PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kazuki Takeda (ranked 1055 p4p, 1593 weight class) and Raja Khanna (ranked 133 p4p, 203 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Kazuki Takeda has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Kazuki Takeda seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Takeda
vs
Khanna

185 cm
33
185
18 - 9 - 0

190 cm
30
194
18 - 12 - 3

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

NARCOS
30th Century Beer Store

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 18 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Kazuki Takeda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 12 - 3, fighting out of London, Raja Khanna!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Colin Fotheringham and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khanna swings for the body but Takeda moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Khanna as Takeda shoots in.
Khanna swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Takeda dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Takeda shoots in and drives through. Khanna sprawls well.
Takeda throws a body shot but no joy.
Takeda jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Khanna looks to score with a jab to the body but Takeda is just out of range.
Khanna lands with a slapping head kick.
Takeda tries to move into range but Khanna moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Takeda shoots in looking for a takedown. Khanna tries to sprawl out of it but Takeda keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Khanna manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazuki Takeda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Takeda walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Khanna lands with a good body shot.
Khanna throws a body shot but no joy.
Khanna fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Takeda.
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!
Khanna throws a push kick but Takeda slaps the foot to one side.
A jab from Takeda finds it's way through Khanna's defenses.

It looks like Raja Khanna has been cut.
Khanna throws a nice outside leg kick.
Takeda avoids a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khanna moves forwards but Takeda connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Takeda closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Khanna's guard.
Khanna pulls Takeda in close to his closed guard and prevents Takeda from doing any damage or advancing position.

Khanna looking for a guillotine here but Takeda defends easily.
Khanna looking to hit a scissor sweep but Takeda is one step ahead there.

Khanna working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Takeda doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Takeda manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Khanna pulls Takeda in close to prevent any damage.
Khanna keeping moving, preventing Takeda from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khanna is pulling down on Takeda's head. It's preventing any offense from Takeda, at least for the moment.
Khanna is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Takeda landing some decent shots from guard.
Takeda lands a couple of digs.
Takeda is looking to pass into half guard but Khanna pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Khanna is in guard.

Takeda seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Takeda being controlled here, momentarily.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Khanna got a little sloppy there for a moment and Takeda has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Khanna has managed to get both his arms back between Takeda's legs - danger averted.
Khanna stopping the sweep attempt from Takeda.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeda is working hard here to advance position.
Khanna sitting in guard here, content to control.
Khanna trying to control the position from guard on top but Takeda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Takeda looking for subs off his back but Khanna has passed one foot through into half guard.
Khanna wants to pass to mount but Takeda is defending the position.
Khanna moves nicely into side control.
Khanna is looking to take a break and control but Takeda is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Takeda struggling a bit here.
Takeda is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Khanna off and has taken his back!
Can Khanna hold on?! Takeda is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Khanna can't escape the position.
Khanna turns into Takeda and is now in his guard.
Khanna trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Khanna trying to control but Takeda is working from the bottom.

Takeda looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Khanna has picked Takeda up and slammed him! Takeda can't keep hold of the triangle and Khanna manages to pass to side control!
Khanna working away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Raja Khanna dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Raja Khanna's cut.
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.

Takeda getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Takeda throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Takeda throws a head kick that misses.
Raja Khanna seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Takeda scores with a takedown into Khanna's guard.
Takeda wants to control from the top but Khanna keeps moving.

Khanna escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Takeda gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Khanna is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Takeda won't allow Khanna to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takeda trying to control the position from guard on top but Khanna is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Khanna avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Khanna is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Khanna keeping full guard, as Takeda tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khanna controls Takeda momentarily but Takeda frees himself.
Takeda trying to control the position from guard on top but Khanna is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takeda throws an elbow that misses. Khanna uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Takeda's guard. Nice move by Khanna!

Khanna tries to free his leg and advance position but Takeda is retaining full guard.
Khanna forces his way into half guard.
Khanna tries to pass the half guard into mount. Takeda knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Khanna working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Takeda's thigh. Takeda counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Khanna showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khanna wants to control from the top but Takeda keeps moving.
Raja Khanna has got the better of the ground game so far.
Takeda looking to hit a scissor sweep but Khanna is one step ahead there.
Khanna trying to control but Takeda is working from the bottom.
Khanna trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Takeda manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Khanna is looking for a triangle but Takeda pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeda throws a big right hand that misses.
Takeda sitting in guard here, content to control.
Khanna looking to hit a scissor sweep but Takeda is one step ahead there.
Takeda postures up in Khanna's guard and throws a big left but Khanna blocks it.
Takeda throws a big right hand that misses.
Takeda trying to control but Khanna is working from the bottom.
Takeda is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Khanna pulls Takeda in close to prevent any damage.
Takeda postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Takeda stands up over Khanna, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Takeda lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Khanna is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takeda trying to control but Khanna is working from the bottom.
Khanna working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Takeda.

Takeda avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Takeda is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Khanna keeping moving, preventing Takeda from controlling successfully.
Takeda throws a strike but Khanna rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Khanna controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Takeda has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Khanna can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuki Takeda dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Raja Khanna's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

No luck for Takeda with that takedown attempt.
Khanna keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Takeda.
Takeda throws a hook but Khanna avoids it easily.
It seemed like Khanna was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Takeda scores with a hook.
Khanna tried to score with a low kick but Takeda checks it.
Takeda tries to score a power double leg takedown but Khanna sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Takeda somewhat.
Takeda gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Khanna counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazuki Takeda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Takeda misses with an uppercut.
Khanna plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Khanna just misses with a punch to the body.
Khanna is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Takeda rather than just go for the knockout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Khanna.
Khanna throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Takeda gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Khanna counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Takeda thinking.
Takeda looks to score with a jab to the body but Khanna is just out of range.
Khanna throws an overhand right that lands on Takeda's shoulder, as Takeda tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khanna slips a jab and a cross from Takeda.
Takeda is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Khanna.
Khanna is looking to slow Takeda down with leg kicks.
Takeda fails with an attempt to clinch.
Takeda throws an overhand right that lands on Khanna's shoulder, as Khanna tries to avoid the shot.
Takeda has a takedown stuffed.
Raja Khanna is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Takeda goes for a double leg but Khanna avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Khanna continues to drive forward.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Khanna is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Takeda blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Takeda.
Khanna lands a right hand.
A head punch on the inside from Khanna fails to land.
Khanna lands with a left to the head.

Takeda wants the takedown. Khanna is fighting it off but Takeda persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Khanna's guard against the cage.
Khanna utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Khanna is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Takeda is aware though and is defending well.
Khanna tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Khanna had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Takeda defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takeda lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Takeda throws an elbow that misses. Khanna uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Takeda's guard. Nice move by Khanna!

Takeda keeping moving, preventing Khanna from controlling successfully.
Khanna won't allow Takeda to sweep him here.
Khanna trying to control the position from guard on top but Takeda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Takeda looking for a guillotine here but Khanna defends easily.
Khanna trying to control but Takeda is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeda keeping full guard, as Khanna tries to pass.
Khanna is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Takeda trying to control the position.
Khanna tries to free his leg and advance position but Takeda is retaining full guard.

Takeda looking for a guillotine here but Khanna defends easily.
Khanna trying to control the position from guard on top but Takeda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Takeda working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Khanna doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Khanna manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Khanna stands and throws Takeda's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Takeda is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Takeda's face as Khanna controls the position.
Khanna tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Takeda tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Khanna wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Khanna wants to control but Takeda is keeping him busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raja Khanna comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Khanna has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raja Khanna!