PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zorba The Greek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niku Taku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

The Greek
vs
Taku

183 cm
35
178 lbs
21 - 20 - 0

183 cm
26
179 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

HGH Nutrients Q160-Q158

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

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 21 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zorba The Greek!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Niku Taku!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taku ducks under a wild hook from The Greek.
A combination from The Greek does no damage.
Taku slips under a jab.
Taku looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? The Greek is fending him off so far but Taku persists. Nope, The Greek circles away and we're back to standing.
Taku moves away from the strike by The Greek.
Taku fails to land with a series of punches.
The Greek swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Taku tries to close the distance and clinch but The Greek swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The Greek has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
The Greek falls off balance throwing a combination

and Taku counters by moving into the clinch.
The Greek can't break the clinch.
The Greek wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Taku has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but The Greek regains guard immediately.
Taku stays in close to The Greek's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taku wants to control from the top but The Greek keeps moving.
Taku looking to pass the guard.
Taku throwing strikes but missing.
Taku being controlled here momentarily.
Taku wants to pass the guard but The Greek is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Niku Taku.
Taku fails with a takedown attempt.

Taku gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The Greek prevents a takedown attempt there.
Zorba The Greek has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Niku Taku.

Taku breaks from the clinch.
Taku feints and then cracks The Greek's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow The Greek down.
The Greek misses with a wild combination.
The Greek lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Taku circles away quickly and effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taku shoots for a takedown but The Greek saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The Greek fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The Greek throws a right and a left that Taku avoids nicely.
Taku is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The Greek fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The Greek avoids the body shot from Taku.
Taku shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts The Greek as he jumps to the side.
Taku throws a body kick that misses.
The Greek tries to bum rush Taku with a series of wild strikes but Taku uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Taku takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

It looks like Niku Taku has been cut.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taku looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Crunch! Taku slams his shin into The Greek's torso.
Taku showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from The Greek.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for The Greek, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taku keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from The Greek.
Zorba The Greek seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The Greek slips a jab and a cross from Taku.
The Greek looks to land a combination but Taku avoids it well.
Taku fails with a takedown attempt.
No joy there for The Greek, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Taku has taken the fight to the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Taku breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Niku Taku will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Niku Taku's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Taku closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming The Greek to the mat! The Greek manages to get full guard.
The Greek keeping moving, preventing Taku from controlling successfully.
Taku pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. The Greek is keeping the position for now.
Taku is looking to work some ground and pound but The Greek has wrist control.
Taku seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Taku wants to control from the top but The Greek keeps moving.
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.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Niku Taku wasn't active enough on the ground.
The Greek fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by The Greek.
Taku shoots in for a takedown but The Greek shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The Greek misses with the combination.
Zorba The Greek is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Taku shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Taku uses his free foot to push down on The Greek's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for The Greek.
Taku takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taku throwing strikes here but The Greek is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Taku can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as The Greek is looking to escape.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taku throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Taku with good strikes from the mount here!
Taku controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taku can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as The Greek is looking to escape.
The Greek takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Taku looking to control but The Greek is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taku tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Taku avoids the attempt from The Greek to control.
Taku can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as The Greek is looking to escape.
The Greek tries to control Taku's body but Taku pushes him off. The Greek squirms to his side and now Taku has his back!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The Greek staying busy and making it hard for Taku to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niku Taku showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Niku Taku's cut.
That's time! The Greek's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

The Greek lands with a nice combination. Taku backs away looking to recover.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by The Greek!
A combination from The Greek does no damage.

The Greek gets caught napping as Taku dives in and scores a takedown. The Greek manages to retain guard.
Niku Taku has got the better of the ground game so far.
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!
Taku wants to control from the top but The Greek keeps moving.
Taku is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Taku tries to free his leg and advance position but The Greek is retaining full guard.
The Greek utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Taku trying to control the position from guard on top but The Greek is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Niku Taku was stalling too much, according to the referee.
The Greek scores with a crisp jab that stopped Taku in his tracks.
The Greek throws a series of punches but Taku moves out of range.
The Greek rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Taku moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Taku shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and The Greek counters with a three punch combo that has Taku backing up. Taku nods at The Greek to acknowledge the strikes.

That has opened up Niku Taku's cut even more.
The Greek throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Taku.
Taku throws a head kick that misses.

Taku fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. The Greek sprawls well initially but Taku persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taku content to control rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taku throwing shots but The Greek is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taku is looking for a kimura here.
The Greek wants to control but Taku is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The Greek wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Greek is not content to let Taku control the position.

Taku is working for a submission of some sort.
The Greek gets back to full guard.
The Greek trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taku being controlled here momentarily.
Taku stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. The Greek swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zorba The Greek has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taku controlling from the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Zorba The Greek wasn't doing enough on the ground.
The Greek misses with a few strikes there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zorba The Greek showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Taku has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Niku Taku!