PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hori Taka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saul Fuentes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Taka
vs
Fuentes

175 cm
20
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hori Taka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Saul Fuentes!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Taka looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Taka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fuentes is keeping the position for now.
Taka is working hard here to advance position.
Taka stays in close to Fuentes's body and controls the position.
Taka stopping the sweep attempt from Fuentes.
Taka slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Fuentes can do anything to dispel that myth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taka'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.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taka preventing the sweep.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A telegraphed right hand from Taka misses the target.
Taka throws a leg kick but Fuentes sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Fuentes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Taka.
Taka throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Nice uppercut lands for Taka. That snapped Fuentes's head back.
Taka throws a sloppy head kick and Fuentes moves out of range easily.
Fuentes blocks a leg kick.

Taka gets a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taka is thwarting Fuentes's attempts to control the position.
Taka with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Taka has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Fuentes landing rabbit punches to the side of Taka's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Taka trying to mount his opponent but Fuentes defends it.
Taka looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuentes punching from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Taka. Fuentes does a little dance to reset his feet.

Taka shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Taka performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Fuentes trying to hold on to Taka's head to control him but Taka postures up.
Taka looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Fuentes is trying to get back to full guard.
Taka perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Taka is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Fuentes doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Taka.
Taka sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hori Taka dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Taka feints and as Fuentes raises his hands in defense, Taka changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Taka sitting in guard here, content to control.
Taka forces his way into half guard.
Taka wants to pass to mount but Fuentes is defending the position.
Taka content to control rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fuentes regains full guard. Nicely done.
Fuentes being controlled here, momentarily.
Fuentes throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Taka controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Taka slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Fuentes tries to buck Taka off but Taka is having none of it.
Taka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fuentes can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Fuentes is not content to let Taka control the position.
Taka controlling the position from side mount.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
You can see the frustration on Fuentes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Fuentes should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taka fails to land the takedown.
Taka walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Fuentes checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Fuentes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Taka.
Fuentes avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Taka throws a big shot that misses.
Taka pivots, looking for a leg kick but Fuentes is out of range and Taka settles back down.
Taka just misses with a punch to the body.
Taka missing with a left hand there. Fuentes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Taka throws a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taka throws a body shot but no joy.
Fuentes moves out of range of the leg kick from Taka.
Taka misses with a body shot.
Taka misses with a wild body shot.

Taka throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Fuentes was covering up waiting for the punch and Taka finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Fuentes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taka content to stall in guard here.
Fuentes trying to keep a closed guard but Taka is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hori Taka dominated that second round.
That's time! Taka's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Taka throws a jab but it's blocked by Fuentes.
A bone on bone clash there as Fuentes blocks the leg kick.
Taka throws a low kick but Fuentes moves out of range easily.
Taka swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Hori Taka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taka has his takedown stuffed

and Fuentes counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Fuentes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taka controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taka looking to control.
Fuentes trying to control but Taka is working from the bottom.
Fuentes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taka is controlling Fuentes's posture.
Taka not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Taka wants to sweep here but Fuentes controlling him for the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Some bone on bone action there as Fuentes checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Fuentes slips a jab from Taka.
Taka shoots in looking for a takedown but Fuentes manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Taka's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Taka throws a shot from downtown. Fuentes moves away and avoids it.
Taka misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
A big left from Taka misses.

Taka gets a double leg takedown into Fuentes's guard.
Taka is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Taka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fuentes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Taka controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Further stalling from Taka.
Fuentes has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Taka has passed into side control.
Fuentes wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Taka moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Fuentes struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Taka advances to full mount.
Taka controlling his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Hori Taka showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Taka 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Hori Taka!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Hori Taka!
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Hori Taka!

Hori Taka wins by unanimous decision!