PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ansis Kaupens (ranked 266 p4p, 603 weight class) and Kazuki Takeda (ranked 34 p4p, 89 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kaupens
vs
Takeda

200 cm
27
190
17 - 5 - 1

185 cm
27
188
15 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

HELLBENT
Conviction

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 17 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Ansis Kaupens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazuki Takeda!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Glass and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takeda misses with a body shot.
A big right from Takeda misses.
A jab from Kaupens misses.
Kaupens throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Takeda counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kazuki Takeda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takeda waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kaupens.
Kaupens missing with a left hand there. Takeda was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kaupens looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kaupens walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Takeda throws a looping overhand right but Kaupens ducks down to avoid it.

Takeda gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kaupens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Takeda moves out of range as Kaupens strikes.
Kaupens throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Takeda looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Kaupens kicks Takeda off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takeda closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kaupens quickly recovers to half guard.

Kaupens makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Kaupens throws a body shot but no joy.
Takeda loads up on a big right hand but Kaupens slips the punch.
An attempted straight right counter from Kaupens misses the target.
Kaupens throws a left and a right that both miss
and Takeda counters with a straight right hand.
Takeda has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Kaupens is landing a low percentage of strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Takeda shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kaupens napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Kaupens tries to escape but Takeda is in control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaupens trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Takeda wants to control but Kaupens is keeping him busy.
Takeda working the ground and pound.
Kaupens is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Takeda lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Takeda postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Takeda landing a few strikes.
Takeda misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Kaupens pushes Takeda away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Takeda gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Takeda has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kaupens is not content to let Takeda control the position.
Takeda landing a few strikes.
Takeda lands an elbow.
Kaupens is trying to get back to his feet.
Takeda creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Kaupens sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaupens wants to get back to his feet but Takeda drags him back down.
Takeda tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Kaupens wants to get back to his feet but Takeda drags him back down.
Takeda scoring with punches from side control.
Kaupens tries to escape but Takeda is in control.

Takeda looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Takeda creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Kaupens sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Kaupens takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Takeda lands a nice forearm strike.
Takeda is chipping away with strikes.
Kaupens takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Kaupens wants to get back to his feet.
Takeda scoring with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Takeda.
Takeda is looking to take a break and control but Kaupens is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Takeda scoring with punches and elbows.
Kaupens is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Takeda has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Kaupens explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kaupens misses with a looping right.
Kaupens leaves Takeda with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Takeda swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kaupens is looking to counter punch.
Takeda walks into a stiff left hand from Kaupens.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Takeda with a poor takedown
and Kaupens counters with a nice uppercut.
Kaupens ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Takeda moves away.
Takeda jabs Kaupens to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Takeda connects with a looping right hand.
A big right from Takeda misses.
Kaupens takes a swing at Takeda's ribcage but misses.
Takeda has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Takeda feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Takeda lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Takeda stops Kaupens from standing up.
Takeda throwing strikes from guard but Kaupens blocks nicely.
Takeda is looking to work some ground and pound but Kaupens has wrist control.
Takeda's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Takeda trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaupens is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Takeda is controlling him.
Takeda trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kaupens wants to get back to his feet but Takeda is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Kaupens scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Takeda blocks a jab.
Takeda throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Takeda swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The fighters circling - Takeda throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A nice combination there by Kaupens.
Takeda lands a slapping body shot.
Takeda jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Takeda misses with a double jab
and Kaupens cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kaupens looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Kaupens's corner calls for a 1-2. Kaupens obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Takeda showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kaupens.
Takeda scores with a jab to the head.
Kaupens uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Takeda has time to react.
Takeda throws a sloppy body shot
and Kaupens counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kaupens misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeda scores with a body shot.
Kaupens throws a jab when Takeda was well out of range.
Takeda looks to score with a jab to the body but Kaupens is just out of range.
Kaupens scores with a one two! Takeda had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
A jab from Kaupens does it's job there.
Kaupens is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Takeda fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kaupens went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Takeda clobbers Kaupens with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Takeda lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaupens jabs Takeda right on the nose. Takeda blinks but takes it well.
Kaupens throws a jab but it's blocked by Takeda.
No joy there for Kaupens, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Takeda will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kaupens was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kaupens throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Takeda sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ansis Kaupens is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Takeda comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Takeda keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Takeda misses the shot to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Kaupens misses the target.
Takeda avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Takeda drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kaupens defends it well.
Takeda fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kaupens manages to avoid it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ansis Kaupens will probably get the nod.
That's time! Kaupens's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Takeda fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Takeda scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Takeda shoots in for a takedown but Kaupens shows good takedown defense.
Takeda bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kaupens's head.
Takeda throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kaupens counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Takeda swings for the body but Kaupens moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Kaupens on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kaupens really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kaupens punishes Takeda's body with a nice straight punch.
Takeda throws an overhand right that lands on Kaupens's shoulder, as Kaupens tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaupens throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kaupens lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Takeda backs up against the cage.
Takeda fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kaupens avoids it really well and circles away.
A quick step to the side and Kaupens tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaupens looks to land a left hand but Takeda moved out of range nicely.
Kaupens scores with a nice right hand.
Kaupens throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Takeda is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Takeda misses with a body shot.
Kaupens swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Takeda throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Kaupens swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Takeda.

Takeda gets the takedown into side control.

Kaupens bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takeda shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ansis Kaupens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazuki Takeda.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaupens will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Takeda takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kaupens just misses with a punch to the body.
Takeda throws the left hand but Kaupens avoids the punch easily.
Takeda on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Kaupens throws a right and a left that Takeda avoids nicely.
Kaupens misses the jab.
Takeda appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Takeda throws a lazy right hand but Kaupens sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kaupens keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaupens throws a jab when Takeda was well out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Takeda is defended easily by Kaupens.
Kaupens fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Takeda manages to avoid it.

Takeda moves into the clinch.
Kaupens is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kaupens wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Takeda has him pressed against the cage.
Takeda misses with a hook to the ribs.
Takeda has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kaupens after a bit of a struggle.

Kaupens pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Takeda cracks Kaupens with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Horrible takedown attempt by Takeda or perhaps it was just good defense by Kaupens, which made it look bad.
Kaupens swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaupens fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Takeda manages to avoid it.
Takeda looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Takeda fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kaupens manages to avoid it.
Takeda avoids the body shot from Kaupens.

Kaupens gets caught flat footed, as Takeda shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kaupens utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kaupens is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kaupens keeping moving, preventing Takeda from controlling successfully.

Kaupens manages to escape and get back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kaupens throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Takeda sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kaupens looks to throw the jab but Takeda is out of range.
Takeda looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ansis Kaupens showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kaupens 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ansis Kaupens!
Ansis Kaupens decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.