PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Esko Takanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sid Vernon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Takanen
vs
Vernon

175 cm
23
172 lbs
11 - 4 - 1

192 cm
23
179 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

[MMABR]: TechNutri - Ensuring the quality

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Esko Takanen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sid Vernon!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Skip Squint and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vernon staying out of range there.
Vernon moves out of range as Takanen strikes.
A nice leg kick lands there from Vernon.
Esko Takanen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takanen throws a shot from downtown. Vernon moves away and avoids it.
Vernon finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Takanen is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A right-left combo lands from Takanen.
Takanen misses with a body shot.
Nice defenses there by Vernon.
Vernon shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Vernon wants to clinch up but Takanen keeps it at a distance.
A looping hook to the body misses from Takanen. Vernon does a little dance to reset his feet.
Takanen lands with an overhand left.
Vernon pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vernon uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Takanen.
Vernon defending well as Takanen loads up on a big left hand.
Takanen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Takanen moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Takanen loads up on a big right hand but Vernon slips the punch.
Takanen is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Takanen.
Jab from Takanen.
The fighters circling - Takanen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Takanen misses with a hook. Vernon ducked under it nicely.
Vernon is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Takanen.
Takanen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Takanen keeps the fight on the outside.
Takanen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Takanen looks to land a right hand but Vernon moved out of range.
Vernon throws a front kick that sends Takanen stumbling back into the cage.
Vernon tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Takanen throws a hook but Vernon avoids it easily.
Vernon ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Vernon lands with a nice body punch.
Vernon tries to close the distance and clinch but Takanen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Takanen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Vernon can pounce on him.
Takanen blocks a head kick by Vernon.
Takanen tests Vernon's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Takanen misses.
Takanen blocks a head kick by Vernon.
Takanen misses with a hook.
Takanen misses with a body shot
enabling Vernon to counter with a crisp jab.
Takanen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Vernon scores with a head kick.
Vernon checks a low kick from Takanen.
Takanen throws a looping overhand right but Vernon ducks down to avoid it.
Takanen scores with a jab.
Vernon moves out of range of the strikes.
Vernon stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Takanen.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takanen throws out a loose jab but Vernon uses good head movement to avoid it.
Takanen throws a lazy head kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Takanen misses the target.
Takanen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Takanen with a nice cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Takanen misses.
Vernon misses with a head kick.
Takanen ducks under a wild hook from Vernon.
A thudding body kick lands there by Vernon!
Takanen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Vernon slips under a jab.
Takanen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Takanen misses with a shot to the body
and Vernon counters with a head kick. That will keep Takanen thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
A low kick from Takanen is predictable there

and Vernon counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Vernon lands a good knee to the midsection. Takanen won't want to take too many of those.
Takanen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Vernon scores a nice knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Vernon.

Takanen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Takanen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vernon uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Takanen.
Vernon slips a straight right by Takanen.
Vernon walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Vernon moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takanen thows a body shot but no joy.
Vernon tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Takanen scores with a nice strike.
Takanen throws a sloppy head kick
and Vernon counters with a nice low kick that buckles Takanen's knee momentarily.
Takanen misses with a wild combination.
Vernon moves out of range of the strikes.
Takanen misses with a hook.
Takanen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Vernon, right into the meat.
Takanen throws a hook but Vernon blocks it.
Vernon fails in his attempt to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vernon fails with an attempt to clinch.
Takanen misses with a low kick.
Takanen misses with a straight left.
Takanen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Vernon sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sid Vernon will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Vernon misses with a low kick as Takanen jumps back.
Takanen misses with a hook.
Takanen throws out a loose jab but Vernon uses good head movement to avoid it.
Takanen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Takanen throws out a loose jab but Vernon uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vernon bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Takanen misses with a leg kick
and Vernon counters with a thumping low kick.
Takanen lunges at Vernon with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Vernon's hand.
Esko Takanen is winning the standup battle so far.
Takanen lands a nice shot to the body.
Takanen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Vernon.
Takanen misses with a straight right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A left and a right from Takanen both land. Nice combination.
Takanen takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
An inside leg kick lands from Vernon.
Vernon on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Vernon throws a low kick but Takanen avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Vernon. That's going to slow Takanen down.
Takanen throws a leg kick that is checked
and Vernon counters with an inside leg kick.
Vernon misses with a body shot.
Takanen throws the left hand but Vernon avoids the punch easily.
Vernon lands a with a good body shot.
Vernon tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Takanen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Takanen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vernon manages to avoid it.
Vernon scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Takanen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Vernon.
Vernon slips under a jab from Takanen.
Vernon throws a head kick that Takanen semi-blocks.
Takanen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Takanen jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Takanen tries to keep at a distance but Vernon has taken the fight into the clinch.
Takanen is trying to break the clinch but Vernon is controlling him.
A right hand to the body from Vernon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takanen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Takanen tries to break the clinch but Vernon is controlling the position.

Takanen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Takanen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A cross from Vernon lands.
Takanen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Takanen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Vernon counters with a body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vernon uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Takanen.
Esko Takanen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vernon shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Takanen sprawls well. Takanen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Vernon gets slowly back to his feet.
Takanen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Takanen throws a looping overhand right but Vernon ducks down to avoid it.
Vernon connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Vernon staying out of range there.
A big left from Vernon misses.
Takanen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vernon manages to avoid it.
Takanen will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takanen circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fighters circling - Takanen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Vernon uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Takanen.
Takanen throws a shot from downtown. Vernon moves away and avoids it.

Vernon clinches.
Takanen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Vernon connects with a nasty looking knee right to Takanen's face.
Takanen misses with an elbow over the top.
Takanen is looking to break free of the clinch but Vernon has double underhooks.
Vernon blocking some punches.
Takanen is trying to force a seperation but Vernon has the dominant position.
Takanen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Vernon landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Vernon putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Takanen in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Takanen can't break the clinch.
Takanen is looking to break free of the clinch but Vernon has double underhooks.
Takanen is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Takanen takes an elbow to the temple.
Still in the clinch, Vernon scores with a nice short uppercut.
Vernon looking to throw knees to the head but Takanen is blocking nicely.
Vernon connects with a knee to the head.
Takanen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Vernon using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Takanen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Takanen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Vernon creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A frustrated look appears on Takanen's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Takanen breaks from the clinch.
Nice defenses there by Vernon.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Vernon lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Takanen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Takanen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A leg kick checked by Takanen.
Vernon uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Takanen.
Vernon pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vernon walks forward, straight into a front kick from Takanen.
Vernon lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Takanen misses with a double jab
and Vernon counters with a nice low kick that buckles Takanen's knee momentarily.
Vernon walks into a jab.
Takanen misses with a body shot

and Vernon counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Vernon.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Takanen is trying to break the clinch but Vernon has him pressed against the cage.

Takanen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Takanen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vernon turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Takanen throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sid Vernon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Takanen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A low kick from Takanen misses
and Vernon connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Takanen lands a nice hook to Vernon's body. Vernon takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Takanen throws a leg kick but Vernon sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Takanen throws a combination that misses
and Vernon counters with a nice kick to the body.
Takanen's corner calls for a 1-2. Takanen obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Vernon keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Takanen.
Takanen blocks a head kick by Vernon.
Vernon stalks Takanen and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Takanen's face. Takanen staggers backwards, shaken.
Takanen thows a leg kick but Vernon checks it
and Vernon counters with a head kick. That will keep Takanen thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Takanen throws a front kick aimed at Vernon's knee but Vernon avoids it well.
Vernon scores with a sloppy right hand. Takanen should have avoided that one.
Takanen checks a low kick from Vernon.
Takanen tries to bum rush Vernon with a series of wild strikes but Vernon uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A low kick from Takanen misses
and Vernon counters with an outside leg kick.
Takanen checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Jab, jab by Takanen - just one landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vernon checks the leg kick nicely there.
Takanen throws a nice looking combination but Vernon bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Takanen checks a low kick from Vernon.
Takanen misses with a leg kick
and Vernon counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A looping hook to the body misses from Takanen. Vernon does a little dance to reset his feet.
Takanen throws a jab when Vernon was well out of range.
Vernon shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Takanen pinned against the cage. Takanen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Vernon throws a right hand that Takanen ducks under and follows up with a left that Takanen also avoids with ease.
Takanen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Vernon momentarily.
Vernon doesn't manage to clinch there - Takanen circles away.
Vernon tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vernon shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Takanen pinned against the cage. Takanen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Vernon pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two 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.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Vernon.
Takanen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Vernon sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Takanen bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Vernon's head backwards.
Vernon defending well as Takanen loads up on a big left hand.
Vernon throws a low kick, looking for Takanen's leg but Takanen calmly moves out of range.
Takanen throws the left hand but Vernon avoids the punch easily.
Nice straight punches there by Takanen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Takanen.
Vernon tries to clinch but Takanen is having none of it.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Takanen, right into the meat.
Takanen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Vernon has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A decent looking cross lands there for Vernon.
Takanen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Takanen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Vernon has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Vernon bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Takanen throws a combination that misses

and Vernon counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takanen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Takanen lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Vernon.
Takanen takes an elbow to the temple.
Vernon tries to land knees in the clinch but Takanen avoids the damage to the body.
Vernon keeps control of Takanen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Vernon goes for a takedown attempt but Takanen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Esko Takanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sid Vernon.
Takanen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Vernon is out of range and Takanen settles back down.
Takanen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Vernon tries a head kick but it misses.
Vernon wants to clinch.
Vernon moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Vernon defending well as Takanen loads up on a big left hand.
Vernon tries to score with a low kick but Takanen moves his leg out of the way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vernon tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Takanen is looking to score with low kicks.
Vernon cracks Takanen with a good jab.
Vernon throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Takanen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vernon manages to avoid it.
Takanen takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A swing and a miss from Takanen.
Vernon showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Takanen.
Takanen thuds his right hand into Vernon's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Takanen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Vernon counters with a leg kick.
Vernon scores with a hook to the body. Takanen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Takanen keeps the fight on the outside.
Takanen misses with a straight right.

Vernon gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Vernon.
Vernon lands an elbow inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sid Vernon really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Takanen misses with a looping right.
Takanen misses with a series of wild punches.
Vernon slips a jab from Takanen.
A jab from Takanen misses.
Takanen swats away the attempt to clinch by Vernon.
Vernon takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Takanen misses with a series of wild punches.
Takanen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Vernon doesn't seem bothered though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takanen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Vernon counters with a low kick, right behind Takanen 's knee.
Takanen misses the body punch
and Vernon counters with an inside leg kick.
Takanen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vernon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vernon ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vernon takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Takanen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Takanen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vernon.
Takanen misses with a hook. Vernon ducked under it nicely.
Vernon buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Takanen is looking to slow Vernon down with leg kicks.
Vernon moves in looking to clinch but Takanen pushes him off.
Takanen throws a body punch but Vernon moves out of range.
Takanen missing with a left hand there. Vernon was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Takanen falls off balance throwing a combination
and Vernon counters with a left and a right that stings Takanen.
Vernon slips under a jab.
Vernon takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Vernon ducks under a wild hook from Takanen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takanen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Vernon slips a jab from Takanen.
Vernon ducks under a wild hook from Takanen.
Vernon tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Vernon fails with an attempt to clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Takanen. Vernon does a little dance to reset his feet.
Takanen misses with a straight left.
Vernon ducks under a wild hook from Takanen.

Vernon instigates a clinch.

Takanen breaks the clinch.
Takanen tries to score with a low kick but Vernon moves his leg out of the way.
Takanen throws a nice looking combination but Vernon bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Takanen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vernon.
A swing and a miss from Takanen.
Vernon tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vernon displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Takanen throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vernon does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Takanen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vernon.
Vernon slips a straight right by Takanen.
Vernon uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Takanen.
Some wild striking there from Takanen.
Vernon is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Takanen misses with a straight left.
Takanen dips to his left and cracks Vernon with an uppercut!
Vernon keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Takanen.
Takanen misses with a body punch

and Vernon counters by moving into the clinch.
Takanen throws a head punch that misses.
Vernon connects with a nasty looking knee right to Takanen's face.
Vernon crunches a lovely knee into Takanen's ribcage.
Takanen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Takanen wants to get back to striking at distance but Vernon won't allow it.
A frustrated look appears on Takanen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Takanen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vernon connects with a nasty looking knee right to Takanen's face.
Vernon tries to land a knee to the head but Takanen blocks with his arms.
Takanen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Vernon connects with a knee to the head.
Takanen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Vernon with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Takanen is trying to force a seperation but Vernon has the dominant position.
Vernon throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Vernon has Takanen pressed against the cage, preventing Takanen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Vernon turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Vernon manages to end up in side control.
Takanen can't do much from the bottom here.
Takanen parries the strikes from Vernon easily there. Vernon is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Takanen to escape.
Takanen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Vernon looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Vernon is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

Takanen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Esko Takanen will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Vernon moves away from the strike by Takanen.
Vernon defending well as Takanen loads up on a big left hand.
Takanen lands a jab to the nose.
Takanen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Vernon bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takanen throws a shot from downtown. Vernon moves away and avoids it.
Takanen misses with a straight left.
Vernon defending well as Takanen loads up on a big left hand.
Takanen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Vernon at a distance.
Takanen scores with a nice head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vernon uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Takanen.

Vernon gets a clinch.
Takanen works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Vernon lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Takanen manages to break the clinch.
Takanen misses with a series of wild punches.
Vernon fails in his attempt to clinch.
Takanen is looking to slow Vernon down with leg kicks.
Vernon takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Vernon keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Takanen.
Takanen throws a sloppy head kick
and Vernon counters with a leg kick.
Takanen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Some wild striking there from Takanen.
Vernon gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Takanen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takanen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Takanen checks a leg kick.
Vernon connects with a solid leg kick.
Vernon keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Vernon gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Vernon slips a jab and a cross from Takanen.
Good leg kick by Takanen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Takanen takes a swing at Vernon's ribcage but misses.
Vernon misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Takanen.
A big left from Takanen misses.
Takanen misses with a hook. Vernon ducked under it nicely.
Takanen misses with a hook. Vernon ducked under it nicely.
Takanen scores with the left hand. Vernon knows he should have avoided that one.
Takanen misses with a straight left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vernon connects with a solid leg kick.
Vernon uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Takanen.
Takanen keeps the fight on the outside.
Takanen misses with a looping right.
Takanen throws a hook but Vernon avoids it easily.
Takanen swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Vernon counters with an outside leg kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Vernon.
Esko Takanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sid Vernon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Takanen throws a lazy right hand but Vernon sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vernon blocks a leg kick.
Takanen thows a leg kick but Vernon checks it
and Vernon counters with a thumping low kick.
Takanen misses with a hook.
A lazy body kick from Takanen
and Vernon counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Vernon tries to clinch there but Takanen circles away.
Takanen misses with a leg kick
and Vernon counters with a two punch combo.
Takanen thuds a left hand into Vernon's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takanen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vernon is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Takanen throws a head kick that misses
and Vernon counters with a good, hard body kick but Takanen shrugs it off.
Vernon turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Takanen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vernon manages to avoid it.
Vernon tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vernon bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Takanen's head.
Takanen throws a series of punches but Vernon moves out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Takanen.
Takanen misses the jab.
Vernon staying out of range there.

Vernon pushes Takanen up against the cage in a clinch.
A short left from Vernon.

Takanen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vernon lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Esko Takanen.
Well Vernon 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 46:50
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 46:50
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sid Vernon!
Sid Vernon is the new welterweight champion!