PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kenjiro Takagawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cigano Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takagawa comes to the cage accompanied by "Ready Steady Go" by L'Arc~en~Ciel. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Takagawa
vs
Dos Santos

176 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

225 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenjiro Takagawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cigano Dos Santos!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takagawa swats away the attempt to clinch by Dos Santos.
Dos Santos fails in his attempt to clinch.

Dos Santos gets caught flat footed, as Takagawa shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Takagawa postures up in Dos Santos's guard and throws a big left but Dos Santos blocks it.

Takagawa gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Dos Santos fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dos Santos tries to clinch there but Takagawa circles away.
Takagawa pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Takagawa closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Dos Santos regains half guard, as Takagawa was trying to land strikes.
Takagawa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dos Santos's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takagawa perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Takagawa sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dos Santos defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos wants to improve his position but Takagawa is controlling well.
Dos Santos blocking the ground and pound attempt from Takagawa.

Takagawa stands up from half guard.
Dos Santos is looking to clinch.
Dos Santos is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Dos Santos doesn't manage to clinch there - Takagawa circles away.
Takagawa connects with a body shot.

Takagawa scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Takagawa is breathing heavily.
Takagawa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Takagawa not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Takagawa is controlling the pace.
Dos Santos wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dos Santos has one foot on Takagawa's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Dos Santos tries to clinch up but Takagawa circles away and keeps his distance.
Takagawa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dos Santos sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Takagawa somewhat.
Dos Santos fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dos Santos tries to clinch there but Takagawa circles away.
Dos Santos tries to clinch there but Takagawa circles away.
Dos Santos tries to clinch but Takagawa is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos misses with a takedown

and Takagawa counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Takagawa.
Dos Santos is looking to stand up but Takagawa isn't so interested in that idea.
Takagawa throwing strikes from guard but Dos Santos blocks nicely.
Takagawa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dos Santos keeping full guard, as Takagawa tries to pass.
Dos Santos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Takagawa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Takagawa is looking to work some ground and pound but Dos Santos has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takagawa stands up over Dos Santos, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Dos Santos forces Takagawa back against the cage and clinches.
Dos Santos lands a knee to the body.
Dos Santos misses with a knee strike.
Dos Santos throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Dos Santos misses with a knee strike.
Dos Santos throws a knee to the head but misses.
Takagawa lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Dos Santos tries to land knees in the clinch but Takagawa avoids the damage to the body.
Takagawa is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Takagawa has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Takagawa is trying to trip Dos Santos. He has hold of a leg but Dos Santos is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Takagawa persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Takagawa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Takagawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Dos Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takagawa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenjiro Takagawa dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Takagawa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Dos Santos closes the distance looking to clinch

and Takagawa counters with a shoot takedown. Dos Santos fights it but they end up in guard.
Dos Santos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Takagawa has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Takagawa with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dos Santos not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kenjiro Takagawa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dos Santos wants to stand and escape but Takagawa is having none of it.
Takagawa scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dos Santos is on top in guard.
Dos Santos wants to stand but Takagawa has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takagawa has his feet on Dos Santos's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Dos Santos fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Takagawa, pushing him back against the cage.

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.
Dos Santos tries to land knees in the clinch but Takagawa avoids the damage to the body.
Dos Santos gets underhooks to prevent Takagawa's takedown attempt.
Dos Santos is pushing Takagawa up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Takagawa misses with a knee to the head.
Dos Santos displaying some good clinch control by pressing Takagawa up against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Dos Santos.
Takagawa avoiding damage as Dos Santos throws knees to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Takagawa.
Dos Santos gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Dos Santos pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Takagawa tries to keep at a distance but Dos Santos has taken the fight into the clinch.
Dos Santos with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos connects with a knee to the head.
Takagawa avoiding damage as Dos Santos throws knees to the body.
Dos Santos wants to stall.
Dos Santos is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Takagawa looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Takagawa tries to score a body lock takedown but Dos Santos shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Dos Santos misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Takagawa.
Dos Santos with a knee to the head.
Dos Santos unloads a knee to the mid-section. Takagawa lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Dos Santos landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Dos Santos lands a nice knee to the body.
Dos Santos stalling in the clinch but Takagawa improves position.
Dos Santos scores with a knee to the head.
Takagawa wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenjiro Takagawa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Takagawa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Dos Santos missing with knees to the body.
Dos Santos unloads a knee to the mid-section. Takagawa lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Takagawa wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Takagawa takes a knee right on the jaw!
Dos Santos with a knee to the head.

Takagawa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Takagawa.
Dos Santos is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Takagawa is controlling him well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Takagawa throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Takagawa throws an elbow but Dos Santos slips to the side and avoids it well.
Takagawa scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Dos Santos to see if he's OK.
Takagawa misses with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenjiro Takagawa dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Dos Santos clinches but Takagawa breaks the clinch

and Takagawa counters with a single leg into guard. Dos Santos didn't expect that.
Takagawa is in close to Dos Santos's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Dos Santos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Takagawa sitting in guard here, content to control.
Dos Santos wants to stand and escape but Takagawa is having none of it.
Takagawa with a flurry of punches that miss.

Dos Santos is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Dos Santos prevents a takedown attempt there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takagawa turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The strikes coming from Takagawa are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Takagawa landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Takagawa decides to stand up, so the ref orders Dos Santos to his feet.
Dos Santos wants to clinch but Takagawa slips to the side

and Takagawa counters by clinching up.
Dos Santos misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Takagawa.
Dos Santos misses with a knee to the head.
Dos Santos looking to throw knees to the head but Takagawa is blocking nicely.
Dos Santos on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Takagawa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dos Santos clinches but Takagawa breaks the clinch

and Takagawa counters with a takedown into side control.

Takagawa is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Dos Santos knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takagawa in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takagawa throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Takagawa working the ground and pound but Dos Santos is defending the strikes.
Takagawa throws a strike aimed at the side of Dos Santos's head but Dos Santos avoids it well.
Dos Santos is trying to improve his position.
Takagawa scoring with punches and elbows.
Takagawa working the ground and pound from side control.
Dos Santos avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Takagawa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos wants to control but Takagawa postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Dos Santos darts in trying to clinch

and Takagawa counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Dos Santos!
Takagawa in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
A nice elbow there by Takagawa.
Dos Santos is bucking up trying to escape but Takagawa cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Dos Santos takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Takagawa lands with some strikes.
Takagawa lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Takagawa landing strikes from the mount and Dos Santos is in trouble!
Kenjiro Takagawa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takagawa scoring with strikes but Dos Santos is staying in there.
Takagawa takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Takagawa lands a big shot there that rocks Dos Santos but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Takagawa with shots to the head and body - Dos Santos looks very uncomfortable down there.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Takagawa cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
A nice elbow there by Takagawa.
Dos Santos really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Takagawa. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Takagawa cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Takagawa lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Takagawa controlling his opponent.
Cigano Dos Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
BOOM! Takagawa connects with a massive shot to the dome!

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenjiro Takagawa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Takagawa, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:26
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenjiro Takagawa!