PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Akio Takahashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rakishi Johns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johns is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Just Dance. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Takahashi
vs
Johns

190 cm
19
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
19
217 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akio Takahashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rakishi Johns!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johns fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Takahashi, pushing him back against the cage.
Takahashi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Johns.
Knees to the body from Takahashi.
Takahashi wants a takedown but no success here.
Takahashi lands a nice knee to the body.
Johns just leaning against Takahashi, taking a breather.
Takahashi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Takahashi manages to pull guard.
Johns wants to control from the top but Takahashi keeps moving.
Johns stops Takahashi from standing up.
Takahashi controlling Johns's posture.
Takahashi's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johns postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johns trying to control but Takahashi is working from the bottom.
Takahashi working a defensive guard here.
Takahashi being controlled here, momentarily.
Takahashi pulls Johns in close to prevent any damage.
Johns won't allow Takahashi to sweep him here.
Takahashi working a defensive guard here.

That's two 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Johns tries to clinch but Takahashi is having none of it.
Johns tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Takahashi tries to clinch but Johns moves out of range.
Takahashi wants to clinch
and Johns counters with a left and a right that stings Takahashi.

Takahashi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Johns managing to block the knees to the body from Takahashi.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Johns tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Takahashi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Johns throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Johns breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Takahashi tries to clinch but Johns moves away

and Johns counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Johns wants to control from the top but Takahashi keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Takahashi is breathing heavily.
Johns won't allow Takahashi to sweep him here.

Johns drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Johns jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Takahashi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Takahashi keeping moving, preventing Johns from controlling successfully.
Takahashi is looking to stand back up but Johns counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Takahashi.
Johns working the ground and pound.
The strikes coming from Johns are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Takahashi can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Johns wants to lay and pray for a moment but Takahashi keeps working.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Johns breaks from the clinch.

Johns shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Johns seems to be looking for submissions.
Takahashi is not content to let Johns control the position.
Takahashi trying to control here.
Johns passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Takahashi!
Johns working away from the top, dropping strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rakishi Johns dominated that 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.

Johns scores with a takedown into Takahashi's guard.
Johns trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Takahashi pulls Johns in to control the position.
Takahashi keeping full guard, as Johns tries to pass.
Takahashi working a defensive guard here.
Takahashi pulls Johns in close to prevent any damage.
Takahashi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Johns!
Takahashi lands a heavy elbow.
Johns slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Still in half guard, Takahashi seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johns is staying active underneath Takahashi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Johns is breathing heavily.
Johns regains full guard. Nicely done.
Takahashi stays in close to Johns's body and controls the position.
Takahashi has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Akio Takahashi just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Takahashi is looking to clinch but Johns is avoiding it.

Takahashi scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Takahashi is just content to waste time from the top position. Johns takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Johns keeping moving, preventing Takahashi from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rakishi Johns has got the better of the ground game so far.
Takahashi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johns is keeping the position for now.
Johns throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Johns is looking to sweep but instead, Takahashi has passed into half guard.
Takahashi controlling the pace.
Johns pushes Takahashi off looking to stand but Takahashi dives back in and keeps control.
Johns is trying to get back to full guard.
Johns manages to get to full guard.
Johns is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johns manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Takahashi manages to get himself to full guard.
Johns content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Johns preventing the sweep.
Johns pushing down on Takahashi's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Takahashi is pressing down on Johns's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Takahashi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Johns's guard.
Takahashi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Takahashi stopping the sweep attempt from Johns.
Takahashi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Takahashi wants to control from the top but Johns keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Takahashi wants to control from the top but Johns keeps moving.
Takahashi lands a couple of digs.
Takahashi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Takahashi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Takahashi has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Johns is proving hard to escape from.
Takahashi postures up.

Johns working for a triangle but Takahashi defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Akio Takahashi will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Takahashi.
Johns tries to buck Takahashi off but Takahashi is having none of it.
Takahashi working away.
Johns is looking to regain half guard here but Takahashi keeps moving and retains side control.
Takahashi takes a little break here. Johns wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Takahashi tries to move to mount but Johns blocks the move with his legs.

Takahashi decides to stand back up. Takahashi steps back and let's Johns get back to his feet.
Takahashi tries to clinch there but Johns circles away.
Johns has his takedown stuffed
and Takahashi counters with a nice leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takahashi gets caught flat footed, as Johns shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Takahashi throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Johns trying to control but Takahashi is working from the bottom.
Johns forces his way into half guard.
Johns missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Takahashi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Johns scores with a couple of nice shots.
Johns seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Johns takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Johns takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Johns is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Johns looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Takahashi with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi regains full guard. Nicely done.
Takahashi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Johns manages to get himself to full guard.

Takahashi stands up from Johns's guard - Takahashi perhaps looking for a knockout.
Takahashi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Takahashi fails to land the takedown.
Johns avoids a kick to the body.

Johns rushes Takahashi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Takahashi throws an elbow that misses.
Takahashi lands a body shot.
Johns just leaning against Takahashi, taking a breather.
Johns gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Takahashi.
Takahashi prevents Johns from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johns wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Johns breaks the clinch.

Johns closes the distance and clinches.
Johns holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Johns tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Takahashi gets underhooks to prevent Johns's takedown attempt.
Akio Takahashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rakishi Johns.
Takahashi tries to pull guard but Johns holds him up against the cage and eventually Takahashi drops back down to his feet.
Takahashi tries to break the clinch but Johns is controlling the position.
Johns tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Takahashi is trying to break free.
Johns wants to break the clinch but can't.
Johns takes an elbow to the temple.

Johns breaks from the clinch.

Takahashi has taken the fight to the clinch.

Johns breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Johns will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Takahashi gets a clinch.
Johns takes an elbow to the forehead.
Johns tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Takahashi just stands there and leans against the cage.
Johns is working for takedown but Takahashi is calmly controlling the position for now.

Takahashi breaks the clinch.
Johns avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A head kick misses from Takahashi.

Takahashi closes the distance and clinches.

Takahashi pulls guard successfully.
Takahashi controls Johns momentarily but Johns frees himself.
Takahashi keeping moving, preventing Johns from controlling successfully.
Takahashi being controlled here, momentarily.
Johns is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

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 Akio Takahashi.
I think Takahashi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akio Takahashi!