PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Takeshi Miike (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saku Thirtynine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thirtynine is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Speed 2 Remix by Tetsuya Komura . These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Miike
vs
Thirtynine

162 cm
27
141 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

178 cm
33
169 lbs
14 - 16 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Takeshi Miike!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Saku Thirtynine!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miike with a nice cross.
Miike turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Miike throws a leg kick but Thirtynine sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Thirtynine takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A decent looking cross lands there for Miike.
A combination from Thirtynine does no damage.
Miike fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thirtynine manages to avoid it.
A slow jab from Miike misses its intended target.
Miike shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Thirtynine eats them both and turns towards Miike to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Thirtynine walks into a jab.
Some bone on bone action there as Thirtynine checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Miike swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Miike misses with a looping right.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Miike connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Thirtynine throws out a loose jab but Miike uses good head movement to avoid it.
Miike fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Thirtynine throws a series of punches but Miike moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thirtynine shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Miike is trying to defend but Thirtynine finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Thirtynine throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Miike might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Thirtynine wants to pass to mount but Miike is defending the position.

Thirtynine is looking for a kimura but Miike is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Thirtynine to get the leverage.
Miike wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miike is staying active underneath Thirtynine, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Thirtynine thows a huge punch but Miike dodges it nicely.
Thirtynine looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Thirtynine slips a nice elbow through Miike's hands, connecting with Miike's forehead.
Thirtynine wants to lay and pray for a moment but Miike keeps working.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thirtynine content to control rather than advance.
Miike is looking to control Thirtynine's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Miike avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miike is trying to stand.
Thirtynine thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Thirtynine stalling away here and it's allowed Miike to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Thirtynine trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Thirtynine trying to control the position from guard on top but Miike is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thirtynine trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thirtynine trying to control the position from guard on top but Miike is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thirtynine looking to sit in guard and control but Miike gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Miike won't allow Thirtynine to sweep him here.
Miike has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Thirtynine is proving hard to escape from.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Thirtynine looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Miike is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Miike stands up from Thirtynine's guard - Miike perhaps looking for a knockout.
Thirtynine checks a low kick from Miike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Takeshi Miike will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Thirtynine throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Miike looks to land a combination but Thirtynine avoids it well.
Thirtynine keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Thirtynine lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Miike sprawling to the canvas. Thirtynine follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Miike hang on?

Miike is rocked!

It looks like Takeshi Miike has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thirtynine is looking to pass Miike's guard but actually Miike recovers to full guard.
Oh Miike is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Miike kicks Thirtynine off and gets to his feet.
Thirtynine scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Miike connects with a body shot.
Thirtynine thuds a left hand into Miike's body.
Miike dodges the punch combination from Thirtynine.
Miike seems to have got his legs back now.
Thirtynine throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A shot to the liver by Miike. Beautiful body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thirtynine with a jab.
Thirtynine throws a nice looking combination but Miike bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Thirtynine closes this distance looking for a takedown but Miike circles away.
Thirtynine throws a series of punches but Miike avoids them all with ease.
Miike throws a nice inside leg kick.
Miike swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Miike misses with a series of wild punches.
Thirtynine takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Miike lands a nice looking body shot.
Miike throws out a powerful jab.
Miike connects with a crisp jab.
Miike misses the body punch

and Thirtynine counters with a leg kick then a big left hand that sends Miike down! Thirtynine is looking to finish but Miike is intelligently defending himself.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Thirtynine drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Miike manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Thirtynine has Miike in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miike wants to pass the guard but Thirtynine is keeping the position.

Thirtynine is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Miike is aware though and is defending well.

Miike stands up from Thirtynine's guard - Miike perhaps looking for a knockout.

Thirtynine drives through with a takedown into Miike's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Thirtynine stops Miike from standing up.

Miike scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Saku Thirtynine seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thirtynine gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miike tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thirtynine swivels and escapes.
Miike connects with a leg kick. Thirtynine looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Thirtynine moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Miike tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Thirtynine is able to avoid easily.
Miike throws a lazy head kick
and Thirtynine cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Miike dodges the punch combination from Thirtynine.
Miike slips a jab and a cross from Thirtynine.
Nice jab there from Miike.
Thirtynine takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Thirtynine moves away from the strike by Miike.
Miike tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thirtynine was well out of range. Poor timing from Miike.
Thirtynine defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Miike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miike fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takeshi Miike. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Miike misses with a takedown
and Thirtynine counters with a nice body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A lazy left from Thirtynine finds it's target.
Miike throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Thirtynine shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Thirtynine was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Thirtynine thowing shots but they're missing.
Miike is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Thirtynine looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Miike wants to control but Thirtynine is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saku Thirtynine showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Takeshi Miike's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Miike fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Thirtynine checks it well.
Miike fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thirtynine manages to avoid it.
Thirtynine misses with a few strikes there.
Miike just misses with a punch to the body.
A lazy left from Miike finds it's target.
Saku Thirtynine is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thirtynine scores with the left hand. Miike knows he should have avoided that one.
A lazy body kick from Miike
and Thirtynine counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Miike throws a right hand that misses
and Thirtynine counters with a three punch combo that has Miike backing up. Miike nods at Thirtynine to acknowledge the strikes.
Miike lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Miike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Miike throws a body kick that misses.
Takeshi Miike seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Miike lands a head shot.
Miike throws a solid leg kick but Thirtynine takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Miike.
Miike will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thirtynine scores with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thirtynine throws a series of punches but Miike moves out of range.
Thirtynine bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Thirtynine stalks Miike and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Miike's face. Miike staggers backwards, shaken.
Thirtynine closes the distance and clinches up with Miike, looking for a takedown. Thirtynine pushes Miike against the cage but Miike circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Miike misses with a wild body shot.
Thirtynine keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thirtynine works over Miike's head and body with a nice combination.
Donk. Miike catches Thirtynine right on the button with a cross.
Miike has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Miike there as he acknowledges the shot.
Thirtynine misses with an uppercut. Miike saw that one coming.
Miike lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thirtynine circles away quickly and effectively.
Thirtynine is pawing at Miike, trying to feel the distance before throwing out a cross that crashes into Miike's nose. Miike is badly hurt! Thirtynine pounces, throwing wild strikes as both fighters end up on the ground! Miike tries desperately to hold on but Thirtynine is relentless in his assault! As Miike receives an ever increasing number of unanswered strikes the referee pulls Thirtynine away and this one is in the books!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Saku Thirtynine!