PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Guru Majja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esko Takanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Majja's entrance music is Afroman - Because I Got High. A fine choice. 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.

Majja
vs
Takanen

182 cm
32
180 lbs
25 - 11 - 1

175 cm
37
179 lbs
40 - 19 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

TWGC Champion
World class MT
Good gas tank

Sex Panther! (160q recovery $149)
//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

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 25 - 11 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Guru Majja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 40 - 19 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Esko Takanen!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Josh West and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takanen defending well as Majja loads up on a big left hand.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Majja.
Majja scores with a head kick. Takanen tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Majja tries to move into range but Takanen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Majja misses with a low kick as Takanen jumps back.
Majja swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Majja lands a jab to the nose.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Takanen - that will leave a mark!
Takanen misses the jab.
Takanen blocks a head kick by Majja.
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!
Majja pivots, looking for a leg kick but Takanen is out of range and Majja settles back down.
Takanen slips a straight right by Majja.
Takanen throws a right hand that misses

and Majja counters by clinching up.

Takanen breaks from the clinch.
Takanen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nice cross by Takanen.
Takanen swings for the body but Majja moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takanen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Majja shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Takanen throws a body punch but Majja moves out of range.
Takanen misses with a hook
and Majja counters with a nice kick to the body.
Takanen misses with a looping left.
Majja checks a low kick from Takanen.
Takanen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Takanen is looking to score with low kicks.
Majja uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Takanen.
Majja is looking to score with low kicks.
Takanen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Majja looks to score with a jab to the body but Takanen is just out of range.
Majja avoids the body shot from Takanen.
Takanen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Majja.
Majja fakes the leg kick and cracks Takanen in the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A bone on bone clash there as Takanen blocks the leg kick.
Majja throws a shot to the body.
Takanen goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Takanen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Majja motions for Takanen to come forward. Majja throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Majja scores with a jab.
Majja scoring well with a low kick there.
Majja is looking to chop away at Takanen's legs.
Majja throws a lazy uppercut
and Takanen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Takanen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Takanen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Majja lands a head kick. Takanen smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Majja pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Takanen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Majja throws a low kick but Takanen moves out of range easily.
Nice body kick from Majja.
Takanen misses with an uppercut.
Takanen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Majja feints and then cracks Takanen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Takanen down.
Majja throws an overhand right that lands on Takanen's shoulder, as Takanen tries to avoid the shot.
Majja throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Majja scores with a hook to the body. Takanen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Majja slips a straight right by Takanen.
Majja misses with a wild combination.
Takanen cracks Majja with a right hand to the side of the head.
Takanen throws a shot from downtown. Majja moves away and avoids it.
Majja throws a front kick aimed at Takanen's knee but Takanen avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Majja scores with a jab to the body.
Takanen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Takanen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Majja.
Majja throws a low kick but Takanen avoids it.
Danga de danga de dang - Takanen scores with a four punch combination!
Takanen blocks a head kick by Majja.
Majja misses with a straight left.
Majja moves away from the strike by Takanen.
Majja just misses with a punch to the body.
Takanen throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Takanen throws a nice looking combination but Majja bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Takanen scores with a body shot.
Majja fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Takanen manages to avoid it.
Takanen scores with a leg kick.
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 Guru Majja will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Majja scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Majja scores with a shot to the body.
Majja thuds a left hand into Takanen's body.
Majja motions for Takanen to come forward. Majja throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Majja just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Takanen. That snapped Majja's head back.
Majja feints a jab promting Takanen to slip. Majja then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Takanen slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Majja tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Takanen is able to avoid easily.
Takanen connects with a jab.
Majja walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice inside leg kick there by Takanen. That's going to slow Majja down.
Takanen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Takanen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Majja on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takanen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Takanen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Majja scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Majja lands a lovely overhand right.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Majja, right into the meat.
Majja finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Majja blocks a leg kick.
Majja throws a body punch but Takanen moves out of range.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Majja, right into the meat.
Takanen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Majja moves out of range of the body kick from Takanen.
Takanen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Majja ducks right into an uppercut from Takanen.
Majja bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Majja. That's going to slow Takanen down.
Takanen misses with a straight right.
Majja throws a nice outside leg kick.
Majja tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Takanen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Majja moves out of range as Takanen strikes.
Takanen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Majja.
Takanen avoids the body shot from Majja.
Majja swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Majja tries a head kick but it misses.
Majja takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Guru Majja is winning the standup battle so far.
Majja misses the shot to the body.
Majja takes a swing at Takanen's ribcage but misses.
Majja takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Takanen takes a swing at Majja's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Majja lands a nice looking kick to the body. Takanen takes a step back to recover.
Majja looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Majja lands a lovely overhand right.
Majja connects with a leg kick. Takanen looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Majja's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Takanen connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Majja scrambles back to his feet.
Majja misses with a low kick.
Majja thows a body shot but no joy.
Takanen misses with a body shot.
Majja misses with a body shot.
Majja comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Majja lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Majja takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takanen looks to land a body kick but Majja moved away.
A head kick misses from Majja.
A looping hook to the body misses from Majja. Takanen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Takanen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Majja connects with a body shot that sends Takanen's belly button to the back.
Takanen throws a big shot that misses.
Takanen takes a swing at Majja's ribcage but misses.
Majja swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Majja slips under a jab from Takanen.
Takanen tries to bum rush Majja with a series of wild strikes but Majja uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Takanen is looking to land body kicks.
Takanen just misses with a punch to the body.
Takanen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Takanen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Guru Majja will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Majja throws a nice outside leg kick.
Takanen avoids the head kick by Majja.
Majja works over Takanen's head and body with a nice combination.
Majja throws a nice outside leg kick.
Majja throws a head kick that misses.
Takanen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Takanen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A head kick misses from Majja.
Majja walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Majja takes a swing at Takanen's ribcage but misses.
Takanen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Takanen swinging wildly here.
A good leg kick by Majja.
Good work by Takanen as he checks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Majja tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Majja misses with a few strikes there.
Majja throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Takanen stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Takanen throws the left hand but Majja avoids the punch easily.
Majja throws a solid leg kick but Takanen takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Majja.
Takanen's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Takanen duly obliges.
Majja cracks Takanen with a good jab.
Takanen misses with a combination
and Majja counters with a straight right hand.
Takanen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Takanen throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Majja is looking to score with low kicks.
Takanen misses the shot to the body.
Esko Takanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Majja throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Majja tries to clinch up.
Majja thuds a left hand into Takanen's body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takanen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Majja connects with a body shot.
Majja lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Majja with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Takanen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Majja is looking to wear down Takanen with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Takanen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Takanen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Takanen lands with a shot to the body.
Majja moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Good leg kick by Takanen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Takanen throws a series of strikes that have Majja backpedaling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Majja lands a jab to the head.
A punch lands to the side of Majja 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Takanen throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Majja counters with a slapping leg kick.
Takanen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Majja scores with a hook to the body. Takanen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A punch lands to the side of Majja 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Majja throws a nice outside leg kick.
Majja scores with a jab to the body.
Takanen moves out of range of the leg kick from Majja.
Majja lands a leg kick that knocks Takanen off balance momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
No joy there for Majja, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Majja chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Takanen can pounce on him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Majja uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Takanen.
Takanen tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Majja is able to avoid easily.
Majja jabs Takanen right on the nose. Takanen blinks but takes it well.
A head kick misses from Majja.
Majja tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Takanen throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Majja.
Majja cracks Takanen with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Majja misses with a low kick.
Takanen scores with a nice head shot.
Majja is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Takanen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Majja counters with a low kick, right behind Takanen 's knee.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Majja fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Takanen manages to avoid it.
Majja takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Majja thows a body shot but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Guru Majja.
Well Majja has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Guru Majja!
Guru Majja decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.