PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Henrik Johnsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ura Takekaze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henrik Johnsen has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Johnsen
vs
Takekaze

210 cm
20
265 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

185 cm
20
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Henrik Johnsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ura Takekaze!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnsen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Johnsen throws a right hand that Takekaze ducks under and follows up with a left that Takekaze also avoids with ease.
Johnsen misses with a few strikes there.
Takekaze throws a looping overhand right but Johnsen ducks down to avoid it.
Johnsen has been working on his boxing with his coaches at CT + BJJ & Wrestling & Boxing & MT SPARRING GYM in the buildup to the fight.

Johnsen tries to sprawl but Takekaze drives through with a takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Johnsen is looking for a sweep. Takekaze is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnsen has hold of Takekaze's hands but Takekaze slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Johnsen is not content to let Takekaze control the position.
Takekaze working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Takekaze really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Johnsen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Takekaze keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Takekaze's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takekaze stalling away here and it's allowed Johnsen to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Takekaze accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Takekaze avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Johnsen is breathing heavily.
Takekaze's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Takekaze wants to pass the guard but Johnsen is keeping the position.
Takekaze won't allow Johnsen to sweep him here.

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.
Takekaze working some strikes from top position.
Takekaze pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnsen is keeping the position for now.
Takekaze makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Takekaze working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Johnsen's head.
Takekaze content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Takekaze is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Johnsen wants to sweep here but Takekaze controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takekaze's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Takekaze shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Johnsen is trying to defend but Takekaze finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Takekaze working Johnsen over with strikes.
Takekaze is pressing down on Johnsen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Johnsen is holding on for now.
Takekaze is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Takekaze is thwarting Johnsen's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnsen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Takekaze stalling away here and it's allowed Johnsen to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Takekaze lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Johnsen keeping full guard, as Takekaze tries to pass.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Takekaze has eaten all the pies!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Takekaze connects with a couple of short punches.
Takekaze keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Johnsen's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ura Takekaze dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Takekaze manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Johnsen on his heels. He'll look to pass Johnsen's guard now, I'm sure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takekaze sitting in guard here, content to control.
Johnsen working a defensive guard here.
Takekaze must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Johnsen is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Takekaze is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Johnsen keeping full guard, as Takekaze tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takekaze is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Takekaze makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takekaze slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Takekaze is continuing to stall.
Johnsen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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

Takekaze scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Takekaze is looking to take a break and control but Johnsen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ura Takekaze has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takekaze controlling the position.
Takekaze scoring with punches from side control.
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.
Takekaze works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Takekaze remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
More stalling from Takekaze.
Takekaze working the head and body with strikes.
The referee asks Takekaze politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Takekaze prefers to stall for the moment though.
Takekaze with more of the same as he continues to hold on.
Takekaze working the head with strikes.

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.
Takekaze working the ground and pound from side control.
Takekaze taking a breather here.
Takekaze creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Takekaze is working Johnsen over with some ground and pound from side control.
Takekaze tries to advance to mount but can't.
Takekaze scoring with punches from side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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

Ura Takekaze showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Johnsen misses with a two punch combination.
Takekaze throws a lazy right hand but Johnsen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Johnsen scores with a head kick. Takekaze tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

It looks like Ura Takekaze has been cut.
Takekaze misses with an uppercut
enabling Johnsen to counter with a crisp jab.
A shot to the liver by Takekaze. Beautiful body shot.

Johnsen gets caught napping as Takekaze dives in and scores a takedown. Johnsen manages to retain guard.
Takekaze works over Johnsen with some ground and pound from guard.
Takekaze 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.
Takekaze keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Johnsen's head.
Takekaze is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takekaze is in close to Johnsen's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Takekaze 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.
Johnsen keeping full guard, as Takekaze tries to pass.
Takekaze content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Takekaze controlling from the top position.
Takekaze postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Takekaze pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnsen is keeping the position for now.
Johnsen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Takekaze's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Johnsen trying to keep a closed guard but Takekaze is proving a slippery customer.
Takekaze scoring with some ground and pound.
Takekaze 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takekaze works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Takekaze seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Takekaze slows the pace down in half guard.
The adventures of Takekaze the control monster continue. Boring.
Takekaze scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Takekaze is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Johnsen reverses the position - he's now on top in Takekaze's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takekaze looking for a sweep. Not yet Takekaze, not yet.
Johnsen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Takekaze's guard.
Takekaze wants to sweep but no luck.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Takekaze looking to control.
Takekaze wants to sweep here but Johnsen controlling him for the moment.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Henrik Johnsen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ura Takekaze is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ura Takekaze comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Takekaze winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ura Takekaze!