PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Akio Takada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lauri Lempi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takada comes to the cage accompanied by Metallica - All Nightmare Long. Akio Takada has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Takada
vs
Lempi

182 cm
23
192 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

168 cm
22
190 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
KO power

Good takedowns
Brawler
Tends to cut

Knock Out Artistry

Blitzkrieg Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Akio Takada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lauri Lempi!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Takada closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Takada is looking to take a break and control but Lempi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Takada is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lempi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Lempi gets back to half guard.
Takada is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Takada is trying to control the action in half guard but Lempi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Takada seems to be working for a kimura but Lempi defends the submission attempt.
Lempi regains full guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lempi keeping moving, preventing Takada from controlling successfully.

Takada drops back looking for a leg! Lempi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lempi manages to kick Takada off! Takada jumps back into Lempi's guard.

Lempi has his foot on Takada's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Takada works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takada thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Lempi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lempi 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.

Lempi had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Takada is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Lempi Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Takada's back instead.
A lull in the action here.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lempi is persistently looking for the submission but Takada is defending it well.
Lempi lands shots from the back.
Lempi is hanging on to Takada's back as he tries to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lempi looking to break Takada's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Takada remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Lempi will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Takada wriggles onto his back under a barage of strikes.
Takada gets back to half guard.
Takada wants to get back to full guard.
Lempi thows a huge punch but Takada dodges it nicely.

Lempi is trying to work for a kimura but Takada is defending well.
Lempi looks gassed!

Takada looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Takada is looking for a sweep. Lempi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Takada is working hard here to advance position.
Takada gets full guard.
Takada avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Lempi closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takada tries to bench press Lempi off him but Lempi keeps the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lempi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Takada is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Lempi off and has taken his back!

Takada is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Lempi is defending well though. Takada let's go of the attempt for now.
Will Takada go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Lempi tries to break free.
Takada will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Takada has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Takada is looking for the choke from the back position but Lempi is controlling his hands well.

Lempi fending off the submission attempt from Takada.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lempi turns into Takada and is now in his guard.
Lempi passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Lempi is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Takada knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Takada tries to improve position but can't.
Takada is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Lempi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Takada regains full guard. Nicely done.
Lempi advances position into side control!

Lempi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lauri Lempi will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Takada gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lempi advances to half guard.
Takada moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Lempi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lempi trying to control the position from guard on top but Takada is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Takada escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lempi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Takada is looking for a triangle but Lempi pushes his legs off easily.

Takada has his foot on Lempi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lempi works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lempi postures up in Takada's guard and throws a big left but Takada blocks it.
Lempi is looking to work some ground and pound but Takada has wrist control.

Lempi is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Takada is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Takada has escaped and now he's on top!

Lempi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Takada 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.

Lempi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Takada trying to control but Lempi is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Takada trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Lempi looking for a guillotine here but Takada defends easily.
Takada wants to pass the guard but Lempi is keeping the position.
Takada is pushing down on Lempi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Lempi is fighting to maintain full guard but Takada has managed to sneak the leg through.
Lempi is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Takada jumps into side control!

Takada is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lempi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Lempi manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Lempi throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Lempi looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takada works his way into side control.
Lempi manages to work his way to half guard, despite Takada's best efforts.
Lempi tries to get to full guard but Takada has control of the leg.
Lauri Lempi has got the better of the ground game so far.

Takada is looking for a kimura here.
Lempi missing with punches from the bottom.
Lempi is looking for a sweep. Takada is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Takada wants to work for an arm triangle but Lempi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Takada trying to control the action but Lempi is working from the bottom.

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.
Lempi manages to get to full guard.
Lempi wants to stand and escape but Takada is having none of it.

Takada avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Takada drops back looking for a leg! Lempi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lempi manages to kick Takada off! Takada jumps back into Lempi's guard.
Takada looking to pass the guard.
Takada trying to control but Lempi is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lauri Lempi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Takada's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Lempi looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Lempi trying to control the action but Takada is working from the bottom.
Lempi winds up and cracks Takada with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Takada trying to hold on to Lempi's head to control him but Lempi postures up.

Lempi is working for a kimura but Takada is defending it quite comfortably.
Lempi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Takada is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Takada is defending against the submission attempts here by Lempi.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takada is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lempi's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lempi's back!

Takada looking for the choke but no joy.

Lempi is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Takada is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Lempi is defending well though. Takada let's go of the attempt for now.
Lempi breaks Takada's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Akio Takada has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lempi slips nicely into half guard.
Lempi passes to full mount!

Lempi is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Takada has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Takada wants to control but Lempi is having none of it.

Lempi looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Takada regains half guard.
Lempi wants to pass the guard but Takada is defending well.
Lempi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takada works his way to full guard. Good work.
Lempi throws a big right hand that misses.
Takada wants to sweep but no luck.
Takada controls Lempi momentarily but Lempi frees himself.

Takada looking for a guillotine here but Lempi defends easily.
Lempi works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Lempi is looking for a kimura here.
Takada gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Takada has his foot on Lempi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lempi works his way back into a safe position though.
Lempi passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Lempi looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Takada prevents Lempi from improving position.
Takada manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Takada is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lempi defends it well.
Takada missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lempi tries to kick Takada off but Takada keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Lauri Lempi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Takada thows a huge punch but Lempi dodges it nicely.

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 Akio Takada.
Well Lempi has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Lauri Lempi!