PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Sunderland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niku Taku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sunderland comes to the cage accompanied by Placebo - Running up that hill. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sunderland
vs
Taku

186 cm
28
182 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

183 cm
28
179 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Spartakus

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 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Sunderland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Niku Taku!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, David Schapiro and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sunderland moves into the clinch successfully.
Taku is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Sunderland is fighting off a takedown attempt but Taku is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Sunderland to the mat. Sunderland regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Taku trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Taku in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Taku is standing up over Sunderland. Sunderland looks to escape but Taku dives into side control.
Sunderland is trying to get back to his feet.
Sunderland avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Taku.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Taku stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Sunderland misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taku bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Taku working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Taku landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Sunderland tries to escape but Taku is in control.
Taku scoring with punches and elbows.
Sunderland wants to get back to his feet but Taku drags him back down.
Taku throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Sunderland is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Sunderland is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Taku is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taku wants to control but Sunderland is keeping him busy.
Sunderland is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Taku is controlling him well.
An elbow from Taku crashes against the mat.
Sunderland is working to avoid the ground and pound but Taku connects with a decent elbow.
Taku has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Taku has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sunderland is bucking up trying to escape but Taku cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Taku trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sunderland is bucking up trying to escape but Taku cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Taku content just to control the position here.
Sunderland wants to try and get back to his feet.

Taku working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Taku is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Taku fails to land the takedown.
Taku takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taku keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Taku fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sunderland manages to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sunderland keeps the fight on the outside.
Taku moves out of range as Sunderland throws a body kick.
Taku circles away from the clinch attempt
and Taku counters with a big head kick but Sunderland shrugs it off.
Sunderland throws a head kick that misses.
Sunderland throws a nice looking combination but Taku bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Taku tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Taku takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sunderland stalling the fight.
Sunderland misses with a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niku Taku dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sunderland tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sunderland keeps the fight on the outside.
Sunderland throws a sloppy head kick and Taku moves out of range easily.
Taku scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sunderland doesn't seem bothered though.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taku looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Taku looks to land a body kick but Sunderland moved away.
A head kick misses from Sunderland.
Sunderland throws a combination. Taku tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Niku Taku has been cut.

Taku scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sunderland is staying active underneath Taku, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Taku winds up and cracks Sunderland with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sunderland avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Taku.
Taku looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Taku is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sunderland sees it coming and defends easily.
Niku Taku has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taku trying to pass the guard but Sunderland defending well.
Sunderland is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at KPJ's Gym , so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Taku is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Taku is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sunderland is just riding it out for now. Taku eventually gives up the hold.
Taku passes to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taku lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Taku controlling the position easily from mount.
Taku fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Sunderland wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Taku.
Taku controlling the position easily from mount.
Sunderland takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sunderland wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Taku is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Sunderland can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Taku scoring with strikes but Sunderland is staying in there.
Taku is trying to control here but Sunderland has managed to regain half guard.
Taku lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Taku throwing shots but Sunderland is blocking nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sunderland is trying to stand up here but Taku is controlling him well.

Taku is trying to work for a kimura but Sunderland is defending well.
Taku wants to free his trapped foot but Sunderland is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taku is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Taku is looking to take a break and control but Sunderland is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sunderland keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sunderland tries to kick Taku off but Taku keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taku wants to stand up but Sunderland has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Taku wants to control but Sunderland is keeping him busy.
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 the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Taku fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Taku fails with a takedown attempt.
Taku darts in trying to clinch
and Sunderland counters with a thumping low kick.
Sunderland pulls out of a head kick attempt.
James Sunderland seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sunderland pushes Taku up against the cage in a clinch.

Sunderland escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Sunderland gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Taku breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sunderland lands with a kick to the temple. Taku shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Sunderland is looking to clinch but Taku is avoiding it.
Sunderland throws a jab when Taku was well out of range.
Sunderland pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sunderland scores with the left hand. Taku knows he should have avoided that one.
Sunderland rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Taku moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Sunderland crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Taku - the referee stops the clock and Sunderland gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Taku. Sunderland manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Taku blocks a head kick by Sunderland.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taku shoots for a double leg takedown but Sunderland sprawls well. He's pushed Taku's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
James Sunderland has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Niku Taku.
Sunderland wants to clinch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sunderland enables Taku to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sunderland manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Taku trying to control but Sunderland is working from the bottom.
Sunderland wants to stand and escape but Taku is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taku trying to control the position from guard on top but Sunderland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Niku Taku wasn't active enough on the ground.
A head kick misses from Sunderland.

Sunderland closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sunderland misses with some punches.
Taku tries for a takedown. No joy.
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!
Sunderland swings wildly with an uppercut but Taku uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taku drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sunderland pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sunderland tries a head kick but it misses.
Taku misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Sunderland.
Sunderland looks for the body kick but Taku saw that one coming.
Sunderland throws a push kick but Taku slaps the foot to one side.
Both fighters circling a little - Sunderland finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Taku throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Horrible takedown attempt by Taku or perhaps it was just good defense by Sunderland, which made it look bad.
Sunderland tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taku swats him away and circles back towards the center.
James Sunderland has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sunderland tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sunderland buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Niku Taku is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sunderland stuns Taku with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sunderland stuffs the takedown.
Sunderland lands a head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head kick misses from Sunderland.
Sunderland tries to clinch up.
James Sunderland is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Taku clinches with his opponent.
Sunderland misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Taku has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sunderland avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sunderland lands with a short shot to the head.
Taku blocks an elbow strike.
Sunderland throws a punch but it's blocked by Taku.
Sunderland lands a hook to the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Taku gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Sunderland throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Niku Taku is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Sunderland is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Sunderland 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29

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