PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Harkkonan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Katsuo Takeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Katsuo Takeda will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Harkkonan
vs
Takeda

160 cm
25
135 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
142 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vladimir Harkkonan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Katsuo Takeda!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Harkkonan clinches up against the cage.
Takeda can't get the takedown.

Harkkonan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Harkkonan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Takeda circles away quickly and effectively.
Harkkonan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Harkkonan scores with a jab to the jaw.
Vladimir Harkkonan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harkkonan thuds a left hand into Takeda's body.
Takeda misses with a takedown attempt
and Harkkonan counters with a three punch combo that has Takeda backing up. Takeda nods at Harkkonan to acknowledge the strikes.
Vladimir Harkkonan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Katsuo Takeda.
Takeda tries a head kick but it misses.
Harkkonan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Takeda shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Harkkonan has taken the fight to the clinch.

Harkkonan manages to break the clinch.
Takeda closes this distance looking for a takedown but Harkkonan circles away.
Harkkonan works the jab nicely.
Harkkonan tries to bum rush Takeda with a series of wild strikes but Takeda uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takeda gets a takedown into half guard.
Harkkonan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Takeda.

Takeda is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Harkkonan wants to get back to his feet.
Takeda stalling away here and it's allowed Harkkonan to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Takeda looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harkkonan keeping moving, preventing Takeda from controlling successfully.
Takeda throws a big elbow that misses.
Harkkonan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Takeda throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Harkkonan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Takeda trying to control the position from guard on top but Harkkonan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takeda with a flurry of punches that miss.
Harkkonan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Takeda is one step ahead there.
Harkkonan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Takeda is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeda trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Takeda thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Harkkonan on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Harkkonan tries to get out of the position.
Takeda stops Harkkonan from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takeda looking to sit in guard and control but Harkkonan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Takeda is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takeda keeping moving, preventing Harkkonan from controlling successfully.
Takeda throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Takeda escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Harkkonan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Takeda looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Takeda looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katsuo Takeda dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Harkkonan blocks a leg kick.

Harkkonan closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Takeda did well to prevent Harkkonan getting side control.
Takeda trying to hold on to Harkkonan's head to control him but Harkkonan postures up.

Takeda looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Harkkonan sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Takeda has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Takeda tries to get to full guard but Harkkonan has control of the leg.
Takeda trying to control but Harkkonan postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harkkonan slows the pace down in half guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Vladimir Harkkonan wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Harkkonan takes a swing at Takeda's ribcage but misses.
Harkkonan scores with a shot to the body.
Takeda pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Harkkonan closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harkkonan fails to land with a series of punches.
Takeda shoots for a double leg takedown but Harkkonan sprawls well. He's pushed Takeda's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Takeda fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Harkkonan avoids it really well and circles away.
Harkkonan stalks Takeda and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Takeda's face. Takeda staggers backwards, shaken.
Harkkonan scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Harkkonan moves into range and connects with a jab.
Harkkonan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Harkkonan fails to land with a series of punches.
Harkkonan misses with a two punch combination.

Takeda shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Harkkonan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeda thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Harkkonan's head.
Harkkonan wants to get back to full guard.

Takeda is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Takeda thows a huge punch but Harkkonan dodges it nicely.
Harkkonan pushes Takeda off looking to stand but Takeda dives back in and keeps control.
Takeda thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takeda passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Harkkonan!

Takeda wants to finish this one by submission but Harkkonan is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Takeda.
Takeda fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Takeda thowing shots but they're missing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Takeda throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Katsuo Takeda will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Harkkonan misses with a jab, cross combination.
Harkkonan tests Takeda's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Harkkonan clinches up with Takeda and pushes him back against the cage.
Harkkonan gets underhooks to prevent Takeda's takedown attempt.
Harkkonan wants to get back to striking at distance but Takeda won't allow it.
Harkkonan prevents a takedown attempt there.
Harkkonan pushes Takeda back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Harkkonan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Harkkonan misses with a low kick as Takeda jumps back.
A punch combination from Harkkonan misses.
Harkkonan lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Harkkonan.
Harkkonan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Vladimir Harkkonan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Harkkonan moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harkkonan thows a body shot but no joy.
Harkkonan misses with a two punch combination.
Harkkonan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Harkkonan is looking to wear down Takeda with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Takeda throws a leg kick but Harkkonan sees it coming and moves out of range.
Harkkonan shoots for a takedown but Takeda saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Harkkonan gets a double leg takedown into Takeda's guard.
Katsuo Takeda has got the better of the ground game so far.
Takeda is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Harkkonan is posturing up here but Takeda has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Harkkonan tries to roll out but it's too tight and Harkkonan has to tap! Slick submission there by Takeda!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Katsuo Takeda!