Ryo Takagi is an exciting young prospect and had an opportunity to shine at Pancrase 332 after being promoted to the headliner when Emi Fujino’s opponent bout was postponed. The 23 year old seized the opportunity, knocking out Raiki Endo in the second round at the New Pier Hall on Monday.
Takagi tasted defeat for the first time in his career when he was knocked out by Suguru Nii in December while Endo came into the bout on the back of a stoppage win against Ryo Asami last July. The latter quickly found a home for his left kick, landing it to the body and head while his opponent switched stances.
Takagi landed a powerful left jab to Endo’s face and countered a right low kick with a right cross. Endo also responded with a right straight of his own but was dropped a by a powerful combination of pinches to the body and head.
Keisuke Takazawa
No escape
Takagi immediately took advantage and secured the back mount, tightening his grip with a figure-four lock and punching his opponent. Endo was unable to escape and while the 23 year old couldn’t sink in the submission he continued to land punches putting the seal on a dominant opening round.
In the second Endo attempted to close the distance while Takagi switched between stances while looking to find an opening. He eventually drove Endo to the edge of the cage and unleashed a barrage of punches interspersed with the occasional low kick.
Endo was trapped against the cage taking punishment and a right hand dropped him. Takagi sensed the finish and attacked with a flying knee followed by a barrage of punches which finished the fight.
The end came at the 4:29 mark and saw Tagaki improve to 5-1 and bounce back from his first ever defeat in the best possible way. Endo drops to 15-11-5.
Keisuke Takazawa
Best of the rest
The strawweight rematch between Emi Fujino and Edna Trakinas has been moved to Pancrase 333 next month after the Brazilian suffered an injury. That meant Kosei Takahashi (2-1) and Hiroki Nagaoka (29-25-13) found themselves competing in the co-main event and it was the former who ran out as a unanimous decision winner.
This was part of a double header by the Japanese promotion with Hirotaka Nakada submitting Kisa Miyake at Pancrase 331 in the same venue the previous day.
Pancrase 332, Tokyo, March 26th
Ryo Takagi def. Raiki Endo via KO (Punch) at 4:29 of R2
Kosei Takahashi def. Hiroki Nagaoka via Decision (Unanimous)
Shinichi Taira def. Yuri Amari via Decision (Unanimous)
Hiroki Uematsu vs. Takafumi ends in a Draw (Split)
Toki Matsui def. Ryota Sasaki via TKO (Punches) at 3:18 of R3
Haruki Kawakita def. Koji Kanda via Decision (Unanimous)
Tomoki Otsuka def. Kiyoshiro Akasaki via Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 0:27 of R2
