PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ryoto Takahashi (ranked 1 p4p, 83 weight class) and Marko Kersikov (ranked 1 p4p, 11 weight class). Takahashi's entrance music is SMOKING & THINKING. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Kersikov's choice of entrance music: Hi Rez - 3 Ft Tall. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Takahashi
vs
Kersikov

175 cm
33
160
28 - 8 - 0

168 cm
30
140
16 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
Conquer

Shadow Realm Apparel
Hoarse Pills

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryoto Takahashi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, Marko Kersikov!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Winston Howard and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kersikov blocks a low kick nicely.
Kersikov has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Takahashi throws a poor cross that misses
and Kersikov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like Ryoto Takahashi has been cut.
Kersikov throws a front kick aimed at Takahashi's knee but Takahashi avoids it well.
Takahashi fires out a quick counter leg kick but Kersikov just manages to avoid it.
Takahashi staying out of range there.
Kersikov tries to land a front kick but Takahashi steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Takahashi lands a leg kick that knocks Kersikov off balance momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takahashi throws an off balance right hand
and Kersikov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nice defenses there by Takahashi.
And Takahashi counters with a quick kick to the body but Kersikov blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Kersikov counters with a nice uppercut.
Kersikov dodges the punch combination from Takahashi.
Despite the aggression on Kersikov's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Kersikov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Takahashi has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Convicted Fight Club in the buildup to the fight.
Jab from Kersikov.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
A shot to the body from Takahashi misses
and Kersikov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A jab from Kersikov misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov lands a body shot.
Takahashi scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kersikov in his tracks.
Kersikov misses with a low kick.
Kersikov throws a poor cross that misses
and Takahashi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Takahashi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kersikov counters with a nice body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takahashi throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kersikov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Takahashi throws out a powerful jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi throws a leg kick
and Kersikov counters with a leg kick.
Takahashi misses with a shot to the body
and Takahashi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Ryoto Takahashi's cut is getting worse.
Takahashi avoids a kick to the body.
Kersikov misses with a body punch
and Kersikov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Takahashi misses with the body kick
and Kersikov counters with an outside leg kick.
Takahashi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kersikov.
Takahashi bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kersikov's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Takahashi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kersikov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Takahashi thinking.
Takahashi misses with a straight right.
Takahashi tries a head kick but it misses.
Takahashi slips under a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kersikov throws a chopping leg kick but Takahashi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A low kick from Takahashi is predictable there
and Kersikov counters with a low kick, right behind Takahashi 's knee.
Takahashi misses with a body shot
and Kersikov counters with a nice low kick that buckles Takahashi's knee momentarily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marko Kersikov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ryoto Takahashi's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kersikov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Kersikov throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Takahashi on the side of the head.
Takahashi misses with a lunging right hand
and Kersikov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kersikov throws an overhand right that lands on Takahashi's shoulder, as Takahashi tries to avoid the shot.
As Kersikov backs away, Takahashi returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Takahashi scores with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Kersikov finds it's way through Takahashi's defenses.
Kersikov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Takahashi misses with a leg kick
and Kersikov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Kersikov counters with an inside leg kick.
Kersikov wants to land a leg kick but Takahashi is out of range.
Jab from Takahashi.
A shot to the body from Takahashi misses
and Takahashi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kersikov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Takahashi misses with the body kick
and Kersikov counters with a solid body kick.
Takahashi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kersikov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Kersikov counters with a crisp one two that drops Takahashi! Kersikov thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Takahashi to his feet! Takahashi is in big trouble!

Takahashi is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kersikov throws a chopping leg kick but Takahashi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Takahashi throws a right hand that misses
and Kersikov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Takahashi misses with the body kick
and Kersikov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Ryoto Takahashi's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Takahashi misses with a body punch

and Kersikov counters with a crisp right hand that drops Takahashi! Kersikov lets Takahashi back up to his feet, looking for a finish!
Oh Takahashi is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A jab from Kersikov misses.
Takahashi seems to have got his legs back now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi misses with a hook to the body
and Kersikov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Jeez, Ryoto Takahashi's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Kersikov throws a leg kick that is checked
and Takahashi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Takahashi blocks a jab.
Kersikov throws a lazy head kick
and Takahashi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kersikov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kersikov misses with a looping right.
Kersikov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kersikov swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A solid leg kick lands there for Takahashi.
Kersikov throws a poor cross that misses
and Takahashi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kersikov walks into a left hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kersikov lands a jab to the nose.
Kersikov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Takahashi can pounce on him.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marko Kersikov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ryoto Takahashi's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A punch lands to the side of Kersikov 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Kersikov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Takahashi - that will leave a mark!
Takahashi throws a sloppy head kick
and Kersikov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A shot to the body from Takahashi misses
and Kersikov counters with a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kersikov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Takahashi.
Takahashi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kersikov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kersikov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Takahashi moves to clinch but Kersikov breaks away
and Kersikov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kersikov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kersikov lands a jab.
Takahashi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Takahashi.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Takahashi might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi throws a sloppy head kick
and Kersikov counters with a good low kick that Takahashi was not able to check.
Takahashi scores with a nice body kick.
Kersikov throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Takahashi to counter with a crisp jab.

Kersikov is rocked!
Kersikov misses with a straight right.
Takahashi was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Kersikov is still on wobbly legs! Can Takahashi finish him?
Takahashi cracks Kersikov with a brutal left hook that knocks him out cold! This one is over in a flash! Game over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Ryoto Takahashi!
Ryoto Takahashi retains his lightweight title!
After winning the bout, Ryoto Takahashi thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.