PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Esko Takanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Slopey Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Takanen might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Tell A Bitch. Smith is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Jawga Boyz - Rollin Like A Redneck. This should be a great matchup!

Takanen
vs
Smith

175 cm
39
170 lbs
43 - 20 - 2

184 cm
34
171 lbs
30 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

Hellbent
Bad Man Clothing

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 43 - 20 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Esko Takanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Slopey Smith!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith looks to land a left hand but Takanen moved out of range nicely.
Smith scores with a kick to the body.
Smith stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Takanen.
Smith throws a leg kick but Takanen sees it coming and moves out of range.
Takanen throws out a leg kick but Smith moves out of range and Takanen only half commits.
Smith connects with a jab.
Smith throws a good cross that connects.
A punch lands to the side of Takanen 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Smith gets the takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Smith tries to score with some ground and pound. Takanen controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Takanen is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takanen defending against the ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith working away.
Smith lands an elbow.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Takanen keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Takanen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Takanen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Takanen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
An elbow from Smith crashes against the mat.
Smith throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Smith throws an elbow but Takanen slips to the side and avoids it well.
Smith with the ground and pound but Takanen regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Smith working the head and body with strikes.
Smith missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Takanen's head.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Takanen is defending well.

Smith is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Smith throwing shots but Takanen is blocking nicely.
Smith thows a huge punch but Takanen dodges it nicely.
Smith wants to pass to mount but Takanen is defending the position.
Takanen gets full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takanen keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Takanen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Takanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Takanen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takanen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Takanen advances to half guard.
Smith tries to get to full guard but Takanen has control of the leg.
Smith keeps trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Takanen is working away from the top position though.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.
Takanen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Smith wants to improve his position but Takanen is controlling well.
Takanen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
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 because Esko Takanen just wasn't active enough.
Smith misses with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Slopey Smith dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Takanen looks to land a body kick but Smith moved away.
Takanen throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.
Takanen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Takanen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Smith.
Takanen catches Smith with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Takanen moves away.
Takanen throws a low kick but Smith moves out of range easily.
Smith smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Takanen slips under a jab from Smith.
Takanen drops his hands momentarily and Smith takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A jab from Smith does it's job there.
We've been told by Takanen's head coaches at Green Line that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Takanen connects with a crisp jab.
Takanen defending well as Smith loads up on a big left hand.
Takanen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Smith sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Smith misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws a jab when Takanen was well out of range.
Takanen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Smith moves out of range as Takanen throws a body kick.
Takanen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Takanen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Smith scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Takanen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smith.
Smith misses with a body shot.
Takanen cracks the inside of Smith's front leg.
Smith misses the shot to the body.
Smith checks the leg kick.
Takanen throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Takanen.
Smith has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Takanen throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Takanen connects with a crisp jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Takanen.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Takanen is fending him off so far but Smith persists. Nope, Takanen circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Smith lands with a good body shot.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Esko Takanen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Takanen shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Takanen moves out of range of the strikes.
Takanen throws a solid leg kick but Smith takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Takanen.
Takanen scores with a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Takanen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Takanen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smith's guard.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Takanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Takanen puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Takanen stalling.
Smith has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Takanen is working away from the top position though.
Smith tries to roll over but Takanen keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takanen controlling the pace.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Smith keeping control of the position.
Smith has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Takanen is working away from the top position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

We're going to have a standup here because Esko Takanen wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Takanen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Takanen lands a nice looking body kick.
Smith throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esko Takanen dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Takanen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Takanen cracks Smith with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Smith cracks Takanen with an open hand slap.
Takanen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Takanen defending well as Smith loads up on a big left hand.
Takanen misses with a head kick.
Slopey Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Donk. Smith catches Takanen right on the button with a cross.
Takanen has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Smith.
Smith's corner calls for a 1-2. Smith obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Smith throws a nice inside leg kick.
Takanen throws a push kick but Smith slaps the foot to one side.
Smith tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Takanen is able to avoid easily.
Takanen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Takanen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries to land a front kick but Takanen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A slapping leg kick lands for Takanen.
Smith connects with a body shot.
Smith does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A big left from Smith misses.
Smith connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Smith throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Smith misses with a shot to the body
and Takanen counters with a solid body kick.
Smith throws a body kick that misses.
Smith ducks right into an uppercut from Takanen.
Smith looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Smith looks to land a combination but Takanen avoids it well.
A swing and a miss from Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Takanen avoids the body shot from Smith.
Takanen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
Takanen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Smith checks the leg kick nicely there.
Smith finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Slopey Smith seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Takanen is out of range.
Smith looks to land a left hand but Takanen moved out of range nicely.
Takanen misses with a body kick.
Takanen misses with a low kick.
Danga de danga de dang - Smith scores with a four punch combination!
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Takanen is out of range.
Takanen getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Smith scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Smith looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Smith passes to full mount!
Smith cracks Takanen with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Takanen manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Takanen is trying to get back to full guard.
Smith lands strikes from half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Smith is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Takanen has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Takanen manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Smith keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Takanen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith with a jab.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Takanen.
Takanen lands a head kick. Smith smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Smith lands with a good body shot.
Smith throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Takanen counters with a good low kick that Smith was not able to check.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Takanen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Smith checks the leg kick nicely there.
Takanen misses with a double jab

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Slopey Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smith 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Slopey Smith!
After the fight, Slopey Smith was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.