PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Howie Finkelman (ranked 4533 p4p, 2364 weight class) and Shingen Takeda (ranked 336 p4p, 196 weight class). Takeda has chosen Now We Are Free as his entrance music. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Finkelman
vs
Takeda

174 cm
26
152
4 - 10 - 0

184 cm
27
155
13 - 12 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Howie Finkelman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Shingen Takeda!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Konstantin Menshow and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takeda swinging wildly here.
The fighters circle momentarily. Takeda darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Takeda tries to score with a low kick but Finkelman moves his leg out of the way.
Finkelman feinted with a counter takedown.
A head kick misses from Takeda.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finkelman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Takeda.
Finkelman drops down looking for a counter takedown but Takeda sprawls and moves away.
Takeda looks to land a right hand but Finkelman moved out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Takeda. Finkelman does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takeda fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Finkelman checks it well.
A slow jab from Takeda misses its intended target.
Finkelman drops down looking for a counter takedown but Takeda sprawls and moves away.
Nice straight punches there by Takeda. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Takeda.
We've been told by Finkelman's head coaches at Tycoon Coaching & Sparring that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
A swing and a miss from Takeda.
Finkelman changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Good work by Finkelman as he checks the leg kick.
Finkelman attempts a counter takedown but Takeda avoids it well and moves away.
Takeda is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Takeda misses with a series of wild punches.
Finkelman slips a jab and a cross from Takeda.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takeda looks to land a left hand but Finkelman moved out of range nicely.
Finkelman steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Takeda.
Takeda lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Finkelman circles away quickly and effectively.

Takeda closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Takeda lands in his opponent's guard.

Finkelman wriggles free and stands up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Takeda lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Finkelman at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Takeda, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Finkelman staying out of range there.
Takeda throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Takeda misses with a looping left.
Finkelman moves out of range of the strikes.
Takeda misses with an uppercut. Finkelman saw that one coming.
Finkelman attempts a counter takedown but Takeda avoids it well and moves away.
Takeda swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Finkelman half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Takeda misses with a series of wild punches.
Finkelman tries to counter with a takedown but Takeda is quick to defend against it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takeda tries to bum rush Finkelman with a series of wild strikes but Finkelman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Takeda misses with a jab, cross combination.
Finkelman appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Finkelman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Takeda.
Finkelman half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Takeda swings for the body but Finkelman moves out of range.
Takeda throws a chopping leg kick but Finkelman manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Finkelman drops down looking for a counter takedown but Takeda sprawls and moves away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Finkelman slips a straight right by Takeda.
Takeda lands with an uppercut that bounces Finkelman off the cage and back into range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shingen Takeda dominated that round.
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 throws a solid leg kick but Finkelman takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Takeda.
Takeda tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Finkelman was well out of range. Poor timing from Takeda.
Finkelman attempts a counter takedown but Takeda avoids it well and moves away.
Shingen Takeda seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Finkelman checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Takeda with a hook.
Takeda connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Finkelman's hands.
Takeda throws an overhand right that lands on Finkelman's shoulder, as Finkelman tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takeda takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Howie Finkelman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Takeda misses with a wild body shot.
Finkelman feinted with a counter takedown.
Takeda lands a head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takeda throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Finkelman.
Finkelman attempts a counter takedown but Takeda avoids it well and moves away.
Takeda punishes Finkelman's body with a nice straight punch.
Takeda throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Takeda throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Takeda lands with a right hand.
Takeda throws a hook but Finkelman avoids it easily.
Finkelman feinted with a counter takedown.
Takeda fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finkelman defending well as Takeda loads up on a big left hand.
Shingen Takeda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takeda tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Finkelman is able to avoid easily.
Takeda looks to score with a jab to the body but Finkelman is just out of range.
Finkelman tries to counter with a takedown but Takeda is quick to defend against it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Takeda. Finkelman does a little dance to reset his feet.
Finkelman half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Takeda fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Finkelman manages to avoid it.
Finkelman appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Finkelman uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Takeda.
Finkelman changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Finkelman gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Takeda.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Takeda misses.
Finkelman feinted with a counter takedown.

Takeda shoots in and bounces Finkelman off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Takeda throws a big right hand that misses.
Takeda trying to control the position from guard on top but Finkelman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Finkelman is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finkelman drops down looking for an ankle pick but Takeda pulls his leg out and moves away.
Finkelman blocks a jab.
Takeda tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Finkelman stuffs the takedown attempt from Takeda. Takeda gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Finkelman uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Takeda.
Finkelman appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Takeda turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shingen Takeda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Takeda misses with the combination.
Takeda jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A telegraphed right hand from Takeda misses the target.
Good standup being displayed there by Takeda as he connects with a hook.
Takeda looks to land a right hand but Finkelman moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch combination from Takeda misses.
Finkelman avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Finkelman drops down looking for a counter takedown but Takeda sprawls and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takeda tries a head kick but it misses.
Finkelman tries to counter with a takedown but Takeda is quick to defend against it.
Takeda throws a leg kick that misses.
Finkelman uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Takeda.
Takeda turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Takeda tried to score with a low kick but Finkelman checks it.
Finkelman takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Takeda throws a hook but Finkelman blocks it.
A telegraphed right hand from Takeda misses the target.
Finkelman tries to counter with a takedown but Takeda is quick to defend against it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finkelman gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Takeda.
Takeda throws a leg kick but Finkelman sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Finkelman takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Finkelman uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Takeda.
Finkelman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Takeda fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Finkelman manages to avoid it.
Finkelman half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Finkelman moves out of range of the leg kick from Takeda.
Finkelman half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Takeda lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Shingen Takeda is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeda lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Takeda scoring well with a low kick there.
Takeda has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Finkelman needs to keep his hands up - Takeda had a free shot at his head there.
Takeda throws a body shot but no joy.
Finkelman feinted with a counter takedown.
Takeda scores with a leg kick.
Takeda looks to score with a jab to the body but Finkelman is just out of range.
Takeda throws a lazy right hand but Finkelman sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Takeda misses with a jab, cross combination.
Finkelman tries to counter with a takedown but Takeda is quick to defend against it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takeda throws a series of punches but Finkelman avoids them all with ease.
Takeda fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Finkelman looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Finkelman avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Takeda misses with a straight right.
Finkelman changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Takeda misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Finkelman.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Takeda throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Finkelman changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Finkelman avoids the head kick by Takeda.
Finkelman half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shingen Takeda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Takeda 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 26:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shingen Takeda!
After winning the bout, Shingen Takeda thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.