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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kazuo Takashi (ranked 61 p4p, 202 weight class) and Shug Skinner (ranked 9 p4p, 34 weight class). Takashi's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, 吉田兄弟 Rising. Shug Skinner will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.
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| 170 cm
32
155
33 - 4 - 0 |
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175 cm
32
153
16 - 13 - 1 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
Great elbows
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Kazuo Takashi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 1, fighting out of London, Shug Skinner!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Chris Edwards and Andrew Berry.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Takashi.
Takashi closes the distance and pushes Skinner back into the cage.
Skinner is pressed up against the cage. Takashi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Skinner down to the mat. Skinner avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Skinner pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Takashi tries to score a power double leg takedown but Skinner sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Takashi somewhat.
Takashi darts in and clinches Skinner up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skinner gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Skinner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Takashi closes the distance and clinches.
Takashi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Skinner fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazuo Takashi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Skinner as Takashi shoots in.
Skinner throws a hook but Takashi blocks it.
Skinner doesn't manage to clinch there - Takashi circles away.
Takashi misses the shot to the body.
Takashi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Skinner is fending him off so far but Takashi persists. Nope, Skinner circles away and we're back to standing.
Skinner misses with a wild body shot.
Skinner misses with a body shot.
Skinner throws a sloppy body shot
and Takashi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takashi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Takashi tries to free his leg and advance position but Skinner is retaining full guard.
Takashi is working hard here to advance position.
Takashi trying to control but Skinner is working from the bottom.
Takashi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skinner is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Takashi looking to pass the guard.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Takashi tries to score a power double leg takedown but Skinner sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Takashi somewhat.
Skinner tries to counter with a clinch but Takashi shakes him off and moves away.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Skinner tries to clinch but Takashi is having none of it.
Takashi moves out of range of the strikes.
Skinner's corner calls for a 1-2. Skinner obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Takashi throws a hook to the side of Skinner's head but Skinner sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Skinner misses with a hook to the body
and Takashi moves into the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Takashi works on Skinner's body with a couple of short punches.
Takashi pushes Skinner back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Skinner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Skinner misses with a body shot.
Takashi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Takashi lands in his opponent's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Kazuo Takashi dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Takashi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Skinner steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Takashi.
Takashi moves away from the strike by Skinner.
Skinner moves into the clinch.
Takashi stalling in the clinch.
Skinner pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Takashi takes an elbow to the forehead.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Skinner just misses with a elbow thrown towards Takashi's brow.
Takashi misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takashi tightens his grip and picks Skinner up, before dumping him to the ground. Skinner manages to land in guard.
Takashi tries to free his leg and advance position but Skinner is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Takashi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Takashi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Skinner swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Takashi wants to clinch.
Takashi slips a jab from Skinner.
The fight stays on the outside here - Skinner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Takashi moves into the clinch.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Takashi.
Skinner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Takashi is looking to clinch but Skinner is avoiding it.
Skinner throws a body punch but Takashi moves out of range.
Takashi is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Skinner.
Skinner gets caught napping as Takashi dives in and scores a takedown. Skinner manages to retain guard.
Takashi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Skinner swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Takashi controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skinner is trying to control the position but Takashi postures up.
Takashi being controlled here momentarily.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Takashi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Kazuo Takashi dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Takashi fails with the takedown.
Skinner misses with a body punch
and Takashi counters with a takedown into side control.
Takashi has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Skinner!
Takashi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Skinner is looking to escape.
Kazuo Takashi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Takashi pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takashi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Skinner can do to turn this around?
That's one minute gone in the round.
Takashi tries to control but Skinner wriggling away.
Skinner wants to control but Takashi is having none of it.
Takashi controlling from mount.
Skinner is working to get back to half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Takashi looking to control and managing it successfully.
Skinner is squirming around, avoiding Takashi's attempts to control the action.
Takashi is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Skinner is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Takashi controlling the pace for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takashi seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Skinner for as long as he can get away with.
Takashi takes Skinner's back.
Good control from Takashi.
Takashi is hanging on to Skinner's back as he tries to escape.
Skinner has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
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 has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Skinner's body.
Skinner can't escape the position.
Skinner preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Takashi.
Takashi is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Takashi looking for the RNC.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Kazuo Takashi clearly takes that round.
That's time! Takashi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Takashi takes a swing at Skinner's ribcage but misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Takashi.
Takashi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Skinner manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Skinner throws a jab when Takashi was well out of range.
Takashi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skinner keeping moving, preventing Takashi from controlling successfully.
Takashi looking to pass the guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Takashi content to stall in guard here.
Takashi has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Skinner looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Takashi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Skinner.
Skinner gets caught flat footed, as Takashi shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Takashi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Skinner is keeping the position for now.
Takashi won't allow Skinner to sweep him here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takashi controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Skinner pulls Takashi in close to prevent any damage.
Takashi's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Takashi rushes Skinner and presses him up against the cage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Takashi looking to slow down the pace here.
Takashi stalling.
Takashi manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Takashi is pushing Skinner up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Takashi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Skinner gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Takashi stalling.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Kazuo Takashi.
Skinner scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Skinner stuns Takashi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Skinner swings away with a body shot that misses
and Takashi counters by clinching up.
Takashi has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Skinner after a bit of a struggle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Kazuo Takashi had his way with Shug Skinner in that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!
Skinner throws a jab when Takashi was well out of range.
Takashi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Skinner manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Takashi blocks a jab.
Takashi wants to clinch up but Skinner keeps it at a distance.
Skinner wants to counter with a clinch but Takashi pushes him away.
Skinner throws a right and a left that both miss.
Takashi tries to counter with a takedown but Skinner is quick to defend against it.
Skinner lands with a hook. Takashi tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skinner swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Skinner keeps the fight on the outside.
Takashi throws out a loose jab but Skinner uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shug Skinner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Skinner connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Takashi's hands.
Takashi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Skinner defends it nicely.
Takashi shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Takashi was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
A lull in the action here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skinner is looking for a sweep.
Takashi trying to control the position but Skinner is working away.
Takashi controlling from side mount.
Takashi is looking to take a break and control but Skinner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takashi is staying tight to Skinner's torso, preventing him from escaping.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shug Skinner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Takashi defending well as Skinner loads up on a big left hand.
Takashi tries to counter by clinching up but Skinner breaks away and moves out of range.
Takashi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Skinner but Skinner pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Takashi throws a series of punches but Skinner avoids them all with ease.
Shug Skinner seems to be getting the better of the standup.
That's four 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.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Skinner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Takashi closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Skinner to the mat! Skinner manages to get full guard.
Takashi preventing the sweep.
Takashi tries to free his leg and advance position but Skinner is retaining full guard.
Takashi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Takashi tries to free his leg and advance position but Skinner is retaining full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that's the end of the fight!
Kazuo Takashi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Takashi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge James Glass scores the fight 50:45
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 50:44
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 50:45
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazuo Takashi!
Kazuo Takashi retains his featherweight title!
Kazuo Takashi thanked the fans post fight for their support.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
27% |
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