PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Akira Takamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis Schalk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Takamura
vs
Schalk

190 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Akira Takamura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Travis Schalk!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schalk pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Takamura chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Schalk can pounce on him.
Schalk looks for the body kick but Takamura saw that one coming.
Schalk scores with a nice body kick.
Schalk showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Takamura.
Takamura lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Takamura scores with a nice head shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Takamura misses the target.
An inside leg kick lands from Schalk.
Schalk misses with a head kick.
Takamura swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A big left from Takamura misses.
Takamura sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice body kick there by Schalk.
Takamura is breathing heavily.
Schalk throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Takamura misses with a wild combination.

Schalk has managed to clinch.
Takamura wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Takamura wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Schalk is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Schalk scores a nice knee to the body.
Schalk tries for a takedown but Takamura manages to get underhooks.
Schalk keeps control of Takamura as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schalk jumps guard but Takamura stands there with Schalk around his waist. Schalk gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Schalk unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Schalk misses with a knee to the head.

Schalk breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Schalk misses with a few strikes there.
Schalk lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Takamura throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Schalk fakes the leg kick and cracks Takamura in the body.
Takamura misses with a wild combination.
Schalk throws a head kick that misses.
Schalk lets loose with a powerful body kick. Takamura will feel that in the morning.
Crunch! Schalk slams his shin into Takamura's torso.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Schalk lands a head kick. Takamura smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Schalk wants to clinch up but Takamura keeps it at a distance.
Takamura stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Schalk.
Schalk buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Schalk lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Takamura slips a jab from Schalk.
Schalk lands with a slapping head kick.
Takamura will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schalk goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Schalk throws a head kick that Takamura semi-blocks.
Schalk lands a front kick.
Schalk thumps Takamura with a low kick.
Schalk lands a head kick!
Schalk steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Takamura.
Schalk throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Schalk tries to clinch but Takamura moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Schalk.

Schalk moves into the clinch.

Schalk breaks the clinch.
Schalk misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Schalk tries to clinch but Takamura is having none of it.
Takamura throws a nice looking combination but Schalk bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Takamura sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
A head kick misses from Schalk.
Schalk misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schalk throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Takamura misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Schalk.
Schalk with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Schalk walks into a stiff left hand from Takamura.
Schalk throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Takamura.
Schalk connects with a solid leg kick.

Schalk gets a clinch.
Takamura wants to break free but Schalk has control.
Schalk landing knees to the body.
Takamura is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Schalk looking to slow down the pace here.
Takamura is trying to break the clinch but Schalk is controlling him.
Schalk lands an uppercut.

Schalk's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Takamura keeps the fight on the outside.
Good standup being displayed there by Takamura as he connects with a hook.
Schalk tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Takamura paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Both fighters circling a little - Schalk finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Schalk thows a body kick. Takamura tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Schalk misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot to de liver by Takamura. Beautiful body shot.
Takamura digs a good hook to Schalk's body.
Takamura swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Schalk pushes Takamura up against the cage in a clinch.
Takamura is pressed up against the cage. Schalk has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Takamura down to the mat. Takamura avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Akira Takamura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Travis Schalk.
Takamura misses with a looping right.
Takamura thows a left - swing and a miss!
Schalk is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Takamura misses with a few strikes there.
Takamura swinging wilding here.
Schalk throws a head kick that half lands.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Schalk throws a sloppy head kick and Takamura moves out of range easily.
Schalk throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Takamura throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Schalk throws a head kick but Takamura moves out of range.
Schalk throws a head kick that half lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Schalk dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Schalk wants to clinch.
Takamura connects with a right hand. Schalk shakes it off.
Schalk pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Travis Schalk seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Takamura takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Akira Takamura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Schalk uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Takamura.
Takamura throws an overhand right that lands on Schalk's shoulder, as Schalk tries to avoid the shot.
Takamura tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Schalk drives through and clinches with Takamura against the cage.
Schalk landing knees to the head.
Takamura prevents the takedown attempt.
Schalk is trying to break the clinch but Takamura has him pressed against the cage.
Schalk tries to work over Takamura's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Takamura is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Schalk has Takamura pressed against the cage, preventing Takamura from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Takamura has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Schalk tries to land a knee to the head but Takamura blocks with his arms.
Takamura has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Schalk prevents Takamura from breaking the clinch.
Takamura working hard to break the clinch.
Schalk is trying to break the clinch but Takamura is controlling him.
Takamura tries to circle away but Schalk has him pinned against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Schalk's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Schalk bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Schalk scores with a head kick.
Takamura misses with a looping left.
Schalk thumps Takamura with a low kick.
Takamura getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Takamura dips to his left and cracks Schalk with an uppercut!
A swing and a miss from Takamura.
Schalk tries to close the distance and clinch up but Takamura swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Schalk goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Takamura is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Schalk throws a head kick but Takamura moves out of range.
Schalk cracks the inside of Takamura's front leg.
A nice leg kick lands there from Schalk.
Takamura misses with a wild combination.
Takamura throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Schalk.

Schalk darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Takamura slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schalk wanted to stand there but Takamura had control of the position.

Schalk postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Takamura is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Schalk, into his guard.

Takamura gets to his feet. Schalk looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takamura misses with a jab, cross combination.
Schalk lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Schalk throws a nice inside leg kick.
Schalk throws a series of punches but Takamura moves out of range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Schalk. That's going to slow Takamura down.
Takamura misses with a double jab.
Takamura lands with a hook. Schalk tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Schalk throws a jab but it's blocked by Takamura.
Takamura sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Schalk lands with a kick to the temple. Takamura shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Schalk misses with a head kick.
Schalk lands with a nice body kick.
Schalk misses with a head kick.
Takamura throws a hook to the side of Schalk's head but Schalk sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Takamura takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Schalk connects with a high kick.
Takamura blocks a head kick by Schalk.
Takamura looks to score with a jab to the body but Schalk is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schalk moves in looking to clinch but Takamura pushes him off.
Takamura takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Takamura lands a head shot.
Schalk throws a sloppy head kick and Takamura moves out of range easily.
No joy there for Takamura, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Takamura takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Schalk tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Schalk throws a head kick that Takamura semi-blocks.
Takamura takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Schalk moves away from the strike by Takamura.
Schalk uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Takamura.
Takamura takes a kick to the side of the head.
Schalk tries a head kick but it misses.
Takamura connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Schalk's hands.
Schalk throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Takamura.
Nice body kick there by Schalk.
A jab from Schalk misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Schalk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Takamura misses with a series of wild punches.
Schalk tries to clinch up.
Schalk throws a head kick but Takamura moves out of range.
Schalk misses with a body kick.
Takamura throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Schalk counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
A slow jab from Takamura misses its intended target.
Schalk throws a head kick that misses.
Takamura throws a series of punches but Schalk moves out of range.
Akira Takamura is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - Schalk looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Takamura blocks a head kick by Schalk.
Takamura misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters circling a little - Schalk finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Takamura on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Takamura misses with the combination.
Schalk throws a shot from downtown. Takamura moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schalk moves in looking to clinch but Takamura pushes him off.
Schalk scores with a kick to the body.
Schalk loads up on a big right hand but Takamura slips the punch.
Schalk with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Takamura chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Schalk can pounce on him.
Schalk cracks the inside of Takamura's front leg.
Schalk connects with the punch.
Schalk plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Crunch! Schalk slams his shin into Takamura's torso.
Takamura throws a hook but Schalk blocks it.

Schalk has managed to clinch.
Takamura is trying to break free.
Schalk tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Schalk is trying to drag Takamura to the mat but Takamura just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Takamura is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Schalk is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Schalk pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Takamura lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Schalk backs up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takamura circles away from the clinch attempt.
Schalk ducks under a wild hook from Takamura.
Schalk cracks the inside of Takamura's front leg.
Takamura has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Schalk.
Schalk ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Schalk connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Schalk avoids a punch combination nicely.
Schalk lands with a slapping head kick.
Takamura avoids the head kick by Schalk.
Takamura throws out a loose jab but Schalk uses good head movement to avoid it.
Schalk throws a front kick that sends Takamura stumbling back into the cage.
Takamura lunges at Schalk with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Schalk's hand.
Schalk tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Takamura paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Takamura scores with a one two! Schalk had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Schalk tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Takamura paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Takamura throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Schalk sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Schalk tries to clinch but Takamura is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schalk connects with a looping right hand.

Schalk has Takamura up against the cage in a clinch.
Schalk throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A knee to the head by Schalk.
A frustrated look appears on Takamura's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Takamura tries to break the clinch but Schalk is controlling the position.
Schalk is trying to drag Takamura to the mat but Takamura just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Takamura pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Akira Takamura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Schalk misses with a wild body shot.
Schalk tries to clinch up but Takamura circles away and keeps his distance.
Takamura misses with a jab, cross combination.
Takamura swings for the body but Schalk moves out of range.
Crunch! Schalk slams his shin into Takamura's torso.
Schalk scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Takamura misses with a double jab.
Schalk throws a leg kick which misses Takamura's front leg but catches the back leg as Takamura tries to avoid it.
Takamura with a nice cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schalk throws a nice inside leg kick.
Schalk thumps Takamura with a low kick.
Takamura misses with a hook. Schalk ducked under it nicely.
Takamura fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Schalk lands with a kick to the ribs.
Schalk throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Schalk throws a sloppy head kick and Takamura moves out of range easily.
A combination from Takamura does no damage.
Schalk throws a jab but it's blocked by Takamura.
Schalk displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Takamura throws out the jab.
Schalk throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A swing and a miss from Schalk.
Schalk takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Takamura throws a combination that misses
and Schalk counters with a nice body kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Schalk.
Takamura thows a left - swing and a miss!
Schalk throws a head kick that Takamura semi-blocks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Travis Schalk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Schalk has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Travis Schalk!