PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joe Workman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seto Takiama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Workman has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Workman
vs
Takiama

217 cm
23
151 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

178 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joe Workman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Seto Takiama!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Hirohito Nitta and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Workman gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Takiama keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Workman's efforts to push away.
Takiama has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Workman is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Workman avoiding damage.

Workman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Takiama is trying hard to land a takedown here. Workman sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Workman really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Takiama shoots for a double leg takedown but Workman sprawls well. He's pushed Takiama's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Joe Workman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seto Takiama.

Takiama darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Takiama seems to be working for a kimura but Workman defends the submission attempt.
Takiama is pressing down on Workman's thigh, looking to free his foot. Workman is holding on for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takiama seems to be looking for submissions.
Workman is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Takiama not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Takiama misses with a head shot. Workman uses the momentum to regain guard.
Takiama working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

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.

Takiama drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Workman dives on top into guard.

Workman with a nice head shot there.
Takiama is looking to sweep but instead, Workman has passed into half guard.

Takiama looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Takiama is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Workman is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Takiama doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Workman.
Workman drops an elbow to the side of Takiama's head.

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.
Workman sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Takiama defending well though.
Workman prevents Takiama from improving his position.

Takiama looking for submissions off his back.
Takiama is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Workman throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Joe Workman will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Takiama will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Takiama fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Workman to the ground. Takiama is now in Workman's guard.
Takiama wants to control from the top but Workman keeps moving.
Workman wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Seto Takiama has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takiama is pushing down on Workman's leg trying to pass to half guard. Workman is fighting to maintain full guard but Takiama has managed to sneak the leg through.

Takiama wants to work for an arm triangle but Workman is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Workman trying to hold on to Takiama's head to control him but Takiama postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Workman is trying to get back to full guard.
Takiama is trying to control the action in half guard but Workman is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Takiama throwing shots but Workman is blocking nicely.
Takiama throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Takiama escapes and gets back to his feet.
Workman displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Takiama.
Takiama shoots for a double leg takedown but Workman sprawls well. He's pushed Takiama's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Joe Workman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seto Takiama.

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.
Takiama misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Takiama is breathing heavily.
Takiama tries for a takedown but Workman sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Takiama fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Workman avoids it really well and circles away.

Workman fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Takiama, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Workman manages to break the clinch.
Workman fails in his attempt to clinch.

Takiama closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Workman's guard.
Workman seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

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

Workman wants to stand and escape but instead Takiama has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Takiama drops back looking for a leg! Workman is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Workman manages to kick Takiama off! Takiama jumps back into Workman's guard.
Takiama is looking to stand up but Workman won't let him.
Takiama throwing strikes but missing.

Takiama drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Workman dives on top into guard.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Takiama tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Seto Takiama will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Workman defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Takiama.
Workman keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Takiama tries for a takedown but Workman circles away easily
and Workman makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Joe Workman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seto Takiama.
Takiama shoots and misses

and Workman counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Workman.
Takiama prevents the takedown attempt.
Takiama takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Workman jumps into guard, dragging Takiama to the mat.
Takiama is pushing down on Workman's leg trying to pass to half guard. Workman is fighting to maintain full guard but Takiama has managed to sneak the leg through.

Workman kicks off Takiama and gets to his feet.
No luck for Workman with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Workman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Workman wants it to stay on the feet.
Takiama shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Workman but Workman pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Takiama has his takedown stuffed
and Workman cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Workman tries to clinch up but Takiama circles away and keeps his distance.
Takiama misses with a takedown attempt - Workman sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Workman shoots in for a takedown but Takiama shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Takiama shoots in and drives through. Workman sprawls well.
Workman pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Takiama back to the cage. Workman follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Takiama shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Workman counters by moving into the clinch.

Workman gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Workman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Takiama can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takiama actively working from the bottom here.
Takiama is looking for a sweep. Workman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Workman seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Workman slips a nice elbow through Takiama's hands, connecting with Takiama's forehead.
Workman prevents Takiama from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Takiama is trying to maintain the position but Workman is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Workman decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Workman gets a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Workman showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Workman 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Workman!