PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Darken Rahl (ranked 591 p4p, 926 weight class) and Genkei Takahashi (ranked 51 p4p, 81 weight class). 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.

Rahl
vs
Takahashi

168 cm
37
146
19 - 14 - 1

183 cm
30
143
11 - 4 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Dirty Commie $50
Shadow Realm Apparel

Urban Fighter
30th Century Beer Store

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 19 - 14 - 1, fighting out of New York, Darken Rahl!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Genkei Takahashi!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Frank Dennis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rahl scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Takahashi lands with a hook. Rahl tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Rahl drops his hands momentarily and Takahashi takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rahl definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Takahashi with a poor takedown
and Rahl counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Takahashi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A big right from Rahl misses.
Takahashi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Takahashi throws a shot to the body.
Takahashi takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Rahl has Takahashi up against the cage in a clinch.

Rahl breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Takahashi swats away the attempt to clinch by Rahl.
Rahl throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rahl blocks a jab.
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!
Rahl takes one on the button.

Rahl closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Takahashi's guard.

Takahashi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rahl can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Takahashi has his foot on Rahl's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rahl works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takahashi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Takahashi controlling Rahl's posture.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rahl accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Takahashi controls Rahl momentarily but Rahl frees himself.

Takahashi working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Rahl has passed into half guard!
Takahashi is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Takahashi is looking to get back to full guard here but Rahl has managed to pass to side control instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Takahashi is looking to regain half guard here but Rahl keeps moving and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rahl trying to control the position but Takahashi is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi manages to get back to half guard.
Takahashi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Takahashi looking for a guillotine here but Rahl defends easily.
Rahl with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rahl postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rahl is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rahl landing some decent shots from guard.

Takahashi looking for a guillotine here but Rahl defends easily.
Rahl trying to control but Takahashi is working from the bottom.

Takahashi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rahl is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Darken Rahl dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rahl drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Takahashi wants to sweep but no luck.
Rahl postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rahl not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rahl is in close to Takahashi's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Rahl postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Takahashi is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rahl, into his guard.

Rahl looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rahl looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Takahashi seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Takahashi throws a strike but Rahl rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Takahashi working a defensive guard but Rahl passes into half guard.
Takahashi gets full guard.
Rahl stopping the sweep attempt from Takahashi.
Rahl scoring with punches to the head and body.

Takahashi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rahl defends it easily.
Takahashi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi keeping full guard, as Rahl tries to pass.

Takahashi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Takahashi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rahl trying to control but Takahashi is working from the bottom.

Takahashi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rahl is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takahashi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rahl gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rahl postures up in Takahashi's guard and throws a big left but Takahashi blocks it.
Takahashi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Darken Rahl overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Takahashi wants to sweep here but Rahl controlling him for the moment.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Takahashi looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rahl puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Takahashi trying to control from the bottom.
Rahl is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Takahashi can do to turn this around?

Takahashi is trying to control Rahl's posture. Rahl takes advantage of the lull and advances to side control. He also appears to have an arm triangle here! Uh oh, big trouble for Takahashi! Rahl is rotating here... this could be the end... Takahashi is out! Rahl has ended this one emphatically! Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Darken Rahl!
Darken Rahl retains his featherweight title!
Darken Rahl very nearly forgot to thank Conquer amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.