PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Karach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Tako (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Karach
vs
Tako

188 cm
18
249 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
20
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sergey Karach!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joe Tako!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karach shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tako but Tako pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tako tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Karach swivels and escapes.

Tako closes the distance and clinches.
Karach has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tako avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Karach tries to pull guard but Tako holds him up against the cage and eventually Karach drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergey Karach. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A frustrated look appears on Karach's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Tako has Karach pressed against the cage, preventing Karach from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Tako pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tako tries to close the distance and clinch but Karach swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Karach dives in and grabs Tako's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tako pushes down on Karach's head and hops out.

Tako gets a clinch.
Karach looking for a takedown.
Karach has had enough of the clinch but Tako keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karach tries to break the clinch but Tako is controlling the position.
Karach tries to pull guard but Tako won't allow it.
Tako tries for a takedown but Karach manages to get underhooks.
Karach wants to stall.
Karach is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Karach breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A head kick by Karach misses

and Tako holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Karach breaks from the clinch.
Tako takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Tako drives through and clinches with Karach against the cage.

Karach escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tako throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Karach throws a big counter combination but Tako scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tako changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Karach tries to avoid it but Tako manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Karach to the ground. Karach escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Karach tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Tako defends well and Karach ends up having to push Tako into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Karach closes the distance and pushes Tako back into the cage.
Karach blocks a body shot from Tako.
Tako tries to land knees in the clinch but Karach avoids the damage to the body.
Tako is looking to break free of the clinch but Karach has double underhooks.
Tako can't get the takedown.
Karach is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Tako to keep the fight standing.
Karach tries to pull guard but Tako holds him up against the cage and eventually Karach drops back down to his feet.
Karach is trying to pull guard but Tako turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Karach is breathing heavily.
Tako works on Karach's body with a couple of short punches.
Tako keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Karach's efforts to push away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tako's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tako is defended easily by Karach.
Karach wants to clinch.
Tako tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Tako misses with a head kick.

Tako moves into the clinch.
Karach is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Tako is defending well.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tako stuffs the takedown.
Karach swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Tako counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tako lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Karach circles away quickly and effectively.
Tako shoots in looking for a takedown. Karach tries to sprawl out of it but Tako keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Karach manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Karach shoots in but no luck this time.
Karach throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Karach falls off balance throwing a combination
and Tako counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tako goes for a double leg but Karach avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Karach continues to drive forward.
Tako misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Karach tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Tako manages to circle out of the way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Tako dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Tako closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Karach has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Tako after a bit of a struggle.

Karach breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Joe Tako seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tako.
No luck for Tako with that takedown attempt.
Karach shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tako tries to keep at a distance but Karach has taken the fight into the clinch.
Tako tries to stall but Karach uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Karach as Tako shoots in.
Sergey Karach has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Tako.
Karach tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tako sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Karach somewhat.
Karach tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tako manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tako looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Karach is fending him off so far but Tako persists. Nope, Karach circles away and we're back to standing.
Karach tried to score with a low kick but Tako checks it.
Karach has a takedown stuffed.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Karach tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Tako defends well and Karach ends up having to push Tako into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Tako shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Karach but Karach pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tako darts in and clinches Karach up against the cage.
Tako using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Karach takes a knee right on the jaw!
Karach wants to get back to striking at distance but Tako won't allow it.
Joe Tako seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Karach is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Karach is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Tako has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Tako manages to break the clinch.
Karach tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Tako defends well and Karach ends up having to push Tako into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Tako fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tako goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Tako plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Tako shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Karach but Karach pushes him off and we're back to square one.
As Tako backs away, Karach returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Tako shoots in but Karach avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Karach shoots in for a double leg but Tako sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Karach darts in and clinches Tako up against the cage.

Tako's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Karach could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Tako circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Karach rushes Tako and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tako jumps guard but Karach turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Karach tries to work over Tako's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tako fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tako has Karach pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Karach manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Tako stops a takedown attempt from Karach.

Tako manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Karach is looking to stand up but Tako won't let him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Karach pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tako is keeping the position for now.
Karach throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Tako showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Karach shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Tako counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Karach fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tako lands a knee to the body.
Tako wants to take the fight to the mat but Karach manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Tako taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Tako.
Karach is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tako pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergey Karach. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tako is trying to pull guard but Karach has him pressed against the cage.
Tako changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Karach fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Karach throws a body shot but no joy.
Karach moves in looking to clinch but Tako pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karach shoots in and drives through. Tako sprawls well.

Karach gets caught napping as Tako dives in and scores a takedown. Karach manages to retain guard.
Karach controls Tako momentarily but Tako frees himself.
Karach utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tako trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tako controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Karach throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tako trying to control but Karach is working from the bottom.
Tako passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Karach trying his best to control but Tako has mounted him.
Karach is squirming around, avoiding Tako's attempts to control the action.
Karach can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karach tries to lock up and control but Tako gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Tako controlling from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tako throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Tako thowing shots but they're missing.
Tako throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Karach because Tako loaded up on that one.
Tako sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Karach is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tako swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Karach is now in Tako's guard. A big mistake from Tako there, giving up the dominant position!
Tako not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Karach throwing strikes from guard but Tako blocks nicely.
Sergey Karach has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joe Tako is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Tako kicks Karach off and gets to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Tako comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tako 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight for Joe Tako!
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Joe Tako!
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Joe Tako!

Joe Tako wins by unanimous decision!