PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Noryuki Takahashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xander Petrovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Takahashi
vs
Petrovich

177 cm
22
155 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

175 cm
22
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Noryuki Takahashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Xander Petrovich!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Dean Styles and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Petrovich tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Takahashi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Petrovich's head.
Takahashi lands a front kick.
Takahashi misses with a wild combination.
Petrovich takes a kick to the side of the head.
Xander Petrovich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takahashi uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Petrovich has time to react.
Petrovich throws a left and a right that both miss

and Takahashi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takahashi postures up.
Takahashi wanted to stand there but Petrovich had control of the position.
Takahashi thows a big elbow that misses.
Petrovich trying to control the position.
Petrovich wants to sweep but no luck.
Takahashi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Petrovich on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi throws a big right hand that misses.
Petrovich looking for a sweep. Not yet Petrovich, not yet.
Petrovich trying to keep a closed guard but Takahashi is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Petrovich tries to keep at a distance but Takahashi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Takahashi lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nice elbow from Takahashi.

Takahashi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Petrovich wants to clinch but Takahashi slips to the side
and Takahashi counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Petrovich fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Takahashi, pushing him back against the ropes.
Takahashi looking for a takedown.
Takahashi is pressed up against the ropes. Petrovich has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Takahashi down to the mat. Takahashi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Takahashi feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Petrovich is trying to control the position but Takahashi postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Petrovich is on top in guard.
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.
Petrovich looks gassed!
Petrovich trying to control the position from guard on top but Takahashi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Petrovich won't allow Takahashi to sweep him here.
Takahashi wants to stand and escape but Petrovich is having none of it.
Petrovich missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Takahashi trying to keep a closed guard but Petrovich is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrovich stays in close to Takahashi's body and controls the position.
Petrovich stops Takahashi from standing up.
Petrovich trying to control but Takahashi is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Petrovich misses with the combination.
Takahashi connects with a right hand. Petrovich shakes it off.
Petrovich shoots and misses
and Takahashi counters with a nice uppercut.
Takahashi throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Takahashi thuds his shin into the meat of Petrovich's side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrovich with a poor takedown
and Takahashi counters with a three punch combo that has Petrovich backing up. Petrovich nods at Takahashi to acknowledge the strikes.
Noryuki Takahashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xander Petrovich.

Takahashi pushes Petrovich up against the ropes in a clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Petrovich wants to get back to striking at distance but Takahashi won't allow it.

Takahashi jumps guard and drags Petrovich to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Petrovich looking to pass the guard.
Petrovich stops Takahashi from standing up.
Petrovich wants to pass the guard but Takahashi is keeping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Takahashi has his feet on Petrovich's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Petrovich fails with the takedown

and Takahashi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noryuki Takahashi dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Takahashi scores with a takedown into Petrovich's guard.
Petrovich is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Takahashi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Takahashi stopping the sweep attempt from Petrovich.
Takahashi sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrovich looking to control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Petrovich is on top in guard.
Petrovich won't allow Takahashi to sweep him here.
Petrovich stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Takahashi swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Petrovich has gone for a leg lock! Takahashi slips out almost immediately though and dives into Petrovich's guard.

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.
Takahashi throws a big right hand that misses.
Takahashi postures up.
Takahashi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Takahashi drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Petrovich dives on top into guard.
Petrovich missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi wants to stand and escape but Petrovich is having none of it.

Petrovich stands up and waves to Takahashi to follow him.
Petrovich throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Takahashi.
Takahashi misses with a head kick.
Petrovich has his takedown stuffed

and Takahashi counters by clinching up.

Takahashi breaks the clinch.

Takahashi shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Takahashi showed some decent athleticism there.
Petrovich controlling the position well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Takahashi prevents Petrovich from improving his position.
Petrovich desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Petrovich looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noryuki Takahashi dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Petrovich throws a head kick but Takahashi moves out of range.
Petrovich tries to close the distance and clinch up but Takahashi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A right-left combo lands from Takahashi.
Noryuki Takahashi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Petrovich looks to clinch
and Takahashi counters with a two punch combo.
Petrovich with a poor takedown
and Takahashi counters with an outside leg kick.
Petrovich misses with a takedown attempt

and Takahashi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Takahashi ties up his opponent against the ropes and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Takahashi no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Petrovich trying to control the position from guard on top but Takahashi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Noryuki Takahashi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Petrovich in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Takahashi pulls Petrovich in close to his closed guard and prevents Petrovich from doing any damage or advancing position.
Petrovich wants to control from the top but Takahashi keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Petrovich has gone for a leg lock! Takahashi slips out almost immediately though and dives into Petrovich's guard.
Takahashi wants to stand but Petrovich is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Takahashi gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Takahashi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Petrovich.

Takahashi bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Petrovich tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Takahashi wants to control but Petrovich is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Petrovich covering up well under a series of strikes from Takahashi.
Takahashi misses with punches from the back.
Takahashi doesn't have the hooks in and Petrovich manages to turn into his guard.

Petrovich 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.
Takahashi keeping full guard, as Petrovich tries to pass.

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.
Petrovich won't allow Takahashi to sweep him here.
Xander Petrovich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Petrovich with a lazy takedown attempt
and Takahashi counters with a nice low kick that buckles Petrovich's knee momentarily.
Noryuki Takahashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xander Petrovich.
Takahashi displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Takahashi scores with a three punch combo!
Noryuki Takahashi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Petrovich throws a one two combo.
Noryuki Takahashi is winning the standup battle so far.
Takahashi lets loose with a powerful body kick. Petrovich will feel that in the morning.
Petrovich has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Takahashi.
Takahashi lands with a kick to the temple. Petrovich shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Takahashi wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A head kick by Petrovich misses
and Takahashi counters with a body kick that stops Petrovich in his tracks momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Noryuki Takahashi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Takahashi has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27

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