PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kenjiro Takagawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gin Okami (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takagawa's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, "Ready Steady Go" by L'Arc~en~Ciel. Kenjiro Takagawa looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Takagawa
vs
Okami

176 cm
22
170 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

175 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid 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 3 - 2 - 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, Gin Okami!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Ren Mimura and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takagawa shoots in for a takedown but Okami shows good takedown defense.
Takagawa looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Okami fails with the takedown

and Takagawa counters with a takedown into side control.
Takagawa has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Okami!
Okami is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Okami 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.
Takagawa can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Okami is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takagawa throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Okami because Takagawa loaded up on that one.
Okami is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Takagawa pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Okami is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Okami is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Takagawa fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Takagawa controlling the pace for now.
Takagawa wants to control the pace but Okami is squirming around nicely.
Okami wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Takagawa is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Okami can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Okami wants to try and get back to his feet.
Takagawa pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Takagawa tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Takagawa scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Okami?
Takagawa cracks Okami with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The referee warns Okami that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Takagawa lands a big shot there that rocks Okami but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Takagawa pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Okami can do anything to dispel that myth.
You get the feeling that Okami really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Takagawa lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Takagawa landing shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takagawa lands a heavy elbow.
Takagawa with a couple of short strikes.
Takagawa scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Okami?
Takagawa cracks Okami with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Takagawa with the ground and pound from mount.
Okami wants to get back to his feet.
Takagawa tries to control but Okami wriggling away.
Takagawa lands a heavy elbow.
Takagawa lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Takagawa has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Okami's face.
Okami is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takagawa scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Okami?
Takagawa lands a big elbow.
Okami wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takagawa with good strikes from the mount here!
Takagawa looking to control and managing it successfully.
Okami's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Takagawa trying to control but Okami is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenjiro Takagawa dominated that 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.

Takagawa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Okami avoids it really well and circles away.
Okami shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Takagawa counters with a stiff right hand.
Kenjiro Takagawa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takagawa shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Okami as he avoids it easily.

Okami shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okami trying to stand up but can't free himself from Takagawa's guard.
Takagawa wants to sweep here but Okami controlling him for the moment.
Takagawa manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Okami manages to get himself to full guard.

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.
Takagawa postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Takagawa prevents Okami from getting back to his feet.
Okami has momentary wrist control but Takagawa slips an elbow through the middle.
Takagawa slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
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 prevents Okami from getting back to his feet.
Takagawa not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Takagawa stands up and waves to Okami to follow him.

Takagawa shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Okami is trying to defend but Takagawa finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okami is trying to stand.
Takagawa looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Okami with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Okami wants to get back to his feet.
Takagawa seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Takagawa controlling the action here.
Takagawa seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

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.
Takagawa looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Okami with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Okami wants to get back to his feet.
Takagawa drops an elbow to the side of Okami's head.
Takagawa is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Okami takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Takagawa scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Okami?
Okami taking shots to the head.
Takagawa raining down shots from the mount!
Okami is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Takagawa fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenjiro Takagawa 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Takagawa takes the fight into the clinch.
Okami can't get the takedown.
Takagawa gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Okami.

Takagawa gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Okami utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Okami wants to stand up but Takagawa is controlling him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Takagawa is looking to work some ground and pound but Okami has wrist control.
Takagawa working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Okami's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takagawa gets to his feet. Okami looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Okami misses with a takedown attempt

and Takagawa counters with a takedown into side control.
Kenjiro Takagawa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gin Okami.
Takagawa works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Takagawa trying to control the position but Okami is working away.

Takagawa decides to stand back up. Takagawa steps back and let's Okami get back to his feet.
Okami doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Takagawa counters with a shoot takedown. Okami fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Takagawa showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Takagawa stands up over Okami, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okami is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Takagawa is controlling him.
Takagawa scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Takagawa drops back looking for a leg! Okami is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Okami manages to kick Takagawa off! Takagawa jumps back into Okami's guard.
Takagawa trying to control but Okami is working from the bottom.
Okami keeping full guard, as Takagawa tries to pass.
Gin Okami has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Takagawa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Takagawa scores with a takedown into Okami's guard.
Takagawa forces his way into half guard.
Okami wants to get back to his feet.
Okami on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Takagawa working Okami over with strikes.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Takagawa lands a nice short elbow.
Takagawa lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Takagawa lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kenjiro Takagawa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okami throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Okami is in trouble now - Takagawa has advanced to mount!
Takagawa lands a nice shot to the head.
Takagawa breaks from Okami's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Takagawa controlling from mount.
Takagawa's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Okami wants to try and get back to his feet.

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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:26
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:26

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