PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mehmet Muhammad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bo Taka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Muhammad
vs
Taka

188 cm
26
185 lbs
6 - 2 - 1

187 cm
26
189 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 6 - 2 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Mehmet Muhammad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bo Taka!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Winston Alpacca and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taka throws the left hand but Muhammad avoids the punch easily.
Taka thows a left - swing and a miss!
Taka throws an overhand right that lands on Muhammad's shoulder, as Muhammad tries to avoid the shot.
Taka missing with a left hand there. Muhammad was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
We've been hearing reports that Muhammad has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Taka throws a jab but it's blocked by Muhammad.
Muhammad throws a body punch but Taka moves out of range.
Taka lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

It looks like Mehmet Muhammad has been cut.
Muhammad moves away from the strike by Taka.
Muhammad throws a hook but Taka avoids it easily.
Good shot there by Muhammad.
Taka takes one on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taka fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Taka sizes up Muhammad with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Taka slips under a jab from Muhammad.
Bo Taka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Taka.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Muhammad scores with a jab. Taka acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taka digs a good body shot into Muhammad's ribs.
Taka throws a nice looking combination but Muhammad bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Muhammad tries to counter with a takedown but Taka is quick to defend against it.
Nice shot by Taka.
Taka throws a big shot that misses.
Muhammad throws an overhand right that lands on Taka's shoulder, as Taka tries to avoid the shot.
Muhammad throws a good cross that connects.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Taka.

Muhammad looking to score a takedown here. Taka is defending well but Muhammad drives through and ends up in Taka's guard.
Muhammad is standing up over Taka. Taka looks to escape but Muhammad dives into side control.
Muhammad is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Muhammad thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Taka really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Muhammad. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taka is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Muhammad looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Muhammad working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muhammad working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Muhammad looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Taka is letting Muhammad control him for a moment.
Taka pushes Muhammad away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Muhammad gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Muhammad is trying to get an arm triangle but Taka is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Muhammad wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Taka, who protects the arm well.

Muhammad looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Muhammad is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Taka is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Muhammad is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Taka has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mehmet Muhammad will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mehmet Muhammad's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Taka misses with an uppercut. Muhammad saw that one coming.
Taka keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Taka swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Muhammad.

Taka gets caught flat footed, as Muhammad shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Muhammad accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Muhammad controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Taka wants to get back to his feet but Muhammad is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Taka wants to get back to his feet but Muhammad passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Muhammad perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Muhammad is looking to advance position but Taka won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muhammad is controlling the pace.
Muhammad is pressing down on Taka's thigh, looking to free his foot. Taka is holding on for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Muhammad connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Muhammad fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taka manages to avoid it.
Taka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bo Taka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Muhammad throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Muhammad uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Taka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muhammad throws a hook to the side of Taka's head but Taka sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Taka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Muhammad feinted with a counter takedown.
Taka swings for the body but Muhammad moves out of range.
Muhammad jabs at Taka's body.
Taka pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Muhammad back to the cage. Taka follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Taka drops his hands momentarily and Muhammad takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Muhammad dives in and grabs Taka's left leg, looking for a takedown. Taka pushes down on Muhammad's head and hops out.
Taka throws a big shot that misses.
Taka misses the jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taka moves out of range of the strikes.
Taka throws a poor cross that misses

and Muhammad counters with a single leg into guard. Taka didn't expect that.
Taka is looking to stand back up but Muhammad counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Taka.
Muhammad is trying to control the action in half guard but Taka is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Muhammad is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Taka is just riding it out for now. Muhammad eventually gives up the hold.
Muhammad slows the pace down in half guard.

Muhammad is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Muhammad is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Taka wants to get back to his feet.

Muhammad seems to be looking for submissions.
Muhammad controlling the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mehmet Muhammad dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mehmet Muhammad's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Muhammad defending well as Taka loads up on a big left hand.
Muhammad changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Bo Taka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Muhammad staying out of range there.
Muhammad feinted with a counter takedown.
Taka bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Muhammad's head backwards.
Muhammad misses with a takedown attempt - Taka sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Taka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Muhammad moves away.
Muhammad swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Taka counters with a stiff right hand.
Muhammad misses with a hook. Taka ducked under it nicely.
Taka tries to land a leg kick but Muhammad saw it coming and moves away.
Taka misses with a straight right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taka throws the left hand but Muhammad avoids the punch easily.
Taka scores with a jab to the jaw.
Taka lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Muhammad is rocked!
Muhammad blocks the body kick.
Muhammad feinted with a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Muhammad misses.
Taka misses the shot to the body.
Taka throws a series of punches but Muhammad moves out of range.
Muhammad keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Taka misses with an uppercut

and Muhammad counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Taka!

Muhammad thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Muhammad moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Taka can do anything to dispel that myth.

Muhammad tries for a kimura but Taka is defending well.
Mehmet Muhammad is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taka pushes Muhammad away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Muhammad gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Muhammad controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taka tries to escape but Muhammad is in control.
Bo Taka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Muhammad is staying tight to Taka's torso, preventing him from escaping.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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.
Taka misses with a looping left.
Muhammad cracks a nice hook into Taka's ribs.
Taka pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Taka throws a lazy head kick

and Muhammad counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Taka tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Muhammad manages to move to mount!
Muhammad controlling from mount.
Mehmet Muhammad overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bo Taka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Muhammad has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mehmet Muhammad!
After winning the bout, Mehmet Muhammad thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.