PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Liam Neeson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daisuke Numazawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Neeson
vs
Numazawa

175 cm
26
146 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

170 cm
21
150 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Liam Neeson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Daisuke Numazawa!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Taro Takaoka and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Numazawa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Numazawa wants it to stay on the feet.
Neeson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Numazawa throws a sloppy head kick and Neeson moves out of range easily.
Numazawa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Neeson shoots and misses
and Numazawa makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Neeson really felt that one!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liam Neeson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Neeson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Numazawa was covering up waiting for the punch and Neeson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Numazawa is adopting a defensive guard.
Numazawa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Neeson 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.
Neeson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Numazawa lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Neeson!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neeson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Neeson is squirming around, avoiding Numazawa's attempts to control the action.
Neeson is looking to get to half guard.
Neeson blocking the ground and pound.

Numazawa is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Neeson has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Neeson!
Numazawa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neeson trying to control the position from guard on top but Numazawa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Numazawa pulls Neeson in close to prevent any damage.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Daisuke Numazawa wasn't active enough on the ground.
Neeson misses the body punch
and Numazawa counters with a left and a right that stings Neeson.
Neeson with a poor takedown
and Numazawa counters with a nice low kick that buckles Neeson's knee momentarily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Neeson.
Neeson wants to control but Numazawa is keeping him busy.
Numazawa struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neeson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Numazawa sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Neeson trying to control the action but Numazawa is working from the bottom.
Neeson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Neeson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Numazawa knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Neeson throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Numazawa tries to improve position but can't.
Neeson is looking to take a break and control but Numazawa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Numazawa managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Neeson.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Neeson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Numazawa is trying to get back to his feet.
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 Liam Neeson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Neeson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Numazawa defends it nicely.

Numazawa scores with a takedown into Neeson's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Numazawa has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Neeson is proving hard to escape from.
Numazawa throws a big elbow that misses.
Numazawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Neeson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Numazawa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Numazawa is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Neeson wants to stand up but Numazawa is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Numazawa wanted to stand there but Neeson had control of the position.
Neeson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Numazawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Neeson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Daisuke Numazawa was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Numazawa leaves Neeson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Daisuke Numazawa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Numazawa throws a shot to the body.
Numazawa tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Neeson is able to avoid easily.
Neeson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Numazawa avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liam Neeson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neeson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Neeson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Neeson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Neeson won't allow Numazawa to get back to his feet.
Numazawa is pulling down on Neeson's head. It's preventing any offense from Neeson, at least for the moment.
Numazawa keeping moving, preventing Neeson from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neeson stops Numazawa from standing up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Numazawa leaves Neeson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Numazawa lands with a kick to the temple. Neeson shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Liam Neeson has been cut.
Numazawa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Numazawa wants it to stay on the feet.
Numazawa tries a head kick but it misses.
Neeson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Numazawa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A solid leg kick lands there for Numazawa.
Numazawa lands with a kick to the temple. Neeson shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Numazawa.
Neeson tries for a takedown but Numazawa circles away easily
and Numazawa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Neeson blocks a leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Neeson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Numazawa sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Neeson somewhat.
Neeson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Neeson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Numazawa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice jab there from Numazawa.
Neeson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Numazawa counters with a nice low kick that buckles Neeson's knee momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daisuke Numazawa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Liam Neeson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Numazawa throws a low kick but it's checked well by Neeson.
Numazawa throws a sloppy head kick and Neeson moves out of range easily.
Numazawa lands with a thumping leg kick.
Numazawa stuns Neeson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Neeson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Neeson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Neeson keeps the fight on the outside.
Numazawa works the jab nicely.
Neeson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Numazawa counters with a nice leg kick.
Numazawa moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Numazawa lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neeson with a poor takedown
and Numazawa counters with a good, hard body kick but Neeson shrugs it off.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liam Neeson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Neeson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Numazawa.
Neeson shoots and misses
and Numazawa counters with a left and a right that stings Neeson.
Neeson fails with a takedown attempt.
Neeson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Numazawa avoids it really well and circles away.
Neeson shoots in but Numazawa avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Numazawa throws a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neeson avoids the head kick by Numazawa.
Numazawa lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Neeson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Numazawa looking for submissions off his back.
Liam Neeson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Numazawa keeping control of the position.
Neeson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Neeson stops Numazawa from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Numazawa moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Neeson being controlled here momentarily.
Neeson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Numazawa is trying to control the position but Neeson postures up.
Neeson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Numazawa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Neeson throws an elbow that misses. Numazawa uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Neeson's guard. Nice move by Numazawa!
Numazawa forces his way into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Numazawa is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Numazawa moves nicely into side control.

Numazawa is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Neeson has escaped the position, nice work there.
Numazawa is looking to take a break and control but Neeson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Neeson wants to control but Numazawa postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daisuke Numazawa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Numazawa has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 for Daisuke Numazawa!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Daisuke Numazawa!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Daisuke Numazawa!

Daisuke Numazawa wins by unanimous decision!