PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Genkei Takahashi (ranked 2251 p4p, 2416 weight class) and Darken Rahl (ranked 226 p4p, 240 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Takahashi
vs
Rahl

183 cm
28
143
7 - 4 - 1

168 cm
36
146
15 - 13 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Urban Fighter

Conquer

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 7 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Genkei Takahashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 13 - 1, fighting out of New York, Darken Rahl!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rahl slips under a jab from Takahashi.
Takahashi walks into a straight right hand from Rahl.
Rahl feints a jab promting Takahashi to slip. Rahl then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Takahashi slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Takahashi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rahl moves away.
Takahashi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Takahashi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Takahashi scores with a jab. Rahl acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rahl lands with a shot to the body.
Rahl shoots in looking for a takedown. Takahashi tries to sprawl out of it but Rahl keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Takahashi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rahl fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Takahashi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Takahashi lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rahl's sensitive parts.
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!
Takahashi loads up on a big right hand but Rahl slips the punch.
Rahl let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Rahl tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Takahashi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rahl looks to land a right hand but Takahashi moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi ducks under a wild hook from Rahl.
Rahl avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rahl looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Takahashi lands with a shot to the body.
Rahl lands a slapping body shot.
Rahl throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Rahl looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Rahl throws an overhand right that lands on Takahashi's shoulder, as Takahashi tries to avoid the shot.
Takahashi is looking to counter punch.
Rahl throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rahl throws a looping overhand right but Takahashi ducks down to avoid it.
Rahl moves away from the strike by Takahashi.
Rahl throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Takahashi on the side of the head.
Some bone on bone action there as Rahl checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A nice leg kick from Takahashi, right into the meat of the thigh.
Takahashi throws a leg kick
and Rahl counters with a straight right hand.
Rahl scores with a jab to the body.
Rahl misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Takahashi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rahl tries to clinch up but Takahashi circles away and keeps his distance.
Rahl's jab looks to have found its range, popping Takahashi under the eye.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rahl thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rahl waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Takahashi.
A jab lands there for Rahl.
Rahl takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Takahashi misses with a body shot.
Rahl tries to counter by closing the distance.
Takahashi throws a good cross that connects.
Rahl 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.
Rahl stuffs the takedown attempt from Takahashi. Takahashi gets slowly back to his feet.
Rahl scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Rahl fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Genkei Takahashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darken Rahl.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rahl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rahl stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Takahashi.
Takahashi blocks a jab.
Takahashi tries a head kick but it misses.
Rahl avoids the body shot from Takahashi.
Takahashi misses with a straight left.

Takahashi drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Takahashi landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Rahl is looking to regain half guard here but Takahashi keeps moving and retains side control.
Takahashi content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Check out the look on Takahashi's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi working the body and head with strikes.
Takahashi looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Rahl is avoiding damage well.
An elbow from Takahashi crashes against the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takahashi tries to score with some ground and pound. Rahl controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Takahashi working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Takahashi lands some shots froms side control.
Rahl managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Takahashi.
Rahl tries to improve position but can't.
Takahashi landing a few strikes.
Takahashi sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Rahl is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Genkei Takahashi dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Takahashi throws a hook but Rahl avoids it easily.
Rahl drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Takahashi defends it well.
Nice defenses there by Rahl.
Takahashi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rahl.
Rahl slips a straight right by Takahashi.
Takahashi scores with a leg kick.

Rahl has taken the fight to the clinch.
Takahashi lands with a right to the head.
Takahashi lands with a left to the head.
Rahl avoiding damage.
Takahashi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rahl can do to turn this around?
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Takahashi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Takahashi scores with a shoulder strike.
Takahashi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rahl looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Takahashi blocks an uppercut.
Rahl tries to throw a body punch but Takahashi avoids it by throwing Rahl back against the cage.
Takahashi struggles to land a body shot inside as Rahl controls his hands.
Rahl goes for a takedown in the clinch but Takahashi prevents it.

Rahl gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Takahashi regains guard.
Genkei Takahashi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rahl content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Takahashi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rahl defends it easily.

Takahashi looking for a guillotine here but Rahl defends easily.

Takahashi is looking for a triangle but Rahl pushes his legs off easily.
Takahashi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rahl trying to control but Takahashi is working from the bottom.

Takahashi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rahl doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rahl manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rahl scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rahl missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Takahashi looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rahl puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Rahl lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rahl keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Rahl wants to take a breather but Takahashi is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Takahashi is trying to get back to full guard.

Rahl seems to be looking for submissions.
Takahashi wants to control but Rahl is keeping busy.
Takahashi has hold of Rahl's hands but Rahl slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rahl not doing much here.
Rahl is trying to control the action in half guard but Takahashi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Takahashi wants to get back to full guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Takahashi trying to control from the bottom.
Rahl winds up and cracks Takahashi with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Takahashi gets back to full guard.
Takahashi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rahl's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Takahashi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Darken Rahl will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rahl throws a hook to the side of Takahashi's head but Takahashi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Takahashi misses with a hook. Rahl ducked under it nicely.
Takahashi throws an off balance right hand
and Rahl counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rahl misses the jab.
A low kick lands for Takahashi.
Takahashi cracks Rahl with a good jab.
Takahashi throws a body shot but no joy.
Rahl connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Takahashi momentarily.
Takahashi thuds his right hand into Rahl's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Takahashi gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Rahl misses the shot to the body.
Rahl gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Takahashi lands a slapping body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takahashi misses with a straight left.
Rahl avoids the head kick by Takahashi.
A solid leg kick lands there for Takahashi.
Takahashi checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Takahashi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rahl takes a swing at Takahashi's ribcage but misses.
Rahl dips to his left and cracks Takahashi with an uppercut!
Takahashi throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Takahashi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rahl.
A little feinted left hand from Takahashi on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rahl misses with an uppercut.
Takahashi scores with a punch to the head.
Rahl connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Takahashi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rahl swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rahl moves into range and connects with a jab.
Jab from Takahashi.
Takahashi lands a nice shot to the body.
Rahl ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Takahashi moves away.
Takahashi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Takahashi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rahl was well out of range. Poor timing from Takahashi.
Takahashi slips under a jab.
Takahashi moves out of range as Rahl strikes.
Rahl throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Takahashi takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Genkei Takahashi is winning the standup battle so far.
Takahashi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Takahashi lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Rahl has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rahl and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Takahashi cracks Rahl with a good jab.
Rahl attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Rahl shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Takahashi pinned against the cage. Takahashi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Takahashi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Rahl blocks the leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi blocks a jab.
Takahashi thuds a left hand into Rahl's body.
Takahashi just misses with a punch to the body.
Rahl will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jab, jab by Takahashi - just one landing.
Takahashi throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rahl misses with a few strikes there.
Rahl on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Takahashi fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fighters circling - Takahashi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Takahashi moves out of range of the leg kick from Rahl.
Rahl uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Takahashi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rahl.
Rahl misses with a straight right.
Rahl ducks right into an uppercut from Takahashi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi swings for the body but Rahl moves out of range.
Rahl throws out a counter right but Takahashi avoids it with no problem.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takahashi swings for the body but Rahl moves out of range.
Rahl 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.

Rahl moves into the clinch successfully.
A shot in the inside from Takahashi.
A head punch on the inside from Takahashi fails to land.
Rahl is looking to control Takahashi's arms but Takahashi gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rahl has his back to the cage.
Takahashi prevents the takedown attempt.
Genkei Takahashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darken Rahl.
Takahashi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Takahashi presses Rahl against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rahl misses with a punch to the body.
Rahl tries for a takedown. No joy.
I was talking to Takahashi's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Rahl takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Takahashi keeps control of Rahl as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rahl working aggressively here.
Takahashi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rahl backwards.
Rahl is trying to drag Takahashi to the mat but Takahashi just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Takahashi lands with a light punch inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Genkei Takahashi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Takahashi has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Genkei Takahashi!
Our winner, Genkei Takahashi, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.