PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kazuo Takashi (ranked 51 p4p, 612 weight class) and Smashy Cartwright (ranked 6 p4p, 68 weight class). Takashi's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, 吉田兄弟 Rising. Cartwright is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Hammer. This should be fireworks!

Takashi
vs
Cartwright

170 cm
32
155
34 - 4 - 0

174 cm
32
157
12 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

SynCity Fightwear
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 34 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Kazuo Takashi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Smashy Cartwright!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, William Gold and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cartwright lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Cartwright misses with a right hand

and Takashi counters with a single leg into guard. Cartwright didn't expect that.
Cartwright is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takashi looking to pass the guard.
Takashi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takashi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cartwright.
Takashi tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Cartwright manages to circle out of the way.
Cartwright misses with a hook. Takashi ducked under it nicely.

Takashi feints and as Cartwright raises his hands in defense, Takashi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cartwright is looking to stand up but Takashi isn't so interested in that idea.
Takashi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Takashi prevents Cartwright from getting back to his feet.
Takashi is standing up over Cartwright. Cartwright looks to escape but Takashi dives into side control.
Cartwright is trying to buck Takashi off.
Takashi tries to move to mount but Cartwright blocks the move with his legs.
Takashi is looking to take a break and control but Cartwright is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Takashi biding his time, looking for the opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Takashi tightening his grip on Cartwright, looking for the choke.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Takashi controlling the positon.
Cartwright is trying to get back to his feet but Takashi has full control of the position and if anything, Cartwright has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Cartwright has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takashi has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Cartwright wants to get back to his feet.
Takashi biding his time, looking for the opening.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cartwright wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takashi is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

Takashi is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Good control from Takashi.
Cartwright wants to get back to his feet.
I would not like to be Cartwright right now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cartwright is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Takashi is looking for the choke from the back position but Cartwright is controlling his hands well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Takashi rushes Cartwright and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cartwright is trying to push Takashi away but Takashi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Takashi misses with a punch to the body.

Cartwright pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Cartwright gets tackled into the cage by Takashi. Takashi maintains the clinch.

Takashi jumps guard.
Takashi has a closed guard, preventing Cartwright from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takashi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Takashi is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cartwright is just riding it out for now. Takashi eventually gives up the hold.
Cartwright is trying to stand up here but Takashi is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takashi wants to pass the guard but Cartwright is defending well.
Takashi performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Takashi stops Cartwright from getting back to his feet.
Takashi trying to control from half guard but Cartwright is working away.

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.
Takashi trying to control the pace.
Cartwright wants to get back to his feet.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Cartwright looks to land a right hand but Takashi moved out of range.
A big right from Cartwright misses.
Takashi moves out of range of the strikes.
Takashi wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Takashi has a takedown stuffed.
Nice uppercut lands for Takashi. That snapped Cartwright's head back.
Smashy Cartwright seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takashi clinches up against the cage.
Cartwright is trying to push Takashi away but Takashi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cartwright wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Takashi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cartwright is trying to break the clinch but Takashi has him pressed against the cage.
Cartwright can't break the clinch.

Cartwright breaks from the clinch.
Cartwright takes a jab right on the kisser.
Cartwright misses with a right hand

and Takashi counters with a single leg into guard. Cartwright didn't expect that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takashi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cartwright is keeping the position for now.
Takashi sitting in guard here, content to control.
Cartwright wants to stand and escape but Takashi is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takashi trying to control the position from guard on top but Cartwright is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takashi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Cartwright is looking to stand up but Takashi isn't so interested in that idea.
Takashi trying to control the position from guard on top but Cartwright is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cartwright keeping full guard, as Takashi tries to pass.
Cartwright wants to stand up but Takashi is controlling him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cartwright swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cartwright lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Takashi at a distance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuo Takashi dominated that second round.
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.

Cartwright is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Cartwright ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Takashi moves away.
Cartwright connects with a good right hand that stumbles Takashi. Takashi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Cartwright just misses with a punch to the body.
Takashi drops down looking for a counter takedown but Cartwright sprawls and moves away.
Cartwright moves away from the strike by Takashi.
Cartwright throws a combination that misses

and Takashi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cartwright won't be happy with that.
Cartwright bucks up and tries to throw Takashi off but instead Takashi has got his back!
Cartwright trying to get back to his feet but Takashi is in full control for now.
Takashi tries to keep control of the position but Cartwright is staying busy.
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!
Cartwright trying to get back to his feet but Takashi is in full control for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takashi biding his time, looking for the opening.
Cartwright is trying to get back to his feet but Takashi has full control of the position and if anything, Cartwright has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Takashi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cartwright can do to turn this around?
A lull in the action here.
Cartwright trying to get back to his feet but Takashi is in full control for now.

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.
Takashi controlling from the back.

Cartwright is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Takashi gets his way!
Cartwright is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Cartwright is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Takashi.

Takashi is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Cartwright defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Cartwright is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Takashi.
Cartwright wants to get back to his feet.
Takashi keeps control of the position easily here as Cartwright tries to buck him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright wants to get back to his feet.
Takashi has good solid back control here.
Cartwright staying busy and making it hard for Takashi to control.

That's four 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.
Cartwright is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Takashi keeps control of the position easily here as Cartwright tries to buck him off.

Takashi is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Cartwright defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Cartwright is trying to get back to his feet but Takashi has full control of the position and if anything, Cartwright has just worked his way into a worse spot.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cartwright looking very determined here, making life difficult for Takashi.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuo Takashi clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cartwright misses with a lunging right hand

and Takashi counters with a takedown into side control.
Cartwright is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Takashi tries to move into full mount but can't pass Cartwright's legs.
Cartwright wants to get back to his feet.
Cartwright is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Takashi controlling the position from side mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takashi'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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cartwright is trying to get back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Takashi tries to clinch but Cartwright moves out of range.
Cartwright misses with a leg kick

and Takashi counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Cartwright!
Takashi advances to full mount.
You get the feeling that Cartwright really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Takashi controlling the pace for now.
Cartwright is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takashi controlling the pace for now.
Cartwright is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Takashi controlling the position easily from mount.

Takashi wants to finish this one by submission but Cartwright is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Takashi.
Cartwright is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Kazuo Takashi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Takashi controlling the pace for now.
Takashi trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Takashi looking to control but Cartwright is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Cartwright wants to get back to his feet.
Takashi wants to take Cartwright's back but he can't do it this time.
Takashi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Cartwright is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Takashi wants to take Cartwright's back here but Cartwright is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takashi controlling the pace for now.
Cartwright squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Takashi looking to control and managing it successfully.
You get the feeling that Cartwright really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Takashi seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Cartwright is holding on tight.
Cartwright really wants to buck Takashi off and get back to his feet.
Takashi controlling his opponent.
Takashi tries to control but Cartwright wriggling away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cartwright is controlling an arm, preventing Takashi from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Takashi controlling from the full mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuo Takashi had his way with Smashy Cartwright in that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Takashi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Takashi prevents Cartwright from getting back to his feet.
Takashi tries to free his leg and advance position but Cartwright is retaining full guard.
Cartwright can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Takashi controls the pace.
Cartwright is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takashi controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takashi won't allow Cartwright to get back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Cartwright swings widly with a right hand

and Takashi counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Cartwright!
Cartwright is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Takashi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Cartwright is pushing Takashi's head away, looking to escape. Takashi manages to hold on to the position though.
A lull in the action here as Takashi stalls from top position.
Cartwright is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Takashi asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takashi trying to control the position but Cartwright is working away.
Cartwright is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Takashi has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Cartwright wants to get back to his feet but Takashi is dominant here and he's now got Cartwright's back!

Takashi is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Cartwright showing good submission defense here.
Cartwright is trying to get back to his feet but Takashi has full control of the position and if anything, Cartwright has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takashi wants to control but Cartwright is keeping busy.
Cartwright is trying to get back to his feet but Takashi has full control of the position and if anything, Cartwright has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Good control from Takashi.
Cartwright wants to get back to his feet.
Smashy Cartwright has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.

Takashi is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Cartwright is defending well though. Takashi let's go of the attempt for now.
Cartwright is trying to stand back up.
Takashi is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Further stalling from Takashi.

Takashi looking to break Cartwright's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Cartwright remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Takashi will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cartwright is trying to stand back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazuo Takashi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Takashi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 50:45
Judge William Gold scores the fight 50:45
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazuo Takashi!
Kazuo Takashi retains his featherweight title!
A very excited looking Kazuo Takashi made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.