PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Issac Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Meguru Takayanagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takayanagi is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by now. On his way into the cage it seems that Issac Thompson has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Issac Thompson seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Thompson
vs
Takayanagi

181 cm
25
141 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

165 cm
25
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Issac Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Meguru Takayanagi!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Franklyn Lucas and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takayanagi throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Thompson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Thompson scores with a jab to the jaw.
Meguru Takayanagi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takayanagi doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Thompson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Thompson clinches with his opponent.

Takayanagi pulls guard effortlessly.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Takayanagi has his foot on Thompson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Thompson works his way back into a safe position though.

Takayanagi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thompson is aware though and is defending well.
Thompson with a nice head shot there.

Takayanagi throws his legs up looking for a submission but Thompson uses it to pass to side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Takayanagi tries to escape but Thompson is in control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Takayanagi tries to bench press Thompson off him but Thompson keeps the position.
Thompson creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Takayanagi is trying to get back to his feet.
Takayanagi is working to avoid the ground and pound but Thompson connects with a decent elbow.
Takayanagi takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takayanagi is trying to improve his position.
Takayanagi wants to control but Thompson postures up.
Takayanagi is looking to reverse the position.
Thompson content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Thompson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Takayanagi wants to control but Thompson postures up.

Takayanagi bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Takayanagi looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Takayanagi is looking to pass into half guard but Thompson pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Thompson is in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Thompson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Thompson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thompson trying to control the position from guard on top but Takayanagi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thompson is pushing down on Takayanagi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Takayanagi is fighting to maintain full guard but Thompson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Thompson passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Takayanagi!
Takayanagi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Thompson punishing his opponent with strikes.
Takayanagi wants to control but Thompson is having none of it.
Thompson scoring with strikes but Takayanagi is staying in there.
Thompson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takayanagi is bucking up trying to escape but Thompson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Thompson looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Takayanagi trying desperately to get to his feet.
Takayanagi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Takayanagi sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Takayanagi wants to control but Thompson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Thompson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Takayanagi is not content to let Thompson control the position.

Takayanagi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thompson pulls his head out easily.

Takayanagi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Thompson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is nestled in close to Takayanagi, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Takayanagi looking for a kimura from the bottom but Thompson passes into side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Takayanagi manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Thompson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thompson is nestled in close to Takayanagi, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Takayanagi looking for subs from the bottom but Thompson mounts him!
Thompson working the ground and pound effectively.
Thompson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Takayanagi is in all sorts of trouble here.
Thompson lands a couple of good shots and Takayanagi has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thompson is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

Thompson is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Takayanagi defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Issac Thompson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Thompson scores with a jab to the head.
Thompson stuffs the takedown.
Takayanagi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Thompson pinned against the cage. Thompson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Takayanagi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Thompson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Thompson is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Thompson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Takayanagi.
Thompson misses the shot to the body.
Takayanagi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Thompson circles away.
Issac Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Meguru Takayanagi.

Thompson gets caught flat footed, as Takayanagi shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Thompson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thompson working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takayanagi tries to free his leg and advance position but Thompson is retaining full guard.
Takayanagi passes Thompson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Thompson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Takayanagi pushing down on Thompson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Takayanagi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Thompson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Takayanagi.

Takayanagi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson keeping control of the position.
Thompson is trying to maintain the position but Takayanagi is very close to passing his half guard.

Takayanagi is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Thompson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Thompson is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takayanagi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Takayanagi is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Thompson defends it well.
Takayanagi wants to take a breather but Thompson is having none of it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Thompson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Thompson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Takayanagi manages to get himself to full guard.

Takayanagi is looking for a triangle here but Thompson uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takayanagi pushes Thompson away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Thompson gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Thompson landing a few strikes.
Takayanagi taking punishment in the form of punches.
Takayanagi is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Takayanagi struggling a bit here.
The referee asks Thompson politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Thompson prefers to stall for the moment though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thompson in side control lands a decent elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Takayanagi tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Thompson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Thompson scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Takayanagi to see if he's OK.
Thompson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Takayanagi keeps working.
Check out the look on Thompson's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Issac Thompson dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Thompson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Thompson is looking to take this one to the mat.

Takayanagi has hold of one of Thompson's legs. Thompson is fighting the takedown attempt but Takayanagi gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Takayanagi is looking to advance position but Thompson has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Takayanagi is trying to escape the mount.
Thompson with good strikes from the mount here!
Takayanagi is trying to escape the mount.
Takayanagi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Issac Thompson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thompson is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Takayanagi can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson looking to finish Takayanagi with some ground and pound. This is bad for Takayanagi!
Takayanagi is looking to get to half guard.
Takayanagi squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Thompson scoring with strikes but Takayanagi is staying in there.
Takayanagi tries to hold on but Thompson postures up.
Takayanagi is in a horrible position here. Thompson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Thompson is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Takayanagi is wriggling around trying to escape.
Thompson lands a heavy elbow.
Takayanagi is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takayanagi is looking to improve his position but Thompson isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson wants to control the pace but Takayanagi is squirming around nicely.
Takayanagi tries to hold on but Thompson pushes him away.
Takayanagi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Thompson working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Takayanagi looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Thompson! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Issac Thompson!
In his post fight interview, Issac Thompson started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
The defeated Meguru Takayanagi had this to say: 'baka dayo ne'.