PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Efraim Turban (ranked 1174 p4p, 2743 weight class) and Takeshi Takamura (ranked 138 p4p, 295 weight class). Turban comes to the cage accompanied by Nadav Guedj - Golden Boy . Takeshi Takamura has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Turban
vs
Takamura

177 cm
31
170
14 - 3 - 0

173 cm
25
155
4 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Good gas tank

HARDCORE Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Efraim Turban!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takeshi Takamura!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Thiago Cunha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Takamura ducks under a wild hook from Turban.
Turban throws a looping overhand right but Takamura ducks down to avoid it.
Takamura slips under a jab.
Turban rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Takamura moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Turban tries to clinch but Takamura moves out of range.
A nice side step and Takamura releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turban throws an off balance right hand
and Takamura counters with a nice low kick that buckles Turban's knee momentarily.
Turban with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turban throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Turban misses with a wild body shot.
Takamura is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Turban misses with a right hand
and Takamura counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Takamura slips under a jab.
Takamura tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Takamura moves out of range of the strikes.
Takamura changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Turban throws a jab when Takamura was well out of range.
Takamura is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Turban moves into the clinch successfully.

Takamura jumps guard.
Takamura trying to keep a closed guard but Turban is proving a slippery customer.
Takamura is adopting a defensive guard.
Takamura is looking to sweep but instead, Turban has passed into half guard.
Takamura won't allow Turban to pass to mount.
Turban content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takamura keeping hold of Turban's head, controlling as best he can.
Turban controlling the pace.

Takamura kicks off Turban and gets to his feet.

Turban has taken the fight to the clinch.
Turban lands a hook that snaps the head of Takamura backwards.
Turban'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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Turban swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Turban lands a nice uppercut.
Takamura is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Turban to keep the fight standing.

Takamura breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Takamura takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Turban drives through and clinches with Takamura against the cage.

Takamura manages to break the clinch.
Turban misses with a body punch
and Turban takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Turban lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Efraim Turban dominated that 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.

A jab from Turban misses.
Takamura with the counter takedown but Turban avoids it easily.
Turban is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Nice body punch from Turban.
Turban misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Takamura.
Takamura with the counter takedown but Turban avoids it easily.
Takamura ducks under a wild hook from Turban.
Takamura steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Turban.
Turban misses with a combination

and Takamura counters by moving into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Takamura successfully pulls guard.
Turban has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turban wants to pass the guard but Takamura is keeping the position.
Turban is fighting to break Takamura's control of his arms but Takamura is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Takamura wants to sweep here but Turban controlling him for the moment.
Takamura working a defensive guard here.
Turban wants to stand but Takamura is controlling his posture from full guard.

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.
Turban trying to control but Takamura is working from the bottom.
Turban knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Takamura on the ground.
Takamura working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Turban swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Takamura has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Takamura there as he acknowledges the shot.
Turban throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Takamura changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A cross from Turban lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Turban moves into the clinch successfully.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Takamura tries to pull guard but Turban holds him up against the cage and eventually Takamura drops back down to his feet.
Turban goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Takamura breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Turban changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Takamura moves out of range as Turban strikes.

Turban clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Turban fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Takamura tries to pull guard but Turban won't allow it.
Takamura has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Turban after a bit of a struggle.
Efraim Turban has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takeshi Takamura.
Turban misses with a hook to the ribs.

Takamura's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Turban lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Efraim Turban is winning the standup battle so far.
Turban fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Turban will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Efraim Turban dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Turban misses the shot to the body.
Takamura with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Turban to score with a decent uppercut.
Turban lands with a hook. Takamura tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Turban lands a nice shot that snaps Takamura's head back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takamura blocks a jab.
Takamura tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Turban looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Takamura wants to counter the offense by Turban and move into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Turban has taken the fight to the clinch.
Takamura jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Turban walks away with a smile on his face. Takamura gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Turban scores with a punch to the head.
Turban misses with a looping right.
Takamura is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Takamura ducks under a wild hook from Turban.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turban throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Turban looks to land a right hand but Takamura moved out of range.
Turban throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Turban misses with a left hand
and Takamura counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Turban misses with a hook
and Takamura counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Takamura slips a jab and a cross from Turban.
Takamura wants to counter the offense by Turban and move into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Turban darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Turban ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Takamura moves away.
Turban tries to clinch up but Takamura circles away and keeps his distance.
Takamura raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Takamura defending well as Turban loads up on a big left hand.
Takamura now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Turban misses with a hook to the body
and Takamura counters with a thumping low kick.
Turban throws a body shot but no joy.
Takamura let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Turban throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Takamura stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Turban is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Takamura can do to turn this around?
Turban ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Takamura moves away.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Turban throws a series of punches but Takamura moves out of range.
Takamura wants to counter with a clinch but Turban pushes him away.
Turban tries to clinch but Takamura moves out of range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Turban feints a jab promting Takamura to slip. Turban then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Takamura slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Takeshi Takamura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Efraim Turban is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Takamura uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Turban.

And that's the end of the fight!
Efraim Turban showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Turban, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Efraim Turban!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Efraim Turban made sure he mentioned HARDCORE Threads, along with how happy he was to win his fight.