PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lockon Stratos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryo Takai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Stratos
vs
Takai

197 cm
22
185 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

184 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lockon Stratos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryo Takai!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stratos closes the distance and pushes Takai back into the cage.
Stratos throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Takai blocks it with crossed arms.
Stratos tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Takai avoids it.
Stratos lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Ryo Takai has been cut.
Takai is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Stratos pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Stratos tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Takai avoids it.
Stratos tries a knee to the head but Takai blocks it.
Stratos prevents a takedown attempt there.
Takai is trying to pull guard but Stratos turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Lockon Stratos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryo Takai.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Stratos obliges.
Stratos is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Takai is defending well for now.

Takai gets control of Stratos's arms and successfully pulls guard. Takai will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Takai has a closed guard, preventing Stratos from standing up.
Takai wants to sweep here but Stratos controlling him for the moment.
Stratos is looking to stand up but Takai won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takai is pulling down on Stratos's head to control his posture.
Takai lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Stratos!
Takai wants to take his opponent's back but Stratos doesn't allow it.
Stratos knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Takai on the ground.
Takai controlling the position easily from mount.
Stratos really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Takai looking to control but Stratos is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takai looking to control and managing it successfully.
Let's hope that Takai has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ryo Takai.
Stratos fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lockon Stratos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stratos scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Takai throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stratos sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Takai feints and as Stratos raises his hands in defense, Takai changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Takai passes into half guard.

Takai is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Stratos pushes Takai off looking to stand but Takai dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takai moves nicely into side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Stratos is trying to escape the position but Takai is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryo Takai dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ryo Takai's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Takai.
Takai throws a chopping leg kick but Stratos manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Stratos throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stratos turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Takai looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Stratos!
Stratos'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.
Takai working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Stratos is trying to stand up.

Takai working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takai wants to take his opponent's back but Stratos doesn't allow it.
Takai controlling his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takai is looking to work his way around to Stratos's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Takai controlling the position easily from mount.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Takai's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ryo Takai has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Stratos lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Takai tries for a takedown but Stratos sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Stratos misses with a low kick.
Stratos throws a head kick that misses.
Stratos feints and then cracks Takai's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Takai down.
Takai shoots in for a takedown but Stratos shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lockon Stratos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryo Takai.
Takai tries to close the distance and clinch but Stratos swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Takai shoots for a takedown but Stratos saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Stratos misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stratos misses with a few strikes there.
Stratos throws a low kick but it's checked well by Takai.
Stratos throws a series of punches but Takai avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takai fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Takai is breathing heavily.
Takai blocks a head kick by Stratos.
Takai takes a kick to the side of the head.
Takai misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Stratos fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Takai has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A solid body kick from Stratos.
Stratos leaves Takai with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Stratos has closed the distance and engaged Takai in a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Takai takes an elbow to the forehead.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Takai is stalling here.
Takai has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Stratos avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ryo Takai will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Ryo Takai's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Takai has a takedown stuffed.
Takai shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stratos defends it nicely.
Stratos scores with a head kick.
Stratos throws a head kick that misses.
Stratos moves out of range as Takai strikes.
Takai checks a low kick from Stratos.
Stratos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stratos dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Takai. That did some damage!

Takai fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stratos, pushing him back against the cage.
Takai is trying to drag Stratos to the mat but Stratos just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Lockon Stratos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryo Takai.
Takai takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stratos gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takai tries to circle away but Stratos has him pinned against the cage.
Stratos landing knees to the head.
Stratos using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Takai has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Stratos crunches a lovely knee into Takai's ribcage.
Stratos looking to throw knees to the head but Takai is blocking nicely.
Takai is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Stratos gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Takai drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stratos looking to throw knees to the head but Takai is blocking nicely.
Stratos tries to land a knee to the head but Takai blocks with his arms.
Takai takes a knee right on the jaw!
Stratos landing knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Stratos.
Stratos with a knee to the head.
Stratos lands a good knee to the midsection. Takai won't want to take too many of those.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Takai is trying to pull guard but Stratos turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Takai blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Stratos with a knee to the head.
Stratos lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Stratos connects with a nasty looking knee right to Takai's face.
Stratos is pressed up against the cage. Takai has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Stratos down to the mat. Stratos avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Takai takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Lockon Stratos is winning the standup battle so far.
Stratos tries a head kick but it misses.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Stratos, right into the meat.
Ryo Takai is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stratos tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stratos throws a head kick that Takai semi-blocks.
Stratos connects with a leg kick. Takai looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Takai avoids the head kick by Stratos.

Takai closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Stratos did well to prevent Takai getting side control.
Takai stops Stratos from getting back to his feet.
Takai trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takai missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ryo Takai.
Takai checks the leg kick.
Stratos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Takai fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Stratos to the ground. Takai is now in Stratos's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takai controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lockon Stratos showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Takai has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryo Takai!
Ryo Takai decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.