PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jello Belly (ranked 1697 p4p, 2559 weight class) and Shingen Takeda (ranked 214 p4p, 292 weight class). Takeda comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Now We Are Free kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Belly
vs
Takeda

186 cm
31
162
12 - 7 - 2

184 cm
28
169
14 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

UNDEFEATED

Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jello Belly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Shingen Takeda!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Belly.
Belly uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Takeda has time to react.
Belly dodges the punch combination from Takeda.
Belly fails in his attempt to clinch.
Takeda misses with a few strikes there.
Belly tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Takeda paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Belly avoids the body shot from Takeda.
Takeda feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Bellys jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Belly darts in looking for a takedown but Takeda gets double underhooks and turns Belly into the cage.
A short uppercut from Takeda.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Belly as Takeda tries to tie him up.
Takeda seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
Takeda looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Belly blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Takeda's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Belly lands a takedown into guard.

Belly decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Takeda jabs at Belly's body.

Belly drives through with a takedown into guard.
Belly is stalling in the full guard.
Takeda trying to control the position.

Takeda is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Belly defends well.
Belly wants to control from the top but Takeda keeps moving.
Belly tries to stand but Takeda is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takeda wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Belly is now in half guard.
Takeda gets full guard.
Takeda 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.
Belly pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Takeda is keeping the position for now.

Takeda is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Takeda keeping full guard, as Belly tries to pass.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Belly is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belly pushing down on Takeda's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Takeda keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Belly looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Takeda is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
It looks like Belly is going to stand back up.
Takeda wants to improve his position but Belly is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takeda is trying to maintain the position but Belly is very close to passing his half guard.
Belly is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

Takeda has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Belly can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Takeda looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Belly stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Belly throws a nice looking combination but Takeda bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Takeda doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Belly misses with an uppercut. Takeda saw that one coming.
Takeda takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Takeda moves out of range as Belly strikes.
Takeda on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Belly gets caught flat footed, as Takeda shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Belly has his feet on Takeda's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
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!
Takeda avoids a punch combination nicely.
Takeda avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jello Belly dominated that round.
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.

Belly misses with an uppercut
and Takeda counters with a nice body shot.

Takeda shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Belly is trying to defend but Takeda finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Belly is trying to maintain the position but Takeda is very close to passing his half guard.
Takeda trying to control the action but Belly is working from the bottom.
Belly trying to hold on to Takeda's head to control him but Takeda postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belly is pressing down on Takeda's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Takeda wants to control from the top but Belly keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takeda loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Takeda trying to control the position from guard on top but Belly is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Takeda might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Belly haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Takeda slips a straight right by Belly.
Takeda lands the left hand.
Belly missing with a left hand there. Takeda was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Takeda lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Belly doesn't manage to clinch there - Takeda circles away.
Belly throws a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takeda sizes up Belly with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Belly lands a really nice looking cross but Takeda seems unphased.
Takeda scores with a nice right hand.
Belly throws a right hand that Takeda ducks under and follows up with a left that Takeda also avoids with ease.
Takeda doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Belly throws a right and a left that Takeda avoids nicely.
Belly throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Takeda sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Belly looks to score with a jab to the body but Takeda is just out of range.
As Belly backs off Takeda throws a huge counter combo but Belly manages to avoid it all.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takeda connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Shingen Takeda seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Takeda works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Belly scores with the left hand. Takeda knows he should have avoided that one.
Belly is looking to clinch but Takeda is avoiding it.

Belly closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Takeda to the mat! Takeda manages to get full guard.
Belly tries to free his leg and advance position but Takeda is retaining full guard.
Our spies down at at Vancouver Island Fight Club inform us that Takeda has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Takeda lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Belly advances position into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belly scores with a couple of short elbows.
Takeda gets back to half guard.

Takeda is defending against the submission attempts here by Belly.
Takeda is doing well to control the position and prevent Belly from advancing to side control.
Belly tries to pass the half guard into mount. Takeda knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Takeda moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Belly 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.

Takeda working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Belly doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Belly manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Belly content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Takeda looking to control.

Takeda is looking for a triangle here but Belly uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Takeda gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Takeda sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
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 Jello Belly will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Takeda tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Belly seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
A combination from Belly does no damage.
Belly misses the jab.
Takeda is looking for the big counter here.
Belly lands a two punch combo.
Takeda walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

It looks like Shingen Takeda has been cut.
Donk. Belly catches Takeda right on the button with a cross.
Takeda loads up on a big right hand but Belly slips the punch.
Jello Belly is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Belly lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Jello Belly seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Belly tries to clinch but Takeda is having none of it.
Belly takes a swing at Takeda's ribcage but misses.
Takeda now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Takeda uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Belly.
It seemed like Takeda was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Belly lands a head shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Takeda is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Belly's half guard.
Takeda not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takeda prevents Belly from improving his position.
Takeda throwing shots but Belly is blocking nicely.
Belly is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Takeda can do to turn this around?

Takeda is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Takeda is keen to just control but Belly is a slippery customer.
Takeda missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Takeda is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Belly doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Takeda.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Takeda is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Belly doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Takeda.
Takeda trying to control the action but Belly is working from the bottom.

Takeda is trying to work for a kimura but Belly is defending well.
Shingen Takeda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeda missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Takeda is working for a submission of some sort.
Takeda works his way into side control.
Belly avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Takeda.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Takeda tries to advance to mount but can't.
Jello Belly overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Takeda tries for a kimura but Belly is defending well.
Belly wants to control but Takeda postures up.
Takeda working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Belly dodges the ground and pound from Takeda.
Jello Belly is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Takeda lands an elbow.
Takeda cracks Belly with a big elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jello Belly.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Belly, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jello Belly!
Jello Belly took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!) for their support in the buildup to the fight.