PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Meguru Takayanagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zack Nichols (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zack Nichols will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Takayanagi
vs
Nichols

170 cm
21
142 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

170 cm
23
140 lbs
7 - 4 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Fury Nutrition Inc.
DTK Designs (Laundry)

Fury Nutrition Inc.
Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Meguru Takayanagi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 1, fighting out of New York, Zack Nichols!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Elvis Blanc and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takayanagi keeps the fight on the outside.

Nichols rushes Takayanagi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Takayanagi cracks Nichols with a nice body shot.
Nichols tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Takayanagi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Takayanagi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Nichols swings wildly with an uppercut but Takayanagi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nichols told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
A right hand to the body from Takayanagi.
Takayanagi scores with a shoulder strike.
Nichols trying to stall but Takayanagi improves his position.
Takayanagi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Takayanagi can't find room to land a body shot as Nichols controls the action.
Takayanagi working aggressively here.
Takayanagi lands with a right to the head.
Nichols tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nichols is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Takayanagi as Nichols tries to tie him up.
Takayanagi misses with a punch to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takayanagi letting Nichols take a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nichols tries to stall but Takayanagi uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Nichols changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Takayanagi fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nichols tries to clinch but Takayanagi moves out of range.
Nichols wants to clinch.
Nichols tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Takayanagi swings for the body but Nichols moves out of range.
Nichols looks to land a combination but Takayanagi avoids it well.
Takayanagi thows a body shot but no joy.
Nichols throws a low kick, looking for Takayanagi's leg but Takayanagi calmly moves out of range.
Takayanagi with a jab.

Nichols clinches.
Takayanagi can't find room to land a body shot as Nichols controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nichols is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Takayanagi is keeping busy.
Takayanagi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nichols blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nichols blocks a body shot from Takayanagi.
Nichols is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Takayanagi gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Meguru Takayanagi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zack Nichols.
Takayanagi lands a body shot in the clinch.
Nichols using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Takayanagi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Takayanagi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Nichols backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nichols will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Takayanagi up against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Nichols lands a knee to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Takayanagi.
Takayanagi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Takayanagi.
A short uppercut from Takayanagi.
Takayanagi misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nichols blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Takayanagi displaying some good clinch control by pressing Nichols up against the cage.
Takayanagi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nichols's elbow.
Nichols looking to slow down the pace here.
Nichols throws a knee to the head but misses.
Takayanagi tries to throw a body punch but Nichols avoids it by throwing Takayanagi back against the cage.
A hook to the body from Takayanagi.
Takayanagi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Takayanagi.
Takayanagi stalling in the clinch but Nichols improves position.
Takayanagi misses with a body punch.
Nichols is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Takayanagi tries to work over Nichols's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nichols misses with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nichols is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Takayanagi is defending well for now.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Takayanagi.
Takayanagi just leaning against Nichols, taking a breather.
Takayanagi prevents a body shot from Nichols.
Nichols misses with a punch on the inside.
Takayanagi prevents the takedown attempt.
A bit of stalling here from Takayanagi.
Takayanagi lands with a short shot to the head.
Nichols slows down the pace here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Takayanagi.
Takayanagi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nichols misses with a knee to the head.
Nichols lands a right hand that snaps the head of Takayanagi backwards.
Nichols throws a knee to the head but misses.
Takayanagi stalling in the clinch but Nichols improves position.
Nichols is working for takedown but Takayanagi is calmly controlling the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Meguru Takayanagi dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Takayanagi lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Nichols misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Takayanagi looks to score with a jab to the body but Nichols is just out of range.
Nichols tries to clinch there but Takayanagi circles away.
Takayanagi swats away the attempt to clinch by Nichols.
Nichols misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nichols tries to clinch but Takayanagi is having none of it.
Nichols shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A head kick misses from Nichols.
Nichols throws a half hearted mid kick.
Nichols wants to clinch.
Nichols displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Takayanagi throws out the jab.
Nichols fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nichols tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Takayanagi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Takayanagi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Takayanagi shoots in for a double leg but Nichols sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nichols tries to clinch but Takayanagi is having none of it.
Takayanagi misses with a wild body shot.
Nichols thows a body kick. Takayanagi tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Takayanagi takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A swing and a miss from Takayanagi.
Nichols steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Takayanagi.
Nichols keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Nichols drives through and clinches with Takayanagi against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Takayanagi.
Nichols missing with knees to the body.
Nichols is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Takayanagi is defending well.
Takayanagi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nichols tries to throw a body punch but Takayanagi avoids it by throwing Nichols back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nichols.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Nichols takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A short uppercut from Nichols.
Nichols swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nichols unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takayanagi working aggressively here.
Nichols throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nichols looking to stall.
Nichols is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Takayanagi has denied him.
Takayanagi misses with a body punch.
Takayanagi misses with a punch to the body.
Takayanagi lands a right hand.
Takayanagi avoiding damage.
Nichols wants a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takayanagi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Takayanagi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A short uppercut from Takayanagi.
Nichols tries to work over Takayanagi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Nichols is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Takayanagi is defending well for now.
Nichols's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nichols obliges.
Takayanagi lands with a left to the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Takayanagi working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Nichols lands a right hand.
Takayanagi misses with a body punch.
Nichols blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takayanagi prevents a body shot from Nichols.
Takayanagi lands a shoulder strike.
Takayanagi tries a body shot but Nichols blocks it.
Takayanagi is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takayanagi stalling the fight.
Takayanagi lands a shoulder strike.
Takayanagi stalling in the clinch but Nichols improves position.
Takayanagi lands an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Nichols fails to land.
Nichols wants to stall.
Takayanagi gets through Nichols's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Takayanagi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Takayanagi.
Takayanagi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short left from Takayanagi.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Takayanagi lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Nichols trying to land knees to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Takayanagi misses with a punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Meguru Takayanagi 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Takayanagi misses with a left hand

and Nichols counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Takayanagi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Takayanagi scores with a shoulder strike.
Nichols blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Takayanagi avoids a wild elbow strike from Nichols.
Takayanagi scores with a shoulder strike.
Takayanagi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Nichols backwards.
Nichols throws a punch but it's blocked by Takayanagi.
A shot in the inside from Takayanagi.
Takayanagi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Takayanagi prevents a takedown attempt there.
Takayanagi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Nichols backwards.
Takayanagi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Nichols smiles and moves away.
Takayanagi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nichols tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Takayanagi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takayanagi cracks Nichols with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Nichols is looking to clinch.
Takayanagi scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Nichols tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Takayanagi moves into the clinch.
Nichols's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Nichols using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Takayanagi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nichols blocking some punches.
Nichols using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Takayanagi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A hook to the body from Takayanagi.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Takayanagi.
Nichols throws a head punch that misses.
Takayanagi blocks an uppercut.
Nichols misses with a hook from the clinch.
Takayanagi misses with a punch to the body.
Nichols tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takayanagi looking to slow down the pace here.
Takayanagi has Nichols pushed against the cage.
Takayanagi jumps guard but Nichols stands there with Takayanagi around his waist. Takayanagi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Meguru Takayanagi has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Nichols with an attempt at a knee that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short right from Nichols on the inside.
Nichols scores with a shoulder strike.
Takayanagi holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Takayanagi pushes Nichols back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Takayanagi struggles to land a body shot inside as Nichols controls his hands.
Nichols prevents a body shot from Takayanagi.
Takayanagi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Takayanagi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nichols lands a left hand.
Nichols lands a right hand that snaps the head of Takayanagi backwards.
Nichols tries to land knees in the clinch but Takayanagi avoids the damage to the body.
A right hand to the body from Takayanagi.
Takayanagi misses with a hook from the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Takayanagi.
The referee is keeping an eye on Takayanagi - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Nichols looking to throw knees to the head but Takayanagi is blocking nicely.

Takayanagi pulls guard.

Nichols got a little sloppy there for a moment and Takayanagi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nichols has managed to get both his arms back between Takayanagi's legs - danger averted.

Takayanagi looking for a guillotine here but Nichols defends easily.
We've been hearing good reports from Takayanagi's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Takayanagi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nichols!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nichols wants to hold on but Takayanagi pushes him away.

Takayanagi has hold of Nichols's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Nichols manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takayanagi is looking to work his way around to Nichols's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.

Takayanagi jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Nichols manages to avoid the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nichols is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Zack Nichols has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Takayanagi gets to mount! Nichols was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

And that's the end of the fight!
Meguru Takayanagi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Takayanagi, 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Meguru Takayanagi!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Meguru Takayanagi waved his t-shirt featuring Fury Nutrition Inc.'s logo in front of the cameras.