PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ikuto Takeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timbo Slice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Takeda
vs
Slice

177 cm
24
175 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

173 cm
21
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ikuto Takeda !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Timbo Slice!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Reed Andrews and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Takeda drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Slice is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Takeda sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Slice defending well though.
Slice trying to control but Takeda postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Slice makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Slice.
Takeda with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Slice working for a triangle but Takeda defends it easily.
Takeda won't allow Slice to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Slice looking for a guillotine here but Takeda defends easily.
Takeda stands up over Slice, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takeda stops Slice from standing up.
Takeda has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Slice pulls Takeda in close to prevent any damage.
Takeda postures up and lands a big shot to Slice's brow.
Slice looking for a sweep. Not yet Slice, not yet.
Slice is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Takeda is controlling him.
Takeda trying to control but Slice is working from the bottom.
Slice trying to keep a closed guard but Takeda is proving a slippery customer.
Takeda trying to control but Slice is working from the bottom.
Slice looking to hit a scissor sweep but Takeda is one step ahead there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Takeda decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slice is refusing to be controlled, as Takeda sits in half guard.
Takeda not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Takeda is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Takeda tries to pass to full mount but Slice defends it.
Takeda is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Takeda winds up and cracks Slice with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Takeda is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Slice tries to roll over but Takeda keeps him under control.
Slice is trying to stand up here but Takeda is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeda is looking to take a break and control but Slice is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Slice wants to control but Takeda is keeping busy.
Slice looks gassed!
Slice pushes Takeda off looking to stand but Takeda dives back in and keeps control.
Takeda trying to control from half guard but Slice is working away.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Slice is trying to stand back up but Takeda is controlling him
Slice trying to control from the bottom.
Slice wants to get back to his feet.
Takeda working Slice over with strikes.
Takeda takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Takeda closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Takeda lands in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slice keeping moving, preventing Takeda from controlling successfully.
Takeda is looking to work some ground and pound but Slice has wrist control.
Slice keeping moving, preventing Takeda from controlling successfully.
Slice 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.
Slice keeping full guard, as Takeda tries to pass.
Takeda working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Slice controls Takeda momentarily but Takeda frees himself.

Slice has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Takeda off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ikuto Takeda dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Slice tries to sprawl but Takeda drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Slice wants to control but Takeda is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Takeda slips a nice elbow through Slice's hands, connecting with Slice's forehead.
Slice is trying to stand back up but Takeda is controlling him
Slice is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Takeda lands a nice short elbow.
Takeda missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Takeda not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Slice tries to kick Takeda off but Takeda keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Slice wants to control but Takeda is keeping busy.
Takeda knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Slice on the ground.
Slice tries to kick Takeda off but Takeda keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Takeda connects with a nice short shot to Slice's temple.
Slice gets full guard.
Takeda scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Takeda chips away with some ground and pound.
Takeda cracks Slice with a solid left hand.
Takeda distracts Slice with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Takeda landing some decent shots from guard.
Takeda with a nice head shot there.
Takeda is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Takeda is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Slice is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Slice wants to lay and pray for a moment but Takeda keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takeda is looking to escape.

Takeda kicks Slice off and gets back to his feet.
Takeda closes this distance looking for a takedown but Slice circles away.
Ikuto Takeda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takeda tries to score a power double leg takedown but Slice sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Takeda somewhat.
Slice throws a head kick that misses.
Takeda fails to land with a series of punches.
Slice misses with a head kick.

Takeda scores a takedown into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slice's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Takeda is landing with some decent strikes but Slice is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Takeda lands a heavy elbow.
Slice wants to get back to his feet.
Slice tries to hold on but Takeda postures up.
Takeda scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Slice tries to hold on but Takeda postures up.
Slice wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Takeda looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Takeda landing strikes from the mount and Slice is in trouble!
Slice is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Takeda trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Takeda pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Slice is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Takeda lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Takeda lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Takeda trying to control but Slice is having none of it.
Slice wants to hold on but Takeda pushes him away.
A nice elbow there by Takeda .
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ikuto Takeda dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Slice fails in his attempt to clinch.
Takeda tries to clinch but Slice is having none of it.

Takeda changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Slice looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Slice managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Takeda .
Takeda with the ground and pound but Slice regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Slice looks like he's trying to stand up.
Takeda slips a nice elbow through Slice's hands, connecting with Slice's forehead.
Slice is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Takeda 's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Takeda 's back!
Takeda looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Takeda is trying to defend against the choke here but Slice has an arm under his chin. This one might not last much longer. Slice Tightens the hold and Takeda taps out furiously! Slice displays superior BJJ to win the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Timbo Slice!