PBP Commentary

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

Takahashi
vs
Williams

177 cm
23
155 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

185 cm
23
165 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Enjoys gardening

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 5 - 3 - 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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Williams!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Jorge Garcia and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Williams shoots in for a double leg but Takahashi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Takahashi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Williams avoids the head kick by Takahashi.
Williams throws a right hand that Takahashi ducks under and follows up with a left that Takahashi also avoids with ease.
Takahashi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Williams.
Ben Williams seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takahashi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Williams throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Takahashi's waist but Takahashi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Williams off to one side.
Noryuki Takahashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Williams.
Williams misses with a combination
and Takahashi counters with a series of strikes. Williams will be more careful next time no doubt.
Williams doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Takahashi counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Williams can do anything to dispel that myth.
Takahashi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Williams is refusing to be controlled, as Takahashi sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Williams has one foot on Takahashi's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Takahashi lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Takahashi misses with a two punch combination.

Takahashi gets the takedown into side control.
A lull in the action here as Takahashi stalls from top position.
Williams wants to control but Takahashi postures up.
Williams is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams is trying to control Takahashi's posture but Takahashi avoids it.
Williams looks gassed!
Takahashi controls the position.

Takahashi has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Takahashi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Takahashi throws a head kick that Williams semi-blocks.
Takahashi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Williams tries to clinch
and Takahashi counters with a head kick. That will keep Williams thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi throws a head kick but Williams moves out of range.
Takahashi on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Williams looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Takahashi tries to clinch but Williams is having none of it.
Williams misses with a hook to the body
and Takahashi counters with a nice body kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Takahashi, right into the meat.
Takahashi shoots in but Williams avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Takahashi fails with the takedown
and Williams counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Williams tries for a takedown but Takahashi circles away easily

and Takahashi counters by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Takahashi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Takahashi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Williams.

Takahashi moves into the clinch.
Williams stalling in the clinch.
Williams is looking to break free of the clinch but Takahashi has double underhooks.

Takahashi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Williams throws a lazy right hand but Takahashi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Takahashi clobbers Williams with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Takahashi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Takahashi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Williams will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A punch combination from Takahashi misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noryuki Takahashi dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Takahashi slips a jab from Williams.
Williams lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Noryuki Takahashi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Takahashi misses with a double jab.
Takahashi shoots in for a double leg but Williams sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Williams tries to clinch
and Takahashi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Takahashi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Williams misses with an attempted mid kick.

Williams closes the distance and pushes Takahashi back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takahashi is looking to break free of the clinch but Williams has double underhooks.

Takahashi pulls guard.
Takahashi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Williams wanted to stand there but Takahashi had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams trying to control the position from guard on top but Takahashi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takahashi wants to sweep here but Williams controlling him for the moment.
Williams is fighting to break Takahashi's control of his arms but Takahashi is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Takahashi keeping moving, preventing Williams from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Takahashi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Williams manages to get himself to full guard.
Williams controlling the position.
Williams is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Takahashi is controlling him.
Williams is breathing heavily.
Williams 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams working a defensive guard but Takahashi manages to pass into side control anyway.
Williams looks to move to half guard but instead Takahashi has passed into mount! Damn!
Takahashi landing strikes from the mount and Williams is in trouble!
Takahashi tries to control but Williams wriggling away.

That's four 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 controlling from the full mount.
Takahashi avoids the attempt from Williams to control.
Takahashi trying to control but Williams is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Williams wants to hold on but Takahashi pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noryuki Takahashi dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Takahashi throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Williams.
Williams defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Takahashi.

Williams shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Takahashi manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Williams trying to control but Takahashi is working from the bottom.
Williams postures up.
Williams trying to control but Takahashi is working from the bottom.
Williams's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams trying to control the position from guard on top but Takahashi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takahashi seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Takahashi trying to keep a closed guard but Williams is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Williams lands a nice shot that snaps Takahashi's head back.
Williams misses with a takedown
and Takahashi counters with a nice body kick.
Williams takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Takahashi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Williams avoids it really well and circles away.
Williams misses with a combination
and Takahashi counters with a slapping leg kick.
Williams fails to land with a series of punches.
Takahashi shoots in for a double leg but Williams sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Noryuki Takahashi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Takahashi catches Williams with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Williams misses with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams avoids the head kick by Takahashi.
Williams throws a half hearted mid kick.
Takahashi scores with a head kick.
Williams throws a leg kick
letting Takahashi counter with a right hand.
Williams blocks a head kick by Takahashi.
Takahashi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Williams lands a two punch combo.

Williams closes the distance and clinches.

Takahashi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Williams misses with a takedown attempt
and Takahashi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Williams misses with a takedown

and Takahashi counters with a shoot takedown. Williams fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Takahashi decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Williams, up you get!
Takahashi scores with a head kick.
Williams misses the body punch
and Takahashi counters with a left and a right that stings Williams.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takahashi slips a jab and a cross from Williams.
Takahashi tries a head kick but it misses.
Noryuki Takahashi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Williams throws a sloppy head kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Takahashi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Williams's waist but Williams gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Takahashi off to one side.
Williams throws a left and a right that both miss
and Takahashi counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Ben Williams has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Williams crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Takahashi - the referee stops the clock and Williams gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Takahashi. Williams manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27

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