PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Saguro Takada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sandro Filcic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Takada
vs
Filcic

165 cm
35
155 lbs
26 - 9 - 0

178 cm
33
157 lbs
19 - 24 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
KO power

Good takedowns
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

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 26 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Saguro Takada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 24 - 0, fighting out of London, Sandro Filcic!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Seu Braga and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Filcic misses with a wild combination.

Filcic instigates a clinch.
Filcic keeps control of Takada as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Filcic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Saguro Takada seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takada has a takedown stuffed.
Takada darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Filcic scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Takada connects with a looping right hand.
Takada keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Filcic.

Takada lands a head kick that stumbles Filcic and the fighters go to the mat.

Filcic is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Takada trying to control but Filcic is working from the bottom.
Filcic is still in real trouble! Can Takada finish him?
Filcic controlling the position.
Takada stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Filcic swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Filcic seems to have recovered his senses.
Filcic has momentary wrist control but Takada slips an elbow through the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filcic manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Takada manages to get himself to full guard.
Filcic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Takada looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Filcic's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Filcic advances position into side control!
Takada manages to work his way to half guard, despite Filcic's best efforts.
Takada tries to roll over but Filcic keeps him under control.
Takada is staying active underneath Filcic, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Takada wants to control but Filcic is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Takada is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Filcic's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Filcic's back!
Good control from Takada.
Takada misses with an elbow to the head.
Takada is landing with strikes. Filcic can't take much more of this.

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!
Filcic is holding onto Takada's left hand, preventing any choke attempts.
Takada is throwing shots to the body but Filcic manages to wriggle free. Takada pounces on him again and ends up in Filcic's guard.
Takada not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Filcic bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Takada's guard.
Filcic wants to control from the top but Takada keeps moving.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Takada trying to control the position.
Filcic trying to control the position from guard on top but Takada is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Takada is looking for a triangle but Filcic pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filcic stops Takada from standing up.
Takada is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Filcic is concentrating on defense, preventing Takada from advancing position.
Ground and pound from Takada.
Takada frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Takada looking to ground and pound but Filcic is blocking nicely.

Takada jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Filcic manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Takada trying to control the position but Filcic is working away.
Filcic is looking for a sweep.
Filcic is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Takada off and has taken his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filcic wants to control but Takada is keeping busy.
Takada is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takada manages to reverse the position and now he's in Filcic's guard. Nice work there by Takada.
Takada controlling from the top position.
Filcic bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Takada's guard.
Takada looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Takada throws a couple of heel strikes.
Filcic trying to control the position from guard on top but Takada is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takada wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Takada is on top in guard.
Filcic looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saguro Takada dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Takada scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Filcic displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Takada.
Takada shoots in but no luck this time.
Takada looks to land a left hand but Filcic moved out of range nicely.
Saguro Takada is winning the standup battle so far.
Filcic moves away from the strike by Takada.
Filcic wants to clinch up but Takada keeps it at a distance.
Saguro Takada is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Takada closes the distance and clinches up with Filcic, looking for a takedown. Takada pushes Filcic against the cage but Filcic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saguro Takada. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Filcic feints and then cracks Takada's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Takada down.
Takada with a poor takedown

and Filcic counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Filcic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Filcic sitting in guard here, content to control.
Filcic must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Takada is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Filcic is aware though and is defending well.
Filcic pushing down on Takada's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Takada looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takada is trying to get back to full guard.

Filcic is trying to work for a kimura but Takada is defending well.
Filcic controlling the action here.
Takada might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Takada looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Takada wants to improve his position but Filcic is controlling well.
Takada is trying to maintain the position but Filcic is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filcic wants to take a breather but Takada is having none of it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Filcic slows the pace down in half guard.
Filcic prevents Takada from improving his position.
Takada is looking to control Filcic's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Takada avoid being mounted?

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Filcic cracks Takada with a good jab.
Takada shoots in and drives through. Filcic sprawls well.
Takada shoots for a takedown but Filcic saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Takada gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Filcic to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Filcic wants to control from the top but Takada keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filcic sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Takada's guard.

Takada looking for submissions off his back.
Filcic trying to pass the guard but Takada defending well.
Filcic wants to take a breather but Takada is having none of it.
Sandro Filcic has got the better of the ground game so far.
Filcic passes to full mount!
Takada regains half guard.
Filcic trying to control the action but Takada is working from the bottom.
Takada won't allow Filcic to pass to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filcic is trying to control the action in half guard but Takada is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Sandro Filcic hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Filcic dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Takada. That did some damage!
A decent looking body kick lands there for Filcic.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Filcic misses with a wild combination.
Filcic misses with a looping left.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Some wild striking there from Takada.
Takada with a poor takedown
and Filcic counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sandro Filcic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Filcic takes the fight into the clinch.
Takada looking for a takedown.
Filcic swings wildly with an uppercut but Takada uses good head movement to avoid it.
Takada has Filcic pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Filcic manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Filcic tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Takada's elbow.
Filcic blocks an elbow strike.
Filcic with a knee to the head.
Filcic misses with a knee to the head.
Takada makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Takada.
Filcic can't find room to land a body shot as Takada controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Filcic - that landed with a thud.
Filcic tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Filcic unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Takada tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saguro Takada. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head punch on the inside from Filcic fails to land.
Takada has Filcic pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Filcic manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Takada has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Filcic after a bit of a struggle.
Filcic connects with a knee to the head.
Filcic is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Filcic tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Filcic misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Takada tries for a takedown but Filcic manages to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filcic goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Takada is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Filcic is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Takada is defending well for now.
Filcic struggles to land a body shot inside as Takada controls his hands.
Filcic tries a body shot but Takada blocks it.
Filcic with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Filcic lands a body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Filcic lands a nice uppercut.
A short right from Takada on the inside.

Filcic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Filcic fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Takada avoids it really well and circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Takada is defended easily by Filcic.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Filcic.
Filcic blocks a jab.
Takada misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Filcic.
Takada shoots in but no luck this time.
Takada throws a leg kick but Filcic sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Filcic comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Takada with a lazy takedown attempt
and Filcic counters with a thumping low kick.
Filcic throws a series of punches but Takada avoids them all with ease.
Takada is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
No luck for Takada with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good exchange - Filcic coming out on top.
Filcic scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Takada is rocked!
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!
Takada changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Filcic tries to avoid it but Takada manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Filcic to the ground. Filcic escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Oh Takada is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
OH! Takada has been rocked by a huge right hand and is in deep trouble! Filcic smells blood and charges in for the finish! Filcic unloads a vicious overhand right and connects to the jaw of Takada sending him face first to the canvas! Unbelievable!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Sandro Filcic!