PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Takaishi Minong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lauri Neprala (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.

Minong
vs
Neprala

172 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

157 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takaishi Minong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lauri Neprala!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Minong keeps the fight on the outside.
Neprala is looking to clinch but Minong is avoiding it.

Minong clinches up with Neprala and pushes him back against the cage.
Minong's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Neprala misses with a knee strike.
Minong can't break the clinch.
Neprala with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Neprala tries to land a knee to the head but Minong blocks with his arms.
Neprala 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 is referee keeping an eye on Neprala - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neprala with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Minong is trying to break free.
Neprala gets underhooks to prevent Minong's takedown attempt.
Neprala prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minong tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takaishi Minong. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Minong turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Neprala is trying to get back to half guard.
Neprala struggling a bit here.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Neprala is trying to get back to his feet.
Neprala is looking for a sweep.
Neprala is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Minong is controlling him well.
Neprala looking for a sweep but Minong has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Neprala is in all sorts of trouble here.
Minong landing punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neprala is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Neprala wants to hold on but Minong pushes him away.
Neprala keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Minong controlling from mount.
Neprala is looking to improve his position but Minong isn't that keen on the idea.
Minong content just to control the position here.
Minong avoids the attempt from Neprala to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minong controlling from the full mount.
Minong scoring with strikes but Neprala is staying in there.
Minong lands a big shot there that rocks Neprala but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Minong has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Neprala tries to hold on but Minong postures up.
Minong looking to control and managing it successfully.
Neprala is looking to improve his position but Minong isn't that keen on the idea.
Minong working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neprala tries to lock up and control but Minong gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Minong looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Minong prevents Neprala from getting the reversal.
Neprala wants to hold on but Minong pushes him away.
Minong with shots to the head and body - Neprala looks very uncomfortable down there.
Minong scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Neprala is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Neprala looks gassed!
Neprala tries to hold on but Minong postures up.
Minong cracks Neprala with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Neprala is working to get back to half guard.
Neprala is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Minong controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takaishi Minong dominated that round.
That's time! Minong's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Good standup being displayed there by Minong as he connects with a hook.

Minong looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Minong throwing strikes but missing.
Minong stopping the sweep attempt from Neprala.
Neprala is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Minong wants to control but Neprala is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Neprala tries to stand but can't do so whilst Minong controls his leg.
Minong tries to get to full guard but Neprala has control of the leg.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neprala seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Neprala wants to lay and pray for a moment but Minong keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Minong looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Neprala wants to get back to his feet.
Minong is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Minong takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Neprala tries to clinch but Minong moves away

and Minong counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Neprala!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neprala keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Neprala is trying to stand up.
Minong can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Neprala is looking to escape.
Minong landing strikes from the mount and Neprala is in trouble!
A nice elbow there by Minong.
Minong looking to control but Neprala is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Neprala wants to hold on but Minong pushes him away.
Neprala really wants to buck Minong off and get back to his feet.
Minong with the ground and pound from mount.
Neprala tries to lock up and control but Minong gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Minong working Neprala over with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minong has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Neprala's face.
Neprala wants to control but Minong is having none of it.
You get the feeling that Neprala really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Neprala regains half guard.
Neprala moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Minong pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Neprala is keeping the position for now.
Neprala wants to sweep but no luck.
Minong stops Neprala from standing up.
Neprala has momentary wrist control but Minong slips an elbow through the middle.
Neprala wants to get back to his feet but Minong is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Minong stands up and waves to Neprala to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Neprala tries to keep at a distance but Minong has taken the fight into the clinch.

Minong breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Neprala tries to clinch but Minong is having none of it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Neprala.

Minong has taken the fight to the clinch.
Minong leaning against his opponent.

Minong manages to break the clinch.
Minong circles away from the clinch attempt

and Minong counters with a nice double leg into side control. Neprala won't be happy with that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
You can see the frustration on Neprala's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takaishi Minong dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Minong circles away from the clinch attempt

and Minong counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Neprala lands an elbow inside that Minong shrugs off.

Minong breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Minong circles away from the clinch attempt

and Minong counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Minong.
Minong is trying to break free.
Neprala lands a damaging elbow.
Neprala wants to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neprala tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Neprala throws a knee to the head but misses.
Minong taking a breather.
Neprala lands an elbow inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neprala looking to throw knees to the head but Minong is blocking nicely.
Minong tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Neprala tries a knee to the head but Minong blocks it.
Minong wants to break free but Neprala has control.
Minong is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Neprala is keeping busy.
Neprala lands a nice elbow.
Minong drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Neprala gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Minong breaks the clinch.
Neprala closes this distance looking for a takedown but Minong circles away.

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.
Neprala darts in trying to clinch

and Minong counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Neprala is trying to maintain the position but Minong is very close to passing his half guard.
Neprala moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Minong is standing up over Neprala. Neprala looks to escape but Minong dives into side control.
Minong lands a few punches from side control.
Neprala is looking for a sweep.
Neprala can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Minong stands up.
Lauri Neprala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Neprala misses with a jab, cross combination.
Minong circles away from the clinch attempt

and Minong counters by moving into the clinch.
Neprala throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Minong blocks it with crossed arms.
Neprala drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Neprala with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lauri Neprala has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Minong has Neprala pressed against the cage.
Neprala misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neprala goes for a takedown attempt but Minong pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Takaishi Minong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lauri Neprala.
Neprala is looking to clinch but Minong is avoiding it.
Neprala throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Minong.
Neprala moves in looking to clinch but Minong pushes him off.
Neprala moves in looking to clinch but Minong pushes him off.
Neprala misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Neprala shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Minong as he avoids it easily.
Minong throws a leg kick which misses Neprala's front leg but catches the back leg as Neprala tries to avoid it.

Neprala rushes Minong and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Neprala breaks from the clinch.
Minong avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Neprala tries to clinch up but Minong circles away and keeps his distance.
Neprala swats away the attempt to clinch by Minong.
Neprala tries to clinch up but Minong circles away and keeps his distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takaishi Minong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Minong 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takaishi Minong!