PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Orange Joe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Meguru Takayanagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Meguru Takayanagi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Joe
vs
Takayanagi

179 cm
24
165 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

177 cm
24
167 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

KAISER Nutrition (160!/220$)

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Orange Joe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Meguru Takayanagi!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yukihiro Shimada and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takayanagi fails to land the takedown.

Takayanagi decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Joe tries to roll over but Takayanagi keeps him under control.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Takayanagi trying to pass the guard but Joe defending well.
Joe is trying to get back to full guard.
Joe gets full guard.
Joe keeping full guard, as Takayanagi tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takayanagi trying to control but Joe is working from the bottom.
Joe wants to sweep but no luck.

Joe is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe wants to sweep here but Takayanagi controlling him for the moment.

Joe had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Takayanagi defends it easily.
Joe is trying to control the position but Takayanagi postures up.
Takayanagi trying to control the position from guard on top but Joe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Joe has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Takayanagi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Joe looking to control but Takayanagi passes into half guard.
Takayanagi is keen to just control but Joe is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Takayanagi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Joe's head.
Takayanagi is looking to take a break and control but Joe is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Joe won't allow Takayanagi to pass to mount.
The fighters are battling for position here. Joe manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Joe is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Takayanagi is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Joe looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Takayanagi stopping the sweep attempt from Joe.
Takayanagi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Joe swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Joe looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Takayanagi won't allow Joe to sweep him here.
Takayanagi trying to control the position from guard on top but Joe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Joe has momentary wrist control but Takayanagi slips an elbow through the middle.
Takayanagi trying to control but Joe is working from the bottom.
Takayanagi lands a couple of digs.
Joe looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Joe keeping full guard, as Takayanagi tries to pass.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joe is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Takayanagi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Joe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Takayanagi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Joe tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Takayanagi trying to control but Joe is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Takayanagi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Joe circles away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Joe keeps Takayanagi at a distance using the push kick.
Joe throws out a loose jab but Takayanagi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Takayanagi on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Orange Joe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Takayanagi.
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 Orange Joe will probably get the nod.
That's time! Joe's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Takayanagi clinches up against the ropes.
Joe blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Takayanagi looking for a takedown.
Joe working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
I was talking to Joe's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A right hook to the body lands for Joe.
Joe presses Takayanagi against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Joe has a couple of punches blocked by Takayanagi.

Takayanagi wants the takedown. Joe is fighting it off but Takayanagi persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Joe's guard against the ropes.
Joe lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Joe is looking to work some ground and pound but Takayanagi has wrist control.
Joe pushing down on Takayanagi's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Joe seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Joe working over Takayanagi with some ground and pound. Takayanagi looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Joe lands strikes from half guard.
Joe drops an elbow to the side of Takayanagi's head.
Joe working over Takayanagi with some ground and pound. Takayanagi looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takayanagi wants to control but Joe is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Joe is trying to control the action in half guard but Takayanagi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Takayanagi tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Takayanagi is looking for a sweep. Joe is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Joe winds up and cracks Takayanagi with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Takayanagi is rocked!
Joe is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Takayanagi is still in real trouble! Can Joe finish him?
Joe lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Joe performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Joe is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Takayanagi seems to have recovered his senses.
Joe wants to control but Takayanagi is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joe throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Takayanagi is looking to control Joe's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Takayanagi avoid being mounted?
Joe lands with a punch from half guard.

Takayanagi actively working from the bottom here.
Joe missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Takayanagi is looking to improve his position.
Joe trying to control from half guard but Takayanagi is working away.
Joe looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Takayanagi taking some punishment here, with Joe in his half guard.
Takayanagi wants to control but Joe is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Joe is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Takayanagi can do to turn this around?
Ground and pound from Joe.
Takayanagi is in trouble now - Joe has advanced to mount!
Joe loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Takayanagi scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Joe land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Joe stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Orange Joe!
After winning the bout, Orange Joe thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.