PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Akira Takashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Filipunaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Takashi
vs
Filipunaki

175 cm
21
163 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

172 cm
19
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Takashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Filipunaki!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Ren Mimura and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Takashi.
Takashi working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Takashi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Filipunaki keeps working.

Takashi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Filipunaki tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Filipunaki is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Takashi asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Takashi avoids the strikes from the bottom by Filipunaki.
You can see the frustration on Filipunaki's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Takashi is putting a hurting on Filipunaki here, landing some big shots from side control.
Takashi lands a decent elbow from side control.
Takashi lands an elbow.
Takashi landing a few strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Check out the look on Takashi's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Filipunaki on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Filipunaki is rocked!
Filipunaki gets back to half guard.
Takashi is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Filipunaki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Filipunaki manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Filipunaki fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Filipunaki looking to control but Takashi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Filipunaki landing strikes from the mount.
Takashi is looking to improve his position but Filipunaki isn't that keen on the idea.
Takashi regains half guard.
Filipunaki has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Filipunaki is keen to just control but Takashi is a slippery customer.
Filipunaki looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Takashi tries to roll over but Filipunaki keeps him under control.
Takashi is staying active underneath Filipunaki, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Takashi tries to roll over but Filipunaki keeps him under control.

Takashi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Takashi throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Filipunaki manages to pass to side control.
Filipunaki scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Takashi to see if he's OK.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Takashi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Takashi wants to pass the guard but Filipunaki is keeping the position.
Filipunaki looking to control.
Takashi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Filipunaki has momentary wrist control but Takashi slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takashi content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Takashi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Takashi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Takashi with a nice head shot there.
Takashi works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Takashi wants to control but Filipunaki is keeping him busy.
Takashi lands with a punch from half guard.
Takashi working the head and body with strikes.
Filipunaki on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Filipunaki has hold of Takashi's hands but Takashi slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Takashi is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Filipunaki wants to try and get back to his feet.
Filipunaki regains half guard.
Takashi drops an elbow to the side of Filipunaki's head.
Filipunaki wants to improve his position but Takashi is controlling well.

Takashi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filipunaki pushes Takashi off looking to stand but Takashi dives back in and keeps control.
Takashi is thwarting Filipunaki's attempts to control the position.
Takashi lands strikes from half guard.
Filipunaki moves into full guard.

Filipunaki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Takashi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Takashi tries to free his leg and advance position but Filipunaki is retaining full guard.
Takashi looking to sit in guard and control but Filipunaki gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Filipunaki stands and throws Takashi's legs to the side, diving into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Takashi is looking to reverse the position.
Filipunaki controlling the position from side mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

The fight stays on the outside here - Filipunaki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Takashi drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Filipunaki struggling a bit here.
Filipunaki manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Takashi is in trouble now - Filipunaki has advanced to mount!
Filipunaki trying to control but Takashi is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Takashi is in all sorts of trouble here.

Filipunaki wants to finish this one by submission but Takashi is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Filipunaki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takashi is trying desperately to improve position.
Takashi on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Takashi tries to get out of the position.
Takashi gets back to half guard.
Filipunaki tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Filipunaki trying to control from half guard but Takashi is working away.
Filipunaki wants to pass the guard but Takashi is defending well.
Filipunaki controlling the pace.
Filipunaki works his way into full mount!
Filipunaki wants to control the pace but Takashi is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Filipunaki might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Takashi kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Filipunaki is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Filipunaki is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Takashi has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Filipunaki has hold of Takashi's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Takashi manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Takashi tries to reverse the position but Filipunaki maintains control.
Filipunaki trying to control but Takashi is having none of it.
Takashi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takashi gets back to half guard.
Takashi punching from the bottom.
Takashi is pressing down on Filipunaki's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Takashi manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Filipunaki tries to hold on but Takashi postures up.
Takashi scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Filipunaki tries to hold on but Takashi postures up.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Takashi cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Filipunaki is still in real trouble! Can Takashi finish him?
Filipunaki is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Takashi scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takashi connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Takashi lands a big shot there that rocks Filipunaki but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takashi scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Filipunaki?
Filipunaki is wriggling around trying to escape.
Takashi unloading with bombs!
Takashi landing strikes from the mount and Filipunaki is in trouble!
Filipunaki tries to hold on but Takashi postures up.
Takashi scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Filipunaki?
Filipunaki is trying to escape the mount.
Takashi in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Filipunaki tries to hold on but Takashi pushes him away.
Filipunaki working to try and regain half guard.
Filipunaki is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
BOOM! Takashi connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Filipunaki is trying desperately to improve position.
Filipunaki takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Takashi dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Filipunaki is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Takashi shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Takashi showed some decent athleticism there.

Filipunaki kicks off Takashi and gets to his feet.
Filipunaki seems to have recovered his senses.
Filipunaki tries to clinch there but Takashi circles away.
Filipunaki doesn't manage to clinch there - Takashi circles away.
Filipunaki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Takashi counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Takashi connects with a nice short shot to Filipunaki's temple.
Takashi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Filipunaki can do to turn this around?
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Filipunaki is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Takashi's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Takashi's back!
Takashi rolls, trying to escape but Filipunaki keeps control of the position.
Filipunaki somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takashi is trying to break free.
Takashi tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Takashi is trying desperately to improve position.
Takashi takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Filipunaki is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Takashi is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Takashi is in a horrible position here. Filipunaki smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Takashi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Takashi throwing hammer fists to the chest of Filipunaki. What's that going to do exactly?
Filipunaki controlling from mount.
Takashi takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Takashi is looking to improve his position but Filipunaki isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filipunaki with good strikes from the mount here!
Akira Takashi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Takashi throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Takashi working to try and regain half guard.
Filipunaki looking to control but Takashi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Takashi tries to reverse the position but Filipunaki maintains control.
Filipunaki fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Filipunaki prevents Takashi from getting the reversal.
A nice elbow there by Filipunaki.

Takashi is rocked!
Filipunaki controlling the position easily from mount.
Oh Takashi is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Filipunaki prevents Takashi from getting the reversal.
Takashi seems to have got his legs back now.
Filipunaki working the ground and pound effectively.
Takashi wants to control but Filipunaki is having none of it.
Takashi is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filipunaki misses with a head shot.
Takashi is mounted and he's throwing punches. Is that wise?
Takashi is desperately trying to improve his position but Filipunaki has a good base and remains in mount.
Filipunaki is looking to stand but Filipunaki has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Takashi is trying to escape the mount.
Takashi is working hard here to advance position.
Filipunaki controlling the position easily from mount.
Filipunaki can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Takashi is looking to escape.
Filipunaki sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Filipunaki manages to capitalize on a mistake by Takashi to take his back!
Filipunaki doesn't have the hooks in and Takashi manages to turn into his guard.
Filipunaki wants to stand up but Takashi is controlling him.
Takashi throwing strikes but missing.
Filipunaki 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.
Filipunaki is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Takashi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Filipunaki is keeping the position for now.
Filipunaki avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Filipunaki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Akira Filipunaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Filipunaki gets caught flat footed, as Takashi shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

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 Akira Takashi.
Well Takashi 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akira Takashi!