PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Felix Katov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshihiro Takeyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Katov
vs
Takeyama

202 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
26
220 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Felix Katov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshihiro Takeyama!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shigeki Sano and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Katov moves into the clinch.
Takeyama tries a body shot but Katov blocks it.
Takeyama tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Katov's elbow.

Katov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Takeyama uses from the top position.
Takeyama wants to stand but Katov is controlling his posture from full guard.
Katov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Katov is on top in guard.

Takeyama wants to stand but Katov is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Katov wants to control from the top but Takeyama keeps moving.
Katov throwing strikes but missing.
Takeyama wants to get back to his feet but Katov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Katov trying to control but Takeyama is working from the bottom.
Takeyama is looking to stand back up but Katov counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Takeyama.
Katov is looking to advance position but Takeyama won't allow it.
Takeyama wants to get back to his feet.
Katov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Takeyama tries to kick Katov off but Katov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Takeyama keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Katov is looking to take a break and control but Takeyama is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Takeyama looks like he's trying to stand up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Katov is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Katov prevents Takeyama from standing back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The fight stays on the outside here - Takeyama looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Takeyama doesn't manage to clinch there - Katov circles away.
Takeyama tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Katov is looking to counter the offense by Takeyama and move into the clinch.
Katov keeps the fight on the outside.
Katov drops down looking for a counter takedown but Takeyama sprawls and moves away.
Takeyama wants to clinch but Katov slips to the side

and Katov counters with a takedown into side control.

Katov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Katov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Takeyama keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeyama is trying to buck Katov off.
Katov trying to control the action but Takeyama is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takeyama is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Katov trying to control the action but Takeyama is working from the bottom.
Katov prevents Takeyama from escaping the position.

That's four 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.

Katov decides to stand back up.

Katov shoots in and gets a takedown into Takeyama's guard.
Katov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Katov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Katov won't allow Takeyama to get back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Katov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Katov wants to control from the top but Takeyama keeps moving.
Katov stops Takeyama from standing up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Takeyama is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Takeyama is looking to clinch.
Katov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Takeyama is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felix Katov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Katov takes the fight into the clinch.
Katov working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Katov lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Katov is keen to just control but Takeyama is a slippery customer.

Katov stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Takeyama to get to his feet.
Takeyama tries to clinch up.

Katov moves into the clinch successfully.
Takeyama is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Katov has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Takeyama is trying to keep an underhook but Katov manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Takeyama pushes Katov off looking to stand but Katov dives back in and keeps control.
Katov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Takeyama can do to turn this around?
Katov stalling.
Katov not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Katov decides to return to a standing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takeyama tries to clinch up.

Katov closes the distance and pushes Takeyama back into the cage.
Takeyama tries to land knees in the clinch but Katov avoids the damage to the body.
Katov blocks a body shot from Takeyama.

Katov gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Takeyama pushes Katov off and gets back to his feet.

Katov moves into the clinch.

Katov turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Katov manages to end up in side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Katov is looking to take a break and control but Takeyama is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Takeyama stops Katov from passing to mount.
Takeyama tries to escape but Katov is in control.

Takeyama bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Takeyama tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Katov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takeyama tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Katov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Takeyama tries to close the distance and clinch but Katov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Takeyama wants to clinch up but Katov keeps it at a distance.
Takeyama darts in trying to clinch

and Katov counters with a takedown into side control.
Takeyama wants to get back to his feet but Katov drags him back down.
Takeyama is looking to get back to his feet here but Katov is keeping cool and he's managed to take Takeyama's back.
Takeyama wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeyama is keeping busy.
Takeyama trying to get back to his feet but Katov is in full control for now.
Felix Katov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Katov trying to control momentarily.

Katov has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Takeyama is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Katov looking for the choke from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takeyama is trying to stand back up.

Katov is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Takeyama knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Takeyama for a finish.
Takeyama wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felix Katov dominated that second 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. And we move into the final round!

Takeyama lands a two punch combo.
Katov circles away from the clinch attempt

and Katov counters with a takedown into side control.

Takeyama bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Takeyama wants to clinch but Katov slips to the side

and Katov counters with a shoot takedown. Takeyama fights it but they end up in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takeyama wants to stand and escape but Katov is having none of it.
Katov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Takeyama swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Takeyama wants to get back to his feet but Katov passes into half guard.
Katov sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Katov escapes and gets back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Takeyama looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Katov throws a counter high kick but Takeyama was just alert enough to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takeyama tries to clinch up.
Katov tries a low kick but Takeyama avoids it.
Takeyama fails in his attempt to clinch.
Takeyama tries to clinch but Katov moves out of range.

Katov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Takeyama was covering up waiting for the punch and Katov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Takeyama wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Katov manages to pass to side control.
Takeyama wants to get back to his feet.
Katov thows a huge punch but Takeyama dodges it nicely.
Katov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Takeyama does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Takeyama is trying to stand back up but Katov is controlling him

Katov decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takeyama is looking to clinch.
Katov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Takeyama wants to clinch but Katov slips to the side

and Katov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Katov.
Katov trying to control the position from guard on top but Takeyama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Takeyama has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Katov off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Yoshihiro Takeyama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takeyama tries to clinch up.
Katov lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Takeyama looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Katov tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Takeyama manages to circle out of the way.
Takeyama tries to close the distance and clinch but Katov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
It looked like Katov was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Takeyama doesn't manage to clinch there - Katov circles away.
Takeyama wants to clinch up but Katov keeps it at a distance.
Takeyama tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Katov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Yoshihiro Takeyama is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Takeyama tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Katov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Katov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Takeyama tries to clinch up but Katov circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeyama tries to clinch up but Katov circles away and keeps his distance.
Takeyama is looking to clinch.
Takeyama moves in looking to clinch but Katov pushes him off.
Takeyama tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Katov counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Takeyama wriggles free and stands up.
Takeyama is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Katov swats away the attempt to clinch by Takeyama.
Takeyama moves in looking to clinch but Katov pushes him off.
Takeyama wants to clinch.
Takeyama doesn't manage to clinch there - Katov circles away.

Katov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Takeyama!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Katov wants to control but Takeyama is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takeyama is trying to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Takeyama moves in looking to clinch but Katov pushes him off.
Takeyama tries to close the distance and clinch but Katov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Katov is looking for a counter combo.
Yoshihiro Takeyama has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Felix Katov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Takeyama tries to clinch

so Katov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

And that's the end of the fight!
Felix Katov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Katov 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Felix Katov!