PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Itzpapalotltotec (ranked 3307 p4p, 2058 weight class) and Caua Takeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Itzpapalotltotec comes to the cage accompanied by Copacabana - Barry Manilow. Takeda has chosen Oba, La Vem Ela as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Itzpapalotltotec
vs
Takeda

173 cm
33
155
22 - 19 - 1

185 cm
27
160
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 22 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pablo Itzpapalotltotec!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Caua Takeda!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Aafke Stam and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Takeda darts in and clinches Itzpapalotltotec up against the cage.

Takeda ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Takeda no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Takeda had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Itzpapalotltotec defends it easily.
Itzpapalotltotec advances position into side control!
Takeda tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Itzpapalotltotec wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Takeda struggling a bit here.
Takeda gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Takeda regains full guard. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Itzpapalotltotec scoring with some ground and pound.
Itzpapalotltotec won't allow Takeda to sweep him here.
Itzpapalotltotec trying to control but Takeda is working from the bottom.
Itzpapalotltotec content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takeda looking to control.
Takeda can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Itzpapalotltotec controls the pace.
Itzpapalotltotec stopping the sweep attempt from Takeda.
Takeda looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Itzpapalotltotec puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Nice strikes from Itzpapalotltotec there.
Takeda moves into full guard.
Takeda looking for a sweep. Not yet Takeda, not yet.
Itzpapalotltotec with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Itzpapalotltotec has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Itzpapalotltotec got a little sloppy there for a moment and Takeda has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Itzpapalotltotec has managed to get both his arms back between Takeda's legs - danger averted.

Itzpapalotltotec avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Takeda holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Itzpapalotltotec slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Takeda bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Itzpapalotltotec's guard.

Itzpapalotltotec is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Takeda is controlling him.

Takeda drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Itzpapalotltotec manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Takeda has Itzpapalotltotec in his guard.

Takeda has momentary wrist control but Itzpapalotltotec slips an elbow through the middle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Takeda utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Itzpapalotltotec keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Takeda's head.
Itzpapalotltotec cracks Takeda with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeda is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Itzpapalotltotec with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Itzpapalotltotec stands up over Takeda, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Takeda manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Itzpapalotltotec manages to get himself to full guard.

Itzpapalotltotec lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Takeda wants to sweep here but Itzpapalotltotec controlling him for the moment.
Itzpapalotltotec is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Itzpapalotltotec controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Itzpapalotltotec might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Takeda is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Itzpapalotltotec is looking to work some ground and pound but Takeda has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takeda is trying to control the position but Itzpapalotltotec postures up.
Takeda tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Takeda is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Itzpapalotltotec is aware though and is defending well.
Itzpapalotltotec wants to control from the top but Takeda keeps moving.
Itzpapalotltotec trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Itzpapalotltotec lands a couple of elbows.
Itzpapalotltotec missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Itzpapalotltotec stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Takeda swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Itzpapalotltotec trying to control but Takeda is working from the bottom.
Itzpapalotltotec looking to sit in guard and control but Takeda gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Itzpapalotltotec dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Takeda moves in looking to clinch but Itzpapalotltotec pushes him off.
Itzpapalotltotec drops down looking for a counter takedown but Takeda sprawls and moves away.

Itzpapalotltotec drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Pablo Itzpapalotltotec overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Itzpapalotltotec wants to control but Takeda is keeping him busy.
Takeda tries to bench press Itzpapalotltotec off him but Itzpapalotltotec keeps the position.
Takeda regains half guard.
Itzpapalotltotec looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Takeda with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Itzpapalotltotec lands a nice short elbow.
Itzpapalotltotec landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Itzpapalotltotec prevents Takeda from improving his position.
Itzpapalotltotec seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takeda is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Itzpapalotltotec scores with a couple of nice shots.
Takeda tries to get to full guard but Itzpapalotltotec has control of the leg.
Itzpapalotltotec lands with a punch from half guard.
Itzpapalotltotec is nestled in close to Takeda, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Takeda moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Itzpapalotltotec scoring with some ground and pound.
Takeda keeping moving, preventing Itzpapalotltotec from controlling successfully.
Itzpapalotltotec forces his way into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Itzpapalotltotec is working for a kimura but Takeda is defending it quite comfortably.
Itzpapalotltotec lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takeda wants to improve his position but Itzpapalotltotec is controlling well.
Takeda moves into full guard.
Takeda is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Itzpapalotltotec trying to control the position from guard on top but Takeda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Itzpapalotltotec passes Takeda's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Itzpapalotltotec with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Itzpapalotltotec not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeda wants to get back to full guard.
Itzpapalotltotec lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Takeda makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Takeda.

Takeda is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Itzpapalotltotec is aware though and is defending well.
Itzpapalotltotec is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Itzpapalotltotec working some strikes from top position.
Itzpapalotltotec throwing strikes from guard but Takeda blocks nicely.
Itzpapalotltotec pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Takeda is keeping the position for now.
Itzpapalotltotec cracks Takeda with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Takeda is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Itzpapalotltotec wants to control from the top but Takeda keeps moving.
Takeda keeping full guard, as Itzpapalotltotec tries to pass.

Takeda had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Itzpapalotltotec defends it easily.
Takeda is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Itzpapalotltotec postures up and lands a big shot to Takeda's brow.
Itzpapalotltotec scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Itzpapalotltotec dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Takeda gets a clinch.
Itzpapalotltotec scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Itzpapalotltotec cracks Takeda with a nice body shot.
Takeda is trying to pull guard but Itzpapalotltotec has him pressed against the cage.
Itzpapalotltotec gets through Takeda's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Takeda jumps guard but Itzpapalotltotec stands there with Takeda around his waist. Takeda gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Takeda tries to pull guard but Itzpapalotltotec forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Pablo Itzpapalotltotec has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Caua Takeda.
Itzpapalotltotec lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Takeda backwards.
Itzpapalotltotec lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Itzpapalotltotec misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Itzpapalotltotec lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Itzpapalotltotec is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Takeda can do to turn this around?
This has been an exciting period of action!

Itzpapalotltotec is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Takeda is just riding it out for now. Itzpapalotltotec eventually gives up the hold.
Takeda wants to improve his position but Itzpapalotltotec is controlling well.
Takeda takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Itzpapalotltotec looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Takeda with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nice strikes from Itzpapalotltotec there.
Itzpapalotltotec is looking to stall here but Takeda recovers full guard.
Itzpapalotltotec working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Takeda looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Itzpapalotltotec working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Takeda's head.
Itzpapalotltotec trying to control but Takeda is working from the bottom.
Takeda keeping full guard, as Itzpapalotltotec tries to pass.
Itzpapalotltotec works over Takeda with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Itzpapalotltotec postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Itzpapalotltotec advances position into side control!
Takeda tries to buck Itzpapalotltotec off but Itzpapalotltotec is having none of it.
Itzpapalotltotec lands an elbow.
Takeda is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Takeda taking a bit of punishment here - Itzpapalotltotec scoring with strikes.
Itzpapalotltotec working the body and head with strikes.
Takeda on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Takeda is rocked!
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!
A big shot lands for Itzpapalotltotec! That's hurt Takeda! Will he recover? Itzpapalotltotec fires away with more strikes and the referee has to step in to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Pablo Itzpapalotltotec!
A victorious Pablo Itzpapalotltotec thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.