PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yoshi Takano (ranked 3214 p4p, 2155 weight class) and Mfer Phol (ranked 107 p4p, 105 weight class). The key to victory for Yoshi Takano has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Takano
vs
Phol

192 cm
44
255
31 - 30 - 0

210 cm
25
300
14 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

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 31 - 30 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yoshi Takano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mfer Phol!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Gwen Towbar and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takano pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Phol moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Takano takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Takano throws a left and a right that both miss
and Phol counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nice defenses there by Takano.
Phol takes one to the side of the head.
Takano has been working on his boxing with his coaches at HELLsinki in the buildup to the fight.
Phol pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Takano back to the cage. Phol follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Phol avoids the head kick by Takano.
Phol misses with a wild body shot.
Phol misses with a series of wild punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takano throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Phol.
Takano throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Takano scores with a jab to the body.
Phol lands with a right hand.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Takano is defended easily by Phol.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takano gets a clinch.
Phol keeps control of Takano as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Takano goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Phol.
Phol throws a punch but it's blocked by Takano.
Takano misses with a punch to the body.
Phol lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Phol has Takano pressed against the cage.
Takano lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Phol lands with a left to the head.
Takano digs a right hand into Phol's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Phol's gas tank.
Phol throws a punch but it's blocked by Takano.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Phol.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phol lands a body punch.
Phol misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Phol on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Phol on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Takano takes a shot to the head.
A short left from Phol.
Phol throws a head punch that misses.
Phol scores with a shot to the side of Takano's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Phol will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Takano up against the cage.
Phol makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Takano wants to break free but Phol has control.
Takano throws a head punch that misses.
Phol misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Takano.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takano is looking to slow Phol down with leg kicks.
Phol gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Phol takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Takano misses with a body punch
and Phol connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Takano tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Phol looks to score with a jab to the body but Takano is just out of range.
Phol misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Takano.
A big right from Phol misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Takano is defended easily by Phol.
Phol throws out a counter right but Takano avoids it with no problem.
Takano throws a sloppy head kick
and Phol counters with a stiff right hand.
A low kick from Takano misses
and Phol counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Phol stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Yoshi Takano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That kick from Takano tenderised Phol's leg. Phol is trying to keep his angry face on.
A looping hook to the body misses from Takano. Phol does a little dance to reset his feet.
Takano sets himself, and Phol steps forward looking for the clinch! Takano avoids it this time.
Takano tries to clinch but Phol moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takano throws a right and a left that both miss.
Takano lands with a nice body punch.
Takano moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Mfer Phol is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Takano with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Phol to score with a decent uppercut.
Danga de danga de dang - Phol scores with a four punch combination!
Phol blocks a head kick by Takano.
Takano uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Takano looks to score with a jab to the body but Phol is just out of range.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Takano.
A punch combination from Takano misses.
Phol has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
The fighters circling - Takano throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Phol clinches up with Takano and pushes him back against the cage.
Takano landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Phol has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Takano seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Phol can turn it around.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Takano tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Phol's elbow.
A body shot lands from Takano.
Takano swings wildly with an uppercut but Phol uses good head movement to avoid it.
Phol managing to block the knees to the body from Takano.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mfer Phol dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sloppy strikes from Takano. Those never looked like landing.
Phol looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Takano finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Phol lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Yoshi Takano is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Phol throws a looping overhand right but Takano ducks down to avoid it.
Phol misses with a straight right.
It looked like Takano was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Phol.
Some wild striking there from Takano.

Phol has closed the distance and engaged Takano in a clinch.
Phol swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Takano throws a head punch that misses.
Takano tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phol lands with a light punch inside.
Takano misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Phol's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Phol lands with a straight right. Takano didn't see that one coming.
Takano misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takano misses with a head kick.
Takano throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Takano listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
A jab from Phol misses.
Takano misses with a low kick as Phol jumps back.
Phol is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Phol is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Takano ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mfer Phol seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A slow jab from Takano misses its intended target.
Takano lands a jab-cross combination.
Phol has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Takano.
The fighters circling - Phol throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Phol misses with a straight left.
Takano moves out of range as Phol strikes.
Good standup being displayed there by Phol as he connects with a hook.
Takano has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The fighters circling - Takano throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Phol takes a swing at Takano's ribcage but misses.
Phol moves away from the strike by Takano.
Phol has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phol looks to land a combination. Takano sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Phol lands a jab.
Nice shot by Phol.
Takano connects with a body shot.
Phol ducks under a wild hook from Takano.
Phol misses with a wild body shot.
Takano appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Phol misses the shot to the body.
Takano throws a push kick but Phol slaps the foot to one side.

Phol has managed to clinch.
Phol dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Phol tries a body shot but Takano blocks it.
Takano trying to land knees to the body.
Takano lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Mfer Phol has been cut.
A right hand to the body from Takano.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takano tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Phol's elbow.
Takano is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Mfer Phol seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Phol is breathing heavily.
Phol prevents a body shot from Takano.
Takano misses with a knee strike.
Takano lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Phol.
Takano misses with a body punch.
Takano prevents a body shot from Phol.
Phol lands a right hand that snaps the head of Takano backwards.

Phol pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Takano throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Phol lands a glancing blow to the side of Takano's head.
Phol misses with an uppercut.
A little feinted left hand from Takano on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Takano misses with a head kick.
Takano misses with a double jab
and Phol counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Takano thinking.
Takano throws a head kick but Phol moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takano misses with a jab, cross combination.
Takano throws a head kick that misses.
Takano attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Phol rushes Takano and presses him up against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Takano can't find room to land a body shot as Phol controls the action.
Takano doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Takano swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short left from Phol.
Phol misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Phol.
Phol lands a hook to the side of the head.
Takano goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Phol.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Takano.
Takano blocks a body shot from Phol.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mfer Phol showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mfer Phol's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Takano swings for the body but Phol moves out of range.
Takano fails with the takedown.
Phol throws a body punch but Takano moves out of range.
Phol thows a left - swing and a miss!
A solid leg kick lands there for Takano.
A punch combination from Takano misses.
Phol lands a nice hook to Takano's body. Takano takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Takano throws a sloppy head kick and Phol moves out of range easily.
Takano uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Phol.
Takano throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Takano looks to land a body kick but Phol moved away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phol lands with a good body shot.
Phol throws a jab but it's blocked by Takano.
A looping hook to the body misses from Takano. Phol does a little dance to reset his feet.
Takano fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Phol just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takano misses with a hook.
Phol looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Takano goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Takano tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Phol blocks a body shot from Takano.
Phol taking a breather.
Takano throws a punch but it's blocked by Phol.
Takano prevents a body shot from Phol.
Phol lands a body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Takano throws a punch but it's blocked by Phol.
Phol blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Takano struggles to land a body shot inside as Phol controls his hands.
Phol holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phol lands a left hand that snaps the head of Takano backwards.
Phol lands a right hand that snaps the head of Takano backwards.
Phol digs a right hand into Takano's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Takano's gas tank.

Phol breaks from the clinch.
Phol misses with a looping right.
Takano misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Phol throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Takano misses with a low kick.
Phol misses with an uppercut.
Takano throws a sloppy head kick
and Phol counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takano takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Phol has taken the fight to the clinch.
Takano tries to land knees in the clinch but Phol avoids the damage to the body.
Phol blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Phol lands with a short shot to the head.
Yoshi Takano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phol scores with a shoulder strike.
Phol lands with a right to the head.

Takano is rocked!
Phol misses with a body punch.
Oh Takano is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Phol unloads with a big right hand that wobbles Takano! He's leaning against the cage trying to keep his feet but Phol is unloading with more strikes now! Takano drops to his knees and the referee stops the fight for a TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mfer Phol!
Mfer Phol thanked the fans post fight for their support.