PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Saguro Takada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ken Crawford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Crawford has chosen Henry Rollins Band "Your number is one" as his entrance music. Saguro Takada could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ken Crawford's chin.

Takada
vs
Crawford

165 cm
23
149 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

164 cm
22
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Saguro Takada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ken Crawford!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Jonathan Paton and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Crawford clinches.
Crawford drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Takada gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Come on Crawford - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Crawford drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Takada is working Crawford over against the cage.

Takada breaks from the clinch.
Crawford catches Takada with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Crawford closes the distance and clinches.

Takada breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Crawford avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Takada throws a quick inside leg kick.

Crawford looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Crawford is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Takada is just riding it out for now. Crawford eventually gives up the hold.
Takada regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takada is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Takada working a defensive guard here.
Takada striking off his back but it's not causing Crawford any problems.
Takada manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Crawford manages to get himself to full guard.
Crawford wants to sweep here but Takada controlling him for the moment.
Takada wants to pass the guard but Crawford is keeping the position.
Takada wants to control from the top but Crawford keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Takada stopping the sweep attempt from Crawford.

Crawford throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Takada pushes down on Crawford's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Takada missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Crawford is trying to get back to full guard.
Takada working over Crawford with some ground and pound. Crawford looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Takada lands a nice short elbow.
Well, if Takada is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Crawford is looking to improve his position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Takada connects with a nice short shot to Crawford's temple.
Takada prevents Crawford from improving his position.
Takada controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takada has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Crawford wants to get back to his feet.
Crawford is refusing to be controlled, as Takada sits in half guard.
Takada with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saguro Takada dominated that round.
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.

Danga de danga de dang - Takada scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Ken Crawford has been cut.
Takada feints and then cracks Crawford's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Crawford down.
Takada will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Takada tries to work over Crawford's front leg with a kick but Crawford checks it.
Takada throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Takada tries a head kick but it misses.

Takada gets a clinch.
Crawford tries to score a body lock takedown but Takada shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Crawford takes a shot to the head.
Takada lands a nice uppercut.
Takada tries to score a body lock takedown but Crawford shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Takada breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takada takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Takada throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Takada is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Takada looks to score with a jab to the body but Crawford is just out of range.
Takada misses with a few strikes there.

Crawford shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Takada wants to improve his position but Crawford is controlling well.

Crawford is looking for a kimura but Takada is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Crawford to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crawford is looking to pass Takada's guard but actually Takada recovers to full guard.
Crawford tries to free his leg and advance position but Takada is retaining full guard.
Crawford is breathing heavily.
Crawford preventing the sweep.
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.
Takada sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Crawford defending well though.
Takada landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Crawford is looking to get back to is feet but Takada passes into side control.
Crawford is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Takada's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Crawford wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford taking some punishment here, with Takada in his half guard.
Takada trying to control the action but Crawford is working from the bottom.
Takada trying to control the pace.
Takada wants to control but Crawford is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Crawford looks like he's trying to stand up.
Crawford taking some punishment here, with Takada in his half guard.
Crawford wants to improve his position but Takada is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Takada closes the distance looking to clinch

so Crawford counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Takada looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Crawford distracts Takada with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Takada is trying to control the position but Crawford postures up.
Takada is pulling down on Crawford's head to control his posture.
Crawford trying to control but Takada is working from the bottom.

Takada is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Crawford tries to free his leg and advance position but Takada is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saguro Takada dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ken Crawford's cut.
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!

Takada pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Crawford shoots in but Takada avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Crawford blocks a head kick by Takada.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Takada.
Saguro Takada seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takada looks to clinch

and Crawford counters with a shoot takedown. Takada fights it but they end up in guard.
Takada seems keen to control Crawford's posture.
Takada is trying to keep Crawford in close.
Crawford takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Takada is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ken Crawford has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford wanted to stand there but Takada had control of the position.
Takada controlling Crawford's posture.
Takada is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Takada is trying to keep Crawford in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Takada tries to clinch up.
Takada cracks Crawford with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takada connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Takada connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Takada feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Crawford's calf.
Takada throws a head kick that half lands.
Takada thows a body shot but no joy.
Takada throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takada is looking to clinch.
Takada misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Takada lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Takada.
Takada lands a jab to the nose.
Takada throws a series of punches but Crawford moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takada is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Crawford avoids a punch combination nicely.
Crawford will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Some wild striking there from Takada.
Takada fails with a takedown attempt.
Takada fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Takada tries to clinch up but Crawford circles away and keeps his distance.
Crawford circles away from the clinch attempt.
Takada will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Takada misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Saguro Takada is winning the standup battle so far.
Takada doesn't manage to clinch there - Crawford circles away.
Crawford shoots in looking for a takedown. Takada tries to sprawl out of it but Crawford keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Takada manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Saguro Takada has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ken Crawford.
Takada swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ken Crawford has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Takada tries to close the distance and clinch up but Crawford swats him away and circles back towards the center.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saguro Takada showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Takada, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight for Saguro Takada!
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight for Saguro Takada!
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight for Saguro Takada!

Saguro Takada wins by unanimous decision!