PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marcel Dikoume (ranked 6578 p4p, 595 weight class) and Saku Takashi (ranked 4029 p4p, 442 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Dikoume
vs
Takashi

184 cm
23
184 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

189 cm
25
195 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Marcel Dikoume!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Saku Takashi!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Colin Fotheringham and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dikoume keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dikoume half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Takashi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Dikoume is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Takashi defends well.
Dikoume is trying to control the position but Takashi postures up.
Takashi is stalling in the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dikoume looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Takashi content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takashi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
It looks like Takashi might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Let's hope that Takashi has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Takashi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dikoume. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Takashi.
Dikoume is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Takashi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Dikoume is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

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

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Takashi looking to score a takedown here. Dikoume is defending well but Takashi drives through and ends up in Dikoume's guard.

Dikoume is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Takashi is aware though and is defending well.
Takashi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Takashi postures up in Dikoume's guard and throws a big left but Dikoume blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Dikoume looking for a guillotine here but Takashi defends easily.
Dikoume looking to hit a scissor sweep but Takashi is one step ahead there.
Takashi content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takashi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dikoume is keeping the position for now.

Dikoume is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Takashi is aware though and is defending well.
Takashi forces his way into half guard.
Dikoume wants to control but Takashi is keeping busy.
Dikoume tries to roll over but Takashi keeps him under control.
Takashi is pressing down on Dikoume's thigh, looking to free his foot. Dikoume is holding on for now.
Dikoume is looking for a sweep. Takashi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Takashi sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dikoume on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Dikoume tries to roll over but Takashi keeps him under control.

Dikoume looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Takashi content to control rather than advance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Dikoume looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saku Takashi dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Takashi fails with a takedown attempt.
Dikoume feinted with a counter takedown.

Takashi dives in and scores a takedown into Dikoume's guard.
Takashi slips nicely into half guard.

Dikoume is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Takashi pulls his head out easily.
Still in half guard, Takashi seems content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dikoume tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Takashi has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Dikoume tries to lock up and control but Takashi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takashi content just to control the position here.
Dikoume working to try and regain half guard.
Takashi content just to control the position here.
Dikoume is working to get back to half guard.
Takashi looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dikoume tries to lock up and control but Takashi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Dikoume is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Takashi is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Dikoume is wriggling around trying to escape.
Takashi controlling from mount.
Takashi's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Takashi prevents Dikoume from getting the reversal.
Dikoume wants to hold on but Takashi pushes him away.
Dikoume is in all sorts of trouble here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Takashi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dikoume keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
We've been informed that Takashi has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Takashi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
More stalling from Takashi.
Takashi is continuing to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The adventures of Takashi the control monster continue. Boring.
Dikoume is looking to improve his position but Takashi isn't that keen on the idea.
Dikoume bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Takashi is pulling down on Dikoume's head. It's preventing any offense from Dikoume, at least for the moment.
Dikoume looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saku Takashi 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!

Takashi has Dikoume up against the cage in a clinch.

Takashi turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Takashi manages to end up in side control.
Dikoume manages to get back to half guard.
Takashi is thwarting Dikoume's attempts to control the position.
Dikoume wants to control the action here but instead Takashi manages to pass to full mount!
Takashi controlling from mount.
Dikoume keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takashi content just to control the position here.
Dikoume is looking to improve his position but Takashi isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dikoume is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Takashi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Dikoume working to try and regain half guard.
Takashi looking to control and managing it successfully.
Takashi lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Saku Takashi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Takashi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Dikoume bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Takashi keeping moving, preventing Dikoume from controlling successfully.

Dikoume drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Takashi dives on top into guard.

Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takashi 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.
Takashi passes Dikoume's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Dikoume trying to control from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Takashi seems content to control.
Takashi wants to free his trapped foot but Dikoume is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Takashi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takashi prevents Dikoume from improving his position.
Takashi sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Dikoume is looking to improve his position.
Takashi stalling.
Dikoume has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Takashi is working away from the top position though.

Dikoume looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Takashi content to control rather than advance.

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

Dikoume looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Takashi has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Takashi looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dikoume is looking to get to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saku Takashi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Takashi 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 James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saku Takashi!