PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Takeo Arai (ranked 2819 p4p, 3574 weight class) and Rich Voss (ranked 379 p4p, 459 weight class). Takeo Arai could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Rich Voss's chin.

Arai
vs
Voss

188 cm
21
182
3 - 4 - 0

181 cm
21
176
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Barry Bonds Performance Enhancers $110 160q Rec&St

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takeo Arai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rich Voss!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Atkins and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Voss with a lazy takedown attempt
and Arai counters with a left and a right that stings Voss.
Arai blocks a jab.
Arai displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Voss.
Good standup being displayed there by Arai as he connects with a hook.
Arai thumps Voss with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arai moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
We've been told by Arai's head coaches at Takeda Clan Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Voss shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Arai napping and manages to drive through into side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Voss throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Voss throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Arai works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Voss content to control rather than advance.
Voss sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Arai defending well though.
Arai moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Voss loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Arai utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Voss trying to control the position from guard on top but Arai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Voss landing with the ground and pound.

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.
Arai can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Voss controls the pace.
Arai 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.
Voss scoring with punches to the head and body.
Voss trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Voss throws a strike but Arai rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Voss has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Arai won't allow Voss to sweep him here.
Arai stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Voss swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Voss wants to sweep here but Arai controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arai stays in close to Voss's body and controls the position.
Voss is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Arai is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Voss seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Takeo Arai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Arai tries to land a front kick but Voss steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Voss on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Arai. Arai obviously looking to wear him down.
Voss shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Arai as he jumps to the side.
Takeo Arai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rich Voss.
Voss tries to score a power double leg takedown but Arai sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Voss somewhat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Voss tries for a takedown but Arai circles away easily
and Arai counters with a nice low kick that buckles Voss's knee momentarily.
Voss just misses with a punch to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Takeo Arai dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Voss tries for a takedown but Arai sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Arai takes one to the chin there.
Voss tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Arai swivels and escapes.
Arai is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Arai is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Voss can do to turn this around?
Arai throws out a leg kick but Voss moves out of range and Arai only half commits.
Voss takes a swing at Arai's ribcage but misses.
Arai tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Voss manages to circle out of the way.
Arai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Voss.
Arai half committed to a counter leg kick.
Voss throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Voss rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Arai counters with a nice leg kick.
Voss ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Arai moves away.
Arai displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Voss throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arai staying out of range there.
Arai walks into a stiff left hand from Voss.
A good leg kick by Arai.
Arai fails with an attempt to clinch.
Voss let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Arai takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A low kick from Arai misses

and Voss counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Arai keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Voss working over Arai with some ground and pound. Arai looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rich Voss has got the better of the ground game so far.
Arai is refusing to be controlled, as Voss sits in half guard.
Nice strikes from Voss there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Voss is working for a submission of some sort.
Voss is thwarting Arai's attempts to control the position.
Voss wants to pass the guard but Arai is defending well.
Voss missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Arai wants to control but Voss is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arai preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Arai makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Arai.
Voss lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Voss controls from within his opponent's guard.
Voss wants to control from the top but Arai keeps moving.
Voss throws a big right hand that misses.

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.
Voss wants to control from the top but Arai keeps moving.
Arai trying to control the position here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A big right from Voss misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Arai misses the target.
Voss tries for a takedown but Arai circles away easily
and Arai counters with a low kick, right behind Voss 's knee.
Takeo Arai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rich Voss.
Arai connects with a high kick.
Voss looks to score with a jab to the body but Arai is just out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Voss just misses with a punch to the body.
Voss throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rich Voss showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Arai stuffs the takedown.
Voss thuds a left hand into Arai's body.
Voss shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Arai defends it nicely.
Arai lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Arai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Voss walks into a jab.
Voss is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Arai rather than just go for the knockout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Voss looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Takeo Arai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rich Voss.
Voss tries for a takedown but Arai circles away easily
and Arai counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Voss tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Arai swivels and escapes.
Rich Voss seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Voss throws a shot from downtown. Arai moves away and avoids it.
Arai feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Voss with a lazy takedown attempt
and Arai counters with a nice body kick.
Arai scores with a leg kick.
Arai tries to close the distance and clinch but Voss swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
No luck for Voss with that takedown attempt.
Voss misses with a straight right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Voss gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Voss misses the body punch
and Arai counters with a solid body kick.
Voss misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Voss fails with a takedown attempt.
Arai stuffs the takedown attempt from Voss. Voss gets slowly back to his feet.
Arai lands a really nice looking cross but Voss seems unphased.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voss misses the jab.

Voss drives through with a takedown into Arai's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Voss trying to control but Arai is working from the bottom.
Arai trying to keep a closed guard but Voss is proving a slippery customer.
Arai controlling the position.
Arai 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Voss accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Voss preventing the sweep.
Arai pulls Voss in close to prevent any damage.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Voss shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Arai is pulling down on Voss's head to control his posture.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Voss passes Arai's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Arai is looking to control Voss's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Arai avoid being mounted?

And that's the end of the fight!
Takeo Arai showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Arai 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takeo Arai!
An out of breath Takeo Arai thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.