PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alex Burrows (ranked 4385 p4p, 4545 weight class) and Meguru Takayanagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alex Burrows has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Burrows
vs
Takayanagi

178 cm
25
155
4 - 4 - 0

172 cm
18
148
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alex Burrows!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Meguru Takayanagi!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Burrows drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Burrows throws an elbow but Takayanagi slips to the side and avoids it well.
Who's going to make the next move?
Burrows throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Takayanagi is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Burrows off and has taken his back!
Takayanagi trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Takayanagi throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Takayanagi trying to control.
Burrows is in bad spot here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takayanagi missing with strikes from the back.
Takayanagi throwing sloppy strikes.
Burrows is in bad spot here.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Takayanagi's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Takayanagi working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takayanagi just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Takayanagi struggling to keep hold of the position.
Burrows is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Takayanagi working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Takayanagi tries to keep control of the position but Burrows is staying busy.
Burrows just looking to survive in the bad position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burrows tries to escape the position.
Takayanagi throwing sloppy strikes.
Takayanagi tries to keep control of the position but Burrows is staying busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Takayanagi is looking for the choke from the back position but Burrows is controlling his hands well.

Burrows showing good submission defense here.

Takayanagi has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Burrows has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Takayanagi is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Burrows has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Burrows knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Takayanagi on the ground.

Takayanagi is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Takayanagi looks winded!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Takayanagi has the hooks in. Burrows is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Burrows looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Burrows content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Burrows tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Takayanagi.
Takayanagi manages to get to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burrows won't allow Takayanagi to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burrows showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takayanagi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Takayanagi trying to keep a closed guard but Burrows is proving a slippery customer.
Takayanagi controlling Burrows's posture.
Takayanagi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Burrows stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Takayanagi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

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 controls Burrows momentarily but Burrows frees himself.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Takayanagi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Burrows defends it nicely.
Burrows shoots in for a double leg but Takayanagi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Burrows feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Takayanagis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Alex Burrows is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Burrows dives in and grabs Takayanagi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Takayanagi pushes down on Burrows's head and hops out.
Burrows throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Takayanagi.
Takayanagi fails with the takedown

and Burrows counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Burrows.
Burrows has Takayanagi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Takayanagi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Burrows. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takayanagi wants to stall.
Takayanagi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Burrows prevents it.
Burrows is trying to break the clinch but Takayanagi is controlling him.
Burrows wants a takedown but no success here.
Burrows is trying to push Takayanagi away but Takayanagi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Takayanagi manages to break the clinch.
Burrows shoots in and drives through. Takayanagi sprawls well.
Takayanagi shoots for a takedown but Burrows saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Burrows tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Takayanagi manages to circle out of the way.

Takayanagi clinches with his opponent.
A head punch on the inside from Takayanagi fails to land.
Burrows has Takayanagi pressed against the cage, preventing Takayanagi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burrows is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Takayanagi to keep the fight standing.
Burrows stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Takayanagi looking to stall.
Burrows drops down looking for an ankle pick but Takayanagi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Burrows dives in and grabs Takayanagi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Takayanagi pushes down on Burrows's head and hops out.
Takayanagi darts in looking for a takedown but Burrows gets double underhooks and turns Takayanagi into the cage.
Burrows misses with a double jab.
Takayanagi wants to counter with a clinch but Burrows pushes him away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Takayanagi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Takayanagi is breathing heavily.

Burrows takes the fight into the clinch.
Burrows has Takayanagi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Takayanagi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Alex Burrows will probably get the nod.
That's time! Burrows's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Takayanagi tries to clinch up

and Burrows counters with a shoot takedown. Takayanagi fights it but they end up in guard.

Takayanagi kicks Burrows off and gets to his feet.

Burrows rushes Takayanagi and presses him up against the cage.
Burrows is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Takayanagi tries to pull guard but Burrows won't allow it.
Takayanagi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Burrows pulls guard effortlessly.
Takayanagi trying to control but Burrows is working from the bottom.
Burrows is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Takayanagi is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burrows looking to hit a scissor sweep but Takayanagi is one step ahead there.
Takayanagi trying to control but Burrows is working from the bottom.
Takayanagi slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Takayanagi stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Burrows tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Takayanagi throws a lazy head kick
and Burrows counters with a one-two to the body.
Burrows pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Takayanagi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Takayanagi wants it to stay on the feet.
Takayanagi is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Takayanagi darts in looking for a takedown but Burrows gets double underhooks and turns Takayanagi into the cage.
Alex Burrows has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Meguru Takayanagi.
Takayanagi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Takayanagi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Burrows swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Burrows shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Takayanagi but Takayanagi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Takayanagi fails to land the takedown.
Burrows leaves Takayanagi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burrows wants to slow Takayanagi down by chopping away at his legs.
Alex Burrows is winning the standup battle so far.
Burrows connects with a body shot that sends Takayanagi's belly button to the back.

Burrows fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Takayanagi to the ground. Burrows is now in Takayanagi's guard.

Takayanagi has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Burrows off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Burrows drives through with a takedown into guard.
Meguru Takayanagi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Takayanagi is trying to keep Burrows in close.
Burrows not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Burrows'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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takayanagi looking for a sweep. Not yet Takayanagi, not yet.
Burrows would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Burrows seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Burrows wants to stand but Takayanagi has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Takayanagi shoots for a takedown but Burrows saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Burrows showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Burrows 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Burrows!