Talley dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Talley instigates a clinch.
Talley is trying to pull guard but Takayanagi has him pressed against the cage.
Talley is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Talley wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Talley tries for a takedown. No joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Talley avoiding damage.
Talley jumps guard but Takayanagi turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zachary Talley. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Talley breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Talley clinches.
Talley has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Takayanagi after a bit of a struggle.
Takayanagi lands with a right to the head.

Talley gets control of Takayanagi's arms and successfully pulls guard. Talley will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Takayanagi 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.
Takayanagi would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Talley keeping moving, preventing Takayanagi from controlling successfully.
Takayanagi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talley looking to hit a scissor sweep but Takayanagi is one step ahead there.
Takayanagi looking to sit in guard and control but Talley gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Takayanagi being controlled here, momentarily.
Talley is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Takayanagi can do to turn this around?

Talley decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takayanagi shoots in but no luck this time.
Takayanagi misses with a takedown
and Talley counters with a left and a right that stings Takayanagi.
Takayanagi is breathing heavily.
Talley dives in for a single leg takedown but Takayanagi sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Takayanagi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Talley's efforts to push away.
Talley wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Talley gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Takayanagi regains guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talley slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Talley is pushing down on Takayanagi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Takayanagi is fighting to maintain full guard but Talley has managed to sneak the leg through.
Takayanagi wants to improve his position but Talley is controlling well.
Talley controlling the action here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Talley passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Takayanagi!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zachary Talley dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Talley rushes Takayanagi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Talley dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Talley lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Takayanagi or not.
Talley is working for takedown but Takayanagi is calmly controlling the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takayanagi throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Talley looking for a takedown.
Talley is trying to push Takayanagi away but Takayanagi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Talley breaks from the clinch.
Meguru Takayanagi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takayanagi fails to land the takedown.
Talley shoots in looking for a takedown but Takayanagi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Talley's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zachary Talley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Takayanagi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Talley fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Talley shoots in looking for a takedown. Takayanagi tries to sprawl out of it but Talley keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Takayanagi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Talley with a lazy takedown attempt

and Takayanagi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Takayanagi lands a knee to the head.
Talley just leaning against Takayanagi, taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takayanagi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Talley drops down looking for an ankle pick but Takayanagi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Takayanagi lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Talley gets a clinch.
Talley wants to break the clinch but can't.
Takayanagi lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Talley changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Takayanagi fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Takayanagi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Talley defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talley avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Talley stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Talley wants it to stay on the feet.
Talley stuffs the takedown.

Talley has closed the distance and engaged Takayanagi in a clinch.
Talley wants a takedown but no success here.
Takayanagi drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Talley gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Talley wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Takayanagi has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talley looking for a takedown.
Talley tries for a takedown but Takayanagi manages to get underhooks.
Takayanagi is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Talley tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Takayanagi just stands there and leans against the cage.
Meguru Takayanagi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Takayanagi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zachary Talley is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Takayanagi throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Meguru Takayanagi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Talley has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zachary Talley!