PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Anaconda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sho Takada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sho Takada will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Anaconda
vs
Takada

189 cm
19
218 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Anaconda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sho Takada!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takada doesn't manage to clinch there - Anaconda circles away.
Anaconda avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Anaconda avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Anaconda tries to clinch

and Takada counters with a single leg into guard. Anaconda didn't expect that.
Takada wants to control from the top but Anaconda keeps moving.
Anaconda is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Takada pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Anaconda is keeping the position for now.
Anaconda is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Anaconda keeping moving, preventing Takada from controlling successfully.

Takada drops back, looking for a kneebar! Anaconda looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Anaconda looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Anaconda!

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Takada's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Anaconda throwing strikes but Takada manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Anaconda is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Takada asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Anaconda is trying to get back to half guard.
Anaconda is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Anaconda throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Takada tries to clinch up

and Anaconda counters with a nice double leg into side control. Takada won't be happy with that.
Takada sneaks back into half guard.
Takada blocking the ground and pound attempt from Anaconda.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takada is trying to stand back up but Anaconda is controlling him
Anaconda throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Anaconda trying to control from half guard but Takada is working away.
Anaconda blocks the strikes from Takada.
Takada makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Takada.
Takada seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Takada keeping moving, preventing Anaconda from controlling successfully.

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.
Anaconda trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Anaconda trying to control the position from guard on top but Takada is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Anaconda's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Anaconda trying to control the position from guard on top but Takada is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Anaconda is breathing heavily.
Takada is trying to keep Anaconda in close.

Takada is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sho Takada will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Anaconda avoids a punch combination nicely.
A jab from Takada does it's job there.

Takada has closed the distance and engaged Anaconda in a clinch.

Takada is fighting off a takedown attempt but Anaconda is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Takada to the mat. Takada regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Takada is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Anacondais looking to pass into half guard but Takada pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Takada is in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Anaconda not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Anaconda manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Takada manages to get himself to full guard.

Takada looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Takada is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anaconda trying to control but Takada is working from the bottom.
Takada looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Anaconda passes into half guard.

Anaconda decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
A combination from Takada does no damage.
Anaconda stuffs the takedown.
Takada tries to clinch but Anaconda moves away

and Anaconda counters by clinching up.
Anaconda with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Anaconda tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Anaconda tries to score a body lock takedown but Takada shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Anaconda fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Anaconda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Takada lands an elbow inside.
Takada landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Anaconda takes an elbow to the temple.
Takada lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Anaconda being controlled against the cage.
Takada misses with a knee to the head.
Anaconda drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Takada gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Takada breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takada clinches up with Anaconda and pushes him back against the cage.
Anaconda is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Takada gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Knees in the clinch landing for Takada.
Takada lands a good knee to the midsection. Anaconda won't want to take too many of those.
Anaconda takes an elbow to the temple.
Takada lands an elbow inside that Anaconda shrugs off.
Takada landing knees to the head.
Takada lands a nice knee to the body.
Anaconda tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Takada just stands there and leans against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Takada blocks the elbow strike.
Takada misses with a knee strike.
Takada prevents the takedown attempt.
Takada lands a good knee to the midsection. Anaconda won't want to take too many of those.

Anaconda gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Takada actively working from the bottom here.
Anaconda prevents Takada from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anaconda wants to lay and pray for a moment but Takada keeps working.
Anaconda tries to pass the half guard into mount. Takada knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Anaconda is just content to waste time from the top position. Takada takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Takada is looking for a triangle but Anaconda pushes his legs off easily.

Takada throws his legs up looking for a submission but Anaconda uses it to pass to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sho Takada will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Anaconda fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Takada tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Anaconda counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Takada's guard now.
Anaconda is looking to advance position but Takada has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Takada is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Anaconda has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Anaconda is in all sorts of trouble here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takada looking to secure an arm triangle but Anaconda defends it well.

Takada moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Anaconda has worked his arm free - good work by Anaconda!
Anaconda is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Takada off and has taken his back!

Anaconda has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Takada has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Takada breaks Anaconda's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Anaconda looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Takada passes into half guard.
Anaconda is looking for a sweep. Takada is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Anaconda trying to get back to full guard but Takada takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Takada wants to control the pace but Anaconda is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takada is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Anaconda clinches but Takada breaks the clinch

and Takada holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Takada avoiding damage as Anaconda throws knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Takada.

It looks like John Anaconda has been cut.
Takada lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Takada scores a nice knee to the body.

Takada breaks the clinch.
Anaconda on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Takada wants to clinch.

Takada gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takada misses with a knee strike.
Anaconda tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Takada smiles and moves away.
Anaconda doesn't manage to clinch there - Takada circles away.
John Anaconda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Takada wants to clinch

and Anaconda decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Takada's guard.

Takada is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Anaconda controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sho Takada is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Anaconda is looking to work some ground and pound but Takada has wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Anaconda showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Takada has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!