PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ichiro Takahashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Gambacorto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takahashi's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Gettō De ゲットーで. This should be fireworks!

Takahashi
vs
Gambacorto

175 cm
21
169 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

173 cm
23
168 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Convicted Trap House
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ichiro Takahashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mark Gambacorto!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gambacorto misses with a two punch combination.
Gambacorto throws a right hand that Takahashi ducks under and follows up with a left that Takahashi also avoids with ease.
Gambacorto with a hook.
Gambacorto tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Takahashi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gambacorto as he avoids it easily.
Sloppy strikes from Gambacorto. Those never looked like landing.

Gambacorto closes the distance and clinches.
Takahashi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Takahashi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Takahashi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Takahashi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Takahashi tries to throw a body punch but Gambacorto avoids it by throwing Takahashi back against the cage.
Takahashi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Takahashi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gambacorto's efforts to push away.
Takahashi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gambacorto has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gambacorto pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Knees to the body from Takahashi.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gambacorto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Takahashi tries to score with a low kick but Gambacorto moves his leg out of the way.
Takahashi lands an overhand right.
The fighters circle momentarily. Takahashi darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Gambacorto tries a low kick but Takahashi avoids it.
Gambacorto has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Takahashi.
Gambacorto throws a shot to the body.
Takahashi lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Gambacorto does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Takahashi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gambacorto looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Mark Gambacorto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gambacorto drops his hands momentarily and Takahashi takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Gambacorto chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gambacorto fails with an attempt to clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Takahashi moves into the clinch.
Gambacorto misses with an elbow over the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi works on Gambacorto's body with a couple of short punches.
Gambacorto throws an elbow that misses.
Gambacorto creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Gambacorto misses with an elbow over the top.
Gambacorto lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gambacorto tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gambacorto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gambacorto is stalling here.
Takahashi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Takahashi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gambacorto pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Takahashi stalls.
Takahashi misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gambacorto is trying to push Takahashi away but Takahashi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Takahashi as Gambacorto tries to tie him up.
Takahashi avoiding damage as Gambacorto throws knees to the body.
Takahashi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gambacorto backwards.
Gambacorto has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gambacorto on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Takahashi can't find room to land a body shot as Gambacorto controls the action.
Takahashi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Takahashi connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gambacorto's face.

Gambacorto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gambacorto looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Takahashi sizes up Gambacorto with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Gambacorto avoids the head kick by Takahashi.
Takahashi closes the distance and clinches up with Gambacorto, looking for a takedown. Takahashi pushes Gambacorto against the cage but Gambacorto circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi scores with a hook to the body. Gambacorto takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Takahashi throws a wild body kick that Gambacorto sees coming a mile off.
Takahashi throws a head kick but Gambacorto moves out of range.
Gambacorto throws a leg kick
and Takahashi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gambacorto throws the left hand but Takahashi avoids the punch easily.
Gambacorto looks to land a combination but Takahashi avoids it well.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Gambacorto!
Takahashi checks the leg kick.
Gambacorto lands a really nice looking cross but Takahashi seems unphased.
Takahashi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Takahashi goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Gambacorto looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Takahashi scores with a shot to the body.
Gambacorto darts in trying to clinch
and Takahashi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
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 Ichiro Takahashi will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gambacorto will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gambacorto tries to clinch but Takahashi is having none of it.
Takahashi throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Gambacorto takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Gambacorto misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Takahashi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gambacorto moves away.
Gambacorto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gambacorto lands a front kick.
Takahashi's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Gambacorto connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Takahashi scrambles back to his feet.

Takahashi closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Gambacorto pushes Takahashi off looking to stand but Takahashi dives back in and keeps control.
Takahashi is trying to control. Gambacorto wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Takahashi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gambacorto is looking for a sweep. Takahashi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Takahashi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Takahashi is controlling the pace.
Takahashi seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Gambacorto for as long as he can get away with.
Takahashi trying to control the action but Gambacorto is working from the bottom.
Gambacorto wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gambacorto blocking the ground and pound attempt from Takahashi.
Takahashi trying to mount his opponent but Gambacorto defends it.
Gambacorto wants to get back to full guard.
Gambacorto gets back to full guard.
Gambacorto wants to stand up but Takahashi is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi tries to free his leg and advance position but Gambacorto is retaining full guard.
Gambacorto has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gambacorto is trying to hold Takahashi in close to prevent damage but Takahashi has managed to pass into half guard.
Gambacorto tries to kick Takahashi off but Takahashi keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Gambacorto keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Takahashi is nestled in close to Gambacorto, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gambacorto is not content to let Takahashi control the position.
Takahashi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gambacorto defending well though.
Takahashi seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Gambacorto is staying active underneath Takahashi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Takahashi is controlling the pace.

Ichiro Takahashi has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Gambacorto tries to clinch but Takahashi moves away
and Takahashi counters with a good, hard body kick but Gambacorto shrugs it off.
A combination from Gambacorto does no damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ichiro Takahashi dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Gambacorto doesn't manage to clinch there - Takahashi circles away.
Gambacorto doesn't manage to clinch there - Takahashi circles away.
Takahashi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Gambacorto throws a big shot that misses.
Gambacorto looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Takahashi!
Gambacorto jabs Takahashi to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Ichiro Takahashi is winning the standup battle so far.
Takahashi swings for the body but Gambacorto moves out of range.
Takahashi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gambacorto throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Takahashi lands with a kick to the ribs.
Gambacorto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Takahashi throws a sloppy head kick and Gambacorto moves out of range easily.
Takahashi lands with a kick to the ribs.
Gambacorto lands a high kick!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Takahashi lands a jab to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi looks to land a combination but Gambacorto avoids it well.
Takahashi throws a hook but Gambacorto avoids it easily.
Gambacorto moves out of range as Takahashi throws a body kick.
Gambacorto shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Takahashi eats them both and turns towards Gambacorto to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Gambacorto misses with a wild body shot.
Takahashi misses with a low kick.
Mark Gambacorto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Takahashi lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Mark Gambacorto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Gambacorto gets a clinch.
Gambacorto taking a breather.
Gambacorto wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Takahashi has him pressed against the cage.
Takahashi trying to land knees to the body.
Gambacorto working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gambacorto managing to block the knees to the body from Takahashi.
Gambacorto is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Takahashi is defending well for now.
Gambacorto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Still in the clinch, Takahashi scores with a nice short uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Takahashi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Takahashi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gambacortos head.
Takahashi utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Takahashi tries a knee to the head but Gambacorto blocks it.
Takahashi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Gambacorto blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gambacorto throws an elbow but it's blocked.
With the fighters up against the cage, Gambacorto throws an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi missing with knees to the body.
Still in the clinch, Takahashi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Takahashi looking to throw knees to the head but Gambacorto is blocking nicely.
Gambacorto scores with a nice hook to the head.
A shot in the inside from Takahashi.
Gambacorto gets through Takahashi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Gambacorto misses with an elbow over the top.
Gambacorto misses with a punch to the body.
Takahashi crunches a lovely knee into Gambacorto's ribcage.
A right hand to the body from Gambacorto.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Takahashi obliges.
Ichiro Takahashi has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Takahashi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Takahashi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Takahashi throws a punch but it's blocked by Gambacorto.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gambacorto's elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gambacorto blocks an uppercut.
Takahashi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gambacorto lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Mark Gambacorto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Still in the clinch, Gambacorto scores with a nice short uppercut.
Takahashi misses with a knee strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Gambacorto just misses with a elbow thrown towards Takahashi's brow.
Takahashi lands a knee to the body.
Gambacorto wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Takahashi has him pressed against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Gambacorto.
Takahashi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Takahashi lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Gambacorto or not.
Gambacorto lands an elbow that stopped Takahashi in his tracks for a moment.
Gambacorto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Takahashi's elbow.
Takahashi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ichiro Takahashi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Takahashi has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ichiro Takahashi!
Post fight, Ichiro Takahashi took to the microphone: 'Philly sucks.'.