PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mamoru Takamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gy Demel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takamura's entrance music is Enter Sandman. A fine choice. Gy Demel will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Takamura
vs
Demel

191 cm
20
250 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

205 cm
22
250 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mamoru Takamura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gy Demel!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Demel fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Demel fails with a takedown attempt.
Takamura avoids the head kick by Demel.
Takamura fails to land with a series of punches.
Takamura tries to clinch but Demel moves out of range.

Demel scores with a takedown into Takamura's guard.
Takamura is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Demel wants to get back to full guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Demel is looking to improve his position.
Takamura perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Takamura is keen to just control but Demel is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Takamura is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Demel trying to control but Takamura postures up.
Takamura is taking a breather. Demel 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.
Demel is trying to maintain the position but Takamura is very close to passing his half guard.
Demel punching from the bottom.
Demel is trying to stand.
Demel really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Takamura. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Takamura moves into the clinch successfully.
Takamura has Demel pressed against the cage, preventing Demel from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Takamura is pressed up against the cage. Demel 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.
Mamoru Takamura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gy Demel.
Demel shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Takamura as he avoids it easily.
Demel looks gassed!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Takamura is defended easily by Demel.
Demel clinches but Takamura breaks the clinch

and Takamura counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Takamura slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Demel is looking to stand up but Takamura isn't so interested in that idea.
Demel working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Takamura.

Demel is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Takamura is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Demel gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Demel wants to break free but Takamura has control.
Demel gets underhooks to prevent Takamura's takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Demel working hard to break the clinch.

Takamura has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Demel regains guard immediately.
Demel is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Takamura gets to his feet - Demel follows without any prompting.

Demel shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Takamura manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Demel throws a strike but Takamura rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Takamura is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Demel keeping moving, preventing Takamura from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Demel is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Takamura trying to stand up but can't free himself from Demel's guard.
Demel working a defensive guard here.
Demel throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Takamura tries to free his leg and advance position but Demel is retaining full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Demel tries to clinch but Takamura moves out of range.
Demel fails with the takedown

and Takamura counters with a nice double leg into side control. Demel won't be happy with that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Demel prevents Takamura from moving into mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mamoru Takamura dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Demel shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Takamura sprawls well. Takamura wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Demel gets slowly back to his feet.
Demel keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Demel fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Takamura shoots for a takedown but Demel saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Takamura bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Demel struggling a bit here.
Demel tries to bench press Takamura off him but Takamura keeps the position.

Takamura decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Takamura blocks the body kick.

Demel rushes Takamura and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Demel is trying to break the clinch but Takamura has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Takamura tries to pull guard but Demel won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mamoru Takamura. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Demel lands with a short shot to the head.
Takamura lands a shot to the body.
Takamura fails to pull guard.

Demel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Demel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Demel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Demel shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Takamura as he avoids it easily.
Demel tries to clinch but Takamura moves out of range.
Demel shoots and misses

and Takamura counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Takamura looking for a takedown.
Demel has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Takamura avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Demel can't break the clinch.
Demel is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Takamura tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Demel wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Demel wants to get back to striking at distance but Takamura won't allow it.
Demel letting Takamura take a breather here.

Demel is trying to trip Takamura. He has hold of a leg but Takamura is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Demel persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Demel trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Demel trying to stand up but can't free himself from Takamura's guard.
Demel must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Takamura is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Takamura is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Demel pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Demel softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Takamura trying to stall but Demel improves his position.

Demel breaks the clinch.
Demel tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Takamura paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Takamura fails with a takedown attempt.
Demel lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Gy Demel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takamura tries to clinch but Demel is having none of it.
Takamura could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Takamura takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Demel has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takamura fails to land with a series of punches.
Demel connects with a solid leg kick.
Takamura looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Takamura stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Takamura wants it to stay on the feet.
Takamura tries to clinch up.
Nice takedown defense from Takamura. No joy for Demel on that attempt.

Takamura clinches up against the cage.
Demel pushes Takamura back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Demel wants to break the clinch but can't.
Demel scores with a nice hook to the head.
Takamura taking a breather.

Demel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mamoru Takamura is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Demel misses with a takedown attempt

and Takamura decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Demel's guard.
Demel controls Takamura momentarily but Takamura frees himself.
Takamura trying to control the position from guard on top but Demel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Demel has Takamura pulled in close to control his posture.
Demel trying to control the position.
Demel can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Takamura controls the pace.
Demel is adopting a defensive guard.
Mamoru Takamura overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Demel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Takamura is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mamoru Takamura dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Takamura fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Demel sprawls well initially but Takamura persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Demel is trying to maintain the position but Takamura is very close to passing his half guard.
Takamura trying to control the action but Demel is working from the bottom.
Demel is trying to stand back up but Takamura is controlling him

Takamura decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Demel fails with the takedown

and Takamura counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Demel!
Demel wants to control but Takamura is having none of it.
Demel is trying to stand up.
Demel is in a horrible position here. Takamura smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takamura is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Demel is surviving well by controlling Takamura's body position as best he can.
Demel sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Takamura prevents Demel from improving his position.
Demel is controlling Takamura's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Takamura passes the guard and advances to mount!

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.
Demel flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Demel can do anything to dispel that myth.
Demel is trying to stand up.
Takamura blocks Demel's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Takamura sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Demel is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Demel is working to get back to half guard.
Demel is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takamura working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Takamura trying to control but Demel is having none of it.
Demel tries to reverse the position but Takamura maintains control.
Takamura connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Demel is arching his back trying to strike from the bottom but Takamura turns him over and now has his back.
Demel holding both Takamura 's hands and preventing any damage.
Demel trying to control the position but Takamura manages to sink in the hooks.

That's four 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.

Takamura patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Takamura struggling to keep hold of the position.
Takamura somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.

Demel manages to escape to his feet.
Demel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Takamura takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Takamura jabs Demel right on the nose. Demel blinks but takes it well.
Demel slips under a jab from Takamura.
Demel shoots in and drives through. Takamura sprawls well.
Takamura fails with a takedown attempt.
Takamura avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mamoru Takamura showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Takamura, 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mamoru Takamura!