PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Sawyer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akio Takada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sawyer comes to the cage accompanied by None. Takada has chosen Metallica - All Nightmare Long as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Thomas Sawyer has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Thomas Sawyer seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Sawyer
vs
Takada

188 cm
24
194 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

182 cm
24
192 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Knock Out Artistry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Thomas Sawyer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Akio Takada!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takada misses with a hook.

Sawyer closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takada wants to improve his position but Sawyer is controlling well.
Sawyer looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Takada wants to get back to full guard.
Sawyer not doing much here.
Takada wants to sweep but Sawyer has passed to side control!
Sawyer landing strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Takada's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Takada prevents Sawyer from moving into mount.
Sawyer fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Sawyer working away.
Takada looking for a sweep but Sawyer has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Sawyer tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

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.
Takada manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sawyer lands with a punch from half guard.

Sawyer escapes and gets back to his feet.
Takada throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Sawyer looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sawyer has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Takada keeping moving, preventing Sawyer from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer is looking to stand up but Takada won't let him.
Sawyer preventing the sweep.

Takada throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Takada is looking for a triangle here but Sawyer uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Takada is looking to regain half guard here but Sawyer keeps moving and retains side 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.
Sawyer controls the position from side control.
Takada is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Takada is trying to work for a sweep but Sawyer has mounted him!
Takada can't escape the position.
Sawyer breaks from Takada's wrist control and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Sawyer 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.

Sawyer ducks under a wild hook from Takada.
Sawyer displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Takada throws out the jab.
Takada throws a hook to the side of Sawyer's head but Sawyer sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Takada walks into a left hand.
Takada misses with an uppercut.
Akio Takada seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sawyer lands a slapping body shot.

Sawyer looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Takada is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Takada looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sawyer missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Takada being controlled here, momentarily.

Takada has his foot on Sawyer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sawyer works his way back into a safe position though.
Sawyer is working Takada over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Takada looking for a guillotine here but Sawyer defends easily.
Sawyer won't allow Takada to get back to his feet.
Takada is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sawyer sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Sawyer has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Sawyer seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Takada for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takada wants to sweep here but Sawyer controlling him for the moment.
Sawyer with a flurry of punches that miss.

Sawyer decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Takada, up you get!
Sawyer throws a good cross that connects.

Sawyer shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sawyer showed some decent athleticism there.
Sawyer is trying to control. Takada wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer is taking a breather. Takada says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Takada trying to control but Sawyer postures up.
Sawyer wants to advance to full mount but Takada doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Sawyer's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Sawyer dominated that second round.
That's time! Sawyer's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

The fighters circling - Takada throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Takada throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sawyer thuds a left hand into Takada's body.

Takada gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Takada trying to control the position.

Sawyer stands up and waves to Takada to follow him.
Sawyer shoots in and drives through. Takada sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takada misses with a looping right.
Takada throws the left hand but Sawyer avoids the punch easily.
Sawyer keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Takada.
Takada looks to land a right hand but Sawyer moved out of range.
Takada shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sawyer counters by moving into the clinch.
Takada fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Takada avoiding damage as Sawyer throws knees to the body.
Sawyer pressing his opponent against the cage.
Akio Takada has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Sawyer's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Takada throws a shot from downtown. Sawyer moves away and avoids it.

Sawyer bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Takada tries to bench press Sawyer off him but Sawyer keeps the position.
Sawyer advances to full mount.
Takada slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Sawyer is looking to take a break and control but Takada is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Takada wants to control but Sawyer is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takada actively working from the bottom here.
Takada takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sawyer trying to mount his opponent but Takada defends it.
Takada regains full guard. Nicely done.
Thomas Sawyer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Takada throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Sawyer escapes and throws Takada's legs to the side, diving into side control!

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.
Takada is trying to improve his position.
Sawyer just content to control the position.

Sawyer stands up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Sawyer showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sawyer 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Sawyer!