PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kenjiro Takagawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Drury (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takagawa comes to the cage accompanied by "Ready Steady Go" by L'Arc~en~Ciel. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Takagawa
vs
Drury

176 cm
22
170 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

178 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Omnipotent Ensemble [MMABR]

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 4 - 5 - 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, Frank Drury!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Drury with that takedown attempt.
Drury circles away from the clinch attempt.
Takagawa is looking to clinch.
Takagawa looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Takagawa shoots and misses

and Drury counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Drury content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Drury loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Drury trying to control but Takagawa is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Drury thows a big elbow that misses.
Drury trying to control the position from guard on top but Takagawa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takagawa looking for a sweep. Not yet Takagawa, not yet.
Drury wants to control from the top but Takagawa keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A nice inside leg kick there by Takagawa. That's going to slow Drury down.
Drury fails in his attempt to clinch.
Drury wants to clinch but Takagawa slips to the side

and Takagawa counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Drury manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Drury keeping moving, preventing Takagawa from controlling successfully.
Drury is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Drury is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drury loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Drury preventing the sweep.
Drury thows a big elbow that misses.
Drury wants to pass the guard but Takagawa is keeping the position.
Drury controlling from the top position.
Drury wants to control from the top but Takagawa keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drury tries to free his leg and advance position but Takagawa is retaining full guard.

Drury drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Takagawa dives on top into guard.
Drury looks gassed!
Drury is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Takagawa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Drury is keeping the position for now.
Drury wants to stand and escape but Takagawa is having none of it.
Takagawa working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Takagawa with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Takagawa working some strikes from top position.
Takagawa wants to control from the top but Drury keeps moving.
Drury pulls Takagawa in close to prevent any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Takagawa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Takagawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Drury is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takagawa is really struggling to control Drury but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Takagawa is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Takagawa controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kenjiro Takagawa will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Drury fails with the takedown.

Drury has Takagawa up against the cage in a clinch.

Takagawa gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Takagawa thows a huge punch but Drury dodges it nicely.
Drury keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Takagawa is just content to waste time from the top position. Drury takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Takagawa preventing the sweep.
Takagawa lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drury is controlling Takagawa's posture.
Drury is breathing heavily.
Drury looking for a sweep. Not yet Drury, not yet.
Drury is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Drury wants to sweep here but Takagawa controlling him for the moment.
Takagawa scoring with some ground and pound.
Drury wants to get back to his feet but Takagawa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Takagawa postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Takagawa feints and as Drury raises his hands in defense, Takagawa changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Takagawa stands up from Drury's guard - Takagawa perhaps looking for a knockout.
Left hook, right uppercut from Takagawa.
Takagawa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Drury closes the distance but Takagawa moves to the side

and Takagawa counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Takagawa.
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!
Drury wants to stand up but Takagawa is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takagawa lands a couple of elbows.
Kenjiro Takagawa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Takagawa throws a strike but Drury rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Drury forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drury trying to control from Takagawa's half guard. Takagawa has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Drury throwing strikes but missing.

Drury drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Takagawa manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Drury has Takagawa in his guard.

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.
Takagawa connects with a couple of short punches.
Takagawa trying to control but Drury is working from the bottom.
Takagawa wants to pass the guard but Drury is keeping the position.
Takagawa throws and elbow that misses. Drury uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Takagawa's guard. Nice move by Drury!
Takagawa wants to sweep but no luck.
Drury trying to control the position from guard on top but Takagawa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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 interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Drury tries to clinch

and Takagawa counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Takagawa scoring with punches to the head and body.
Drury trying to control the position.
Takagawa landing with the ground and pound.
Takagawa is working Drury over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Takagawa stopping the sweep attempt from Drury.
Takagawa throws a big right hand that misses.
Drury wants to sweep but no luck.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Drury is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drury seems to be working for a kimura but Takagawa defends the submission attempt.
Takagawa moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Takagawa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Drury is one step ahead there.

Drury has gone for a leg lock! Takagawa slips out almost immediately though and dives into Drury's guard.

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 pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Drury is keeping the position for now.
Takagawa throws a big right hand that misses.
Takagawa is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Takagawa knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Drury on the ground.
Drury looking to hit a scissor sweep but Takagawa is one step ahead there.
Drury working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takagawa is in close to Drury's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Takagawa tries to free his leg and advance position but Drury is retaining full guard.
Drury pulls Takagawa in to control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Drury tries to close the distance and clinch up but Takagawa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Takagawa misses with a takedown attempt

and Drury counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

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

and Drury counters by clinching up.
Drury drops down looking for an ankle pick but Takagawa pulls his leg out and moves away.
Drury tries to clinch but Takagawa moves out of range.
Takagawa throws a front kick aimed at Drury's knee but Drury avoids it well.
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 fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenjiro Takagawa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Drury tries to clinch up but Takagawa circles away and keeps his distance.
Takagawa wants to clinch but Drury slips to the side

and Drury counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Drury trying to control but Takagawa is working from the bottom.
Drury working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Takagawa's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kenjiro Takagawa.
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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27

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