PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shinya Takata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Clay Hawkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hawkins comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Diary of a Taxi Driver by Bernard Herrmann kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! This should be fireworks!

Takata
vs
Hawkins

170 cm
30
143 lbs
14 - 12 - 0

170 cm
24
155 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shinya Takata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Clay Hawkins!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawkins tries to close the distance and clinch up but Takata swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hawkins tries to clinch but Takata moves out of range.
Takata connects with a body shot that sends Hawkins's belly button to the back.
Hawkins moves away from the strike by Takata.
Takata throws a body punch but Hawkins moves out of range.
Takata thows a left - swing and a miss!
Takata walks into a jab.
Takata throws a lazy right hand but Hawkins sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hawkins misses with a two punch combination.

Takata gets a double leg takedown into Hawkins's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Takata decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Hawkins drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Shinya Takata seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hawkins throws a looping overhand right but Takata ducks down to avoid it.
Takata throws a right hand that misses
and Hawkins counters with a nice uppercut.
Hawkins on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Hawkins slips a straight right by Takata.
Hawkins tries to close the distance and clinch up but Takata swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hawkins moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Hawkins thows a body shot but no joy.
Hawkins blocks a low kick nicely.
Hawkins lands a jab to the nose.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takata lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hawkins at a distance.
Hawkins staying out of range there.
Hawkins feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Takatas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Hawkins fails to land with a series of punches.
Sloppy strikes from Takata. Those never looked like landing.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Hawkins takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A jab from Hawkins misses.
Hawkins takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Hawkins avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hawkins misses with a looping left.
Hawkins connects with a jab.
Takata throws a right and a left that Hawkins avoids nicely.
Takata lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hawkins backs up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takata throws a leg kick but Hawkins sees it coming and moves out of range.
Hawkins throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Takata throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Clay Hawkins is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hawkins misses with a looping right.
Takata uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hawkins.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hawkins gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Takata is trying to break the clinch but Hawkins is controlling him.

Takata breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hawkins shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Takata eats them both and turns towards Hawkins to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Takata keeps the fight on the outside.
Takata scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Hawkins avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hawkins moves out of range of the strikes.
Takata comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Takata throws a hook but Hawkins avoids it easily.
Hawkins is looking to clinch.
Hawkins throws a head kick but Takata moves out of range.
Hawkins lands a glancing blow to the side of Takata's head.
Takata digs a good body shot into Hawkins's ribs.
Hawkins looks gassed!
Takata feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Hawkinss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Hawkins just misses with a punch to the body.
Hawkins throws a hook to the side of Takata's head but Takata sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Takata dodges the punch combination from Hawkins.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takata scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Hawkins throws an overhand right that lands on Takata's shoulder, as Takata tries to avoid the shot.
Takata tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hawkins sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Takata somewhat.
Takata slips under a jab from Hawkins.
Hawkins tries to close the distance and clinch but Takata swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Takata 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 Hawkins has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Hawkins and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Hawkins tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Takata was well out of range. Poor timing from Hawkins.
Takata ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Sloppy strikes from Takata. Those never looked like landing.
Takata shoots in for a takedown but Hawkins shows good takedown defense.
Takata misses with a straight left.
Hawkins misses with a series of wild punches.
Hawkins throws a front kick aimed at Takata's knee but Takata avoids it well.
Takata fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hawkins avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinya Takata. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Takata closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hawkins circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takata keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Takata swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Takata looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Hawkins!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hawkins wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Hawkins really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Takata thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Takata can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hawkins is looking to escape.
Hawkins is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinya Takata dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hawkins moves into the clinch.

Takata's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Takata slips under a jab.
Hawkins fails with an attempt to clinch.
Takata is looking to chop away at Hawkins's legs.
Hawkins looks to land a combination but Takata avoids it well.

Hawkins has closed the distance and engaged Takata in a clinch.
Hawkins lands with a short shot to the head.
Hawkins prevents Takata from breaking the clinch.
Hawkins wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Takata has him pressed against the cage.
Hawkins prevents Takata from breaking the clinch.
Hawkins wants to break the clinch but can't.

Takata pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Takata scores with a jab.
Hawkins avoids a punch combination nicely.
Takata dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hawkins tries to bum rush Takata with a series of wild strikes but Takata uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkins ducks under a wild hook from Takata.
Takata uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hawkins.
Takata jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shinya Takata is winning the standup battle so far.
Hawkins tries to bum rush Takata with a series of wild strikes but Takata uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hawkins throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hawkins is breathing heavily.
Hawkins tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Hawkins defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Takata.
Hawkins keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Takata swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hawkins tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Hawkins checks a leg kick.
Hawkins doesn't manage to clinch there - Takata circles away.
Hawkins connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Decent striking displayed by Takata there.
Hawkins staying out of range there.
Takata thuds his right hand into Hawkins's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Takata lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hawkins misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takata lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hawkins circles away quickly and effectively.
Takata fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hawkins showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Takata.
A looping hook to the body misses from Takata. Hawkins does a little dance to reset his feet.
Takata throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hawkins throws a body punch but Takata moves out of range.
Takata throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Hawkins swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hawkins lands with a straight right. Takata didn't see that one coming.

Hawkins takes the fight into the clinch.
Takata tries to break free but Hawkins pushes him back against the cage.
Takata is trying to break the clinch but Hawkins is controlling him.

Hawkins breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Takata swats away the attempt to clinch by Hawkins.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Takata throws an overhand right that lands on Hawkins's shoulder, as Hawkins tries to avoid the shot.
Takata fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Takata throws a hook but Hawkins blocks it.
Takata will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hawkins tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Takata buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
No joy there for Hawkins, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Takata misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hawkins looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hawkins ducks under a wild hook from Takata.

Takata looking to score a takedown here. Hawkins is defending well but Takata drives through and ends up in Hawkins's guard.
Takata has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hawkins wants to get back to his feet but Takata is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hawkins is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takata is positioning himself well to prevent Hawkins advancing to mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hawkins wants to stand up but Takata is controlling the position.

Takata kicks off Hawkins and gets to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hawkins checks a low kick from Takata.
Hawkins on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Takata throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Takata misses with a wild body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinya Takata dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Hawkins misses the jab.
Takata showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hawkins.
Takata scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Takata.
Takata jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A combination from Hawkins does no damage.
Takata lands a glancing blow to the side of Hawkins's head.

Takata scores with a takedown into Hawkins's guard.
Takata won't allow Hawkins to get back to his feet.
Takata wants to get up but he can't break Hawkins's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Takata trying to control but Hawkins is working from the bottom.
Takata is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Takata throwing strikes but missing.
Shinya Takata overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hawkins takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawkins keeping full guard, as Takata tries to pass.
Takata prevents Hawkins from getting back to his feet.
Takata throws a big right hand that misses.
Takata postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Takata with a nice head shot there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hawkins working a defensive guard here.
Takata throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hawkins works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Takata's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Takata trying to control the position from guard on top but Hawkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takata is standing up over Hawkins. Hawkins looks to escape but Takata dives into side control.
Hawkins taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hawkins sneaks out the side door and pushes Takata away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Nice defenses there by Takata.
Takata shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hawkins pinned against the cage. Hawkins gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Takata misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hawkins.
Clay Hawkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Good leg kick by Takata there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A looping hook to the body misses from Takata. Hawkins does a little dance to reset his feet.
Some wild striking there from Hawkins.
Takata throws a shot to the body.
Takata shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hawkins sprawls well. Hawkins wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Takata gets slowly back to his feet.
Hawkins throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins misses with a body kick.
Hawkins tries to close the distance and clinch up but Takata swats him away and circles back towards the center.
That kick from Takata tenderised Hawkins's leg. Hawkins is trying to keep his angry face on.

Takata fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hawkins sprawls well initially but Takata persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hawkins keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hawkins is looking for a sweep. Takata is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hawkins is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Takata scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hawkins moves into full guard.
Hawkins keeping moving, preventing Takata from controlling successfully.
Takata scoring with some ground and pound.
Shinya Takata is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hawkins wants to stand up but Takata is controlling him.

Takata stands and steps away. Hawkins gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hawkins enables Takata to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hawkins manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takata loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Takata trying to control the position from guard on top but Hawkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takata won't allow Hawkins to sweep him here.

Hawkins escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Takata gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Takata slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Hawkins tries to bench press Takata off him but Takata keeps the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Takata is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Hawkins will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shinya Takata showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Takata, 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shinya Takata!