PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Esko Takanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ian Saga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Takanen
vs
Saga

175 cm
24
178 lbs
13 - 5 - 1

194 cm
21
181 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Granite chin

Control Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Esko Takanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ian Saga!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Winston Howard and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saga loads up on a big right hand but Takanen slips the punch.
Saga fails to land with a series of punches.
Takanen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Saga backs up against the cage.
Saga misses with a wild combination.
Takanen throws a looping overhand right but Saga ducks down to avoid it.
Saga is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Saga staying out of range there.
Saga throws a solid leg kick but Takanen takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Saga.
Saga avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Saga smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Saga fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Takanen manages to avoid it.
Takanen missing with a left hand there. Saga was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Takanen throws a leg kick but Saga sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Takanen takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Saga checks a low kick from Takanen.
Saga looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Takanen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Saga moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saga pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Saga falls off balance throwing a combination
and Takanen counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Saga scores with a hook.
Takanen lands with a hook. Saga tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Takanen avoids the head kick by Saga.
Saga misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takanen dodges the punch combination from Saga.
Takanen misses with a hook.
Saga walks into a jab.
Saga misses with a hook.
Takanen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Saga scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A head kick misses from Saga.
A big right from Saga misses.
Takanen avoids the body shot from Saga.
Saga falls off balance throwing a combination
and Takanen counters with a low kick, right behind Saga 's knee.
Takanen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Takanen throws a looping overhand right but Saga ducks down to avoid it.
A slow jab from Takanen misses its intended target.
Saga scores with a punch to the head.
Saga looks for the body kick but Takanen saw that one coming.
Saga looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Takanen walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Saga lands a jab-cross combination.
Takanen scoring well with a low kick there.
Takanen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Saga.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takanen lands a nice hook to Saga's body. Saga takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Takanen fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Saga is out of range.
Saga misses with a hook. Takanen ducked under it nicely.
Takanen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Takanen moves into the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Takanen scores with a nice short uppercut.
Takanen pushes Saga back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Takanen.
Takanen digs a right hand into Saga's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Saga's gas tank.
Saga looks gassed!
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!
Saga tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Takanen smiles and moves away.
Takanen jabs Saga right on the nose. Saga blinks but takes it well.
The crowd cheers as Takanen lands an impressive looking overhand right. Saga doesn't seem phased though.
A decent looking cross lands there for Takanen.
Takanen scores with a nice right hand.
Takanen displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Saga throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Takanen lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
A head kick by Saga misses
and Takanen counters with an outside leg kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Takanen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Takanen has Saga up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takanen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Takanen putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Saga in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Takanen digs a right hand into Saga's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Saga's gas tank.
Takanen lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Ian Saga has been cut.

Takanen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Takanen fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Saga looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Takanen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Takanen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Saga at a distance.

Takanen drives through and clinches with Saga against the cage.
Takanen stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Takanen lands a nice elbow.
Takanen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Saga backwards.
A nice left hand lands by Takanen.
Takanen lands a body shot in the clinch.
Takanen is working Saga over against the cage.
Takanen lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short right from Takanen.
A right hand to the body from Takanen.
Takanen lands a nice uppercut.
Nice body punch from Takanen.
Takanen lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Saga.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Takanen.
Saga takes a shot to the head.

Takanen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Saga has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Takanen finds it's way round the side to connect with Saga's head.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Takanen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Takanen lands a nice hook to Saga's body. Saga takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Takanen forces Saga back against the cage and clinches.
Takanen lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Saga fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Saga tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Esko Takanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ian Saga.
Saga has had enough of the clinch but Takanen keeps him there for the moment.
Takanen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Saga backwards.
Saga drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Takanen manages to break the clinch.
A lazy left from Takanen finds it's target.
Takanen throws a body punch but Saga moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esko Takanen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ian Saga's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Takanen swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Saga counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Takanen thinking.
Takanen misses with a straight left.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Saga checks a leg kick.
Saga looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Takanen blocks a jab.
Takanen cracks Saga with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
The fighters circle momentarily. Takanen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Takanen scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Takanen is looking to clinch.
Jab by Takanen.
Some wild striking there from Saga.
Takanen stalks Saga and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Saga's face. Saga staggers backwards, shaken.
Saga takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Saga pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Saga goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Takanen lands with a nice combination. Saga backs away looking to recover.

Takanen pushes Saga up against the cage in a clinch.
Saga tries to circle away but Takanen has him pinned against the cage.
Saga tries to pull guard but Takanen holds him up against the cage and eventually Saga drops back down to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saga fails to pull guard.
Takanen lands a nice elbow.
Takanen digs a right hand underneath Saga's ribcage. Saga let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Takanen lands a shoulder strike.
Saga is breathing heavily.
A nice right hand lands inside from Takanen.
Takanen lands a knee to the body.
Takanen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saga can do to turn this around?
Takanen lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Takanen is working Saga over against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Takanen.
Takanen lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Saga or not.
A short body shot lands from Takanen as the two fighters clinch.
Takanen scores a nice knee to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takanen cracks Saga with a nice body shot.
Takanen lands an uppercut.
Takanen lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Saga.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Takanen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Takanen lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Takanen digs a right hand underneath Saga's ribcage. Saga let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A right handed body shot lands from Takanen.
Takanen scores with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Saga takes an elbow to the temple.

That has opened up Ian Saga's cut even more.
Nice body punch from Takanen.
Takanen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A left hand lands to the body for Takanen.
Takanen scores with a hook to the body.
Takanen lands a shot to the body.
Takanen pushes Saga back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Takanen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Takanen lands a body shot in the clinch.

Takanen breaks the clinch.
Saga throws a shot from downtown. Takanen moves away and avoids it.
Saga throws a series of punches but Takanen avoids them all with ease.
Takanen throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Esko Takanen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saga fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Saga gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Takanen thuds a left hand into Saga's body.
Takanen walks into a straight right hand from Saga.
Saga has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saga throws a series of punches but Takanen avoids them all with ease.
Saga slips a jab and a cross from Takanen.
Takanen throws a front kick aimed at Saga's knee but Saga avoids it well.
Saga throws a leg kick but Takanen sees it coming and moves out of range.
Ian Saga is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Takanen scoring well with a low kick there.

Takanen rushes Saga and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Takanen lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Takanen unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Takanen lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Takanen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sagas head.
Saga is looking to break free of the clinch but Takanen has double underhooks.
Takanen lands a shot to the body.
Takanen lands a shot to the body.
Takanen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Takanen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Takanen gets through Saga's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Takanen.
A nice right hand lands inside from Takanen.
Saga has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Takanen scores with a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takanen lands a nice shot to the body.
Takanen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Saga backwards.
Takanen is working Saga over against the cage.
Takanen presses Saga against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Takanen lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Saga takes an elbow to the forehead.
Saga takes an elbow to the temple.
A short body shot lands from Takanen as the two fighters clinch.
Nice body punch from Takanen - that landed with a thud.
A short body shot lands from Takanen as the two fighters clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takanen controlling the action here for a moment.
Takanen lands a body punch in the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A short uppercut from Takanen.
Takanen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Saga backwards.
Takanen landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A short left from Takanen.
Nice elbow from Takanen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esko Takanen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ian Saga's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Saga takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Takanen lands a head shot.
Saga throws a head kick that misses.
Takanen scores with a hook.
Saga throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Takanen scores with a shot to the body.
Takanen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Saga tries to bum rush Takanen with a series of wild strikes but Takanen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Saga takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Takanen lands a nice shot to the body.
A head kick misses from Saga.
Takanen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Takanen misses the shot to the body.
Takanen thows a body shot but no joy.
Saga takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Takanen closes the distance and clinches.
Takanen lands a knee to the body.
Takanen lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Takanen lands a damaging elbow.
Takanen unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Takanen.
A body shot lands from Takanen.
Esko Takanen has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Takanen lands with a short shot to the head.

Takanen breaks from the clinch.
Good standup being displayed there by Takanen as he connects with a hook.
Takanen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Takanen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Saga, pushing him back against the cage.
Saga drops down looking for an ankle pick but Takanen pulls his leg out and moves away.
A shot to de liver by Takanen. Beautiful body shot.

Takanen pushes Saga up against the cage in a clinch.
Takanen lands a body shot.
Takanen cracks Saga with a nice body shot.
Takanen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Saga fails to pull guard.
Takanen digs a right hand underneath Saga's ribcage. Saga let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Takanen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Saga takes an elbow to the temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takanen lands a shot to the body.
Takanen landing knees to the body.
Takanen lands a right hand that snaps the head of Saga backwards.
Takanen lands a nice elbow.
Takanen pushes Saga back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Takanen cracks Saga with a nice body shot.
Takanen lands a nice elbow.
Takanen lands a body punch in the clinch.
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 right hook to the body lands for Takanen.
Saga has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Takanen unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Knees to the body from Takanen.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Takanen.
Takanen scores with a hook to the body.
Takanen pushes Saga back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Takanen lands a body punch in the clinch.
Takanen lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Takanen scores with a hook to the body.
Saga tries to pull guard but Takanen won't allow it.
Esko Takanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ian Saga.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takanen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Takanen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Takanen goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Esko Takanen is winning the standup battle so far.
Takanen connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Saga's hands.
Saga lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Takanen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Saga dodges the punch combination from Takanen.
Saga throws a nice looking combination but Takanen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Esko Takanen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Takanen blocks a head kick by Saga.
Nice shot lands for Takanen.
A jab from Saga misses.
Saga misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Takanen closes the distance and pushes Saga back into the cage.
Takanen scores with a shot to the side of Saga's head.
Takanen presses Saga against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Takanen lands a knee to the body.
Ian Saga has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takanen lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Saga tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A right handed body shot lands from Takanen.
Saga tries to pull guard but Takanen holds him up against the cage and eventually Saga drops back down to his feet.
Takanen lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Takanen crunches a lovely knee into Saga's ribcage.
A short left from Takanen.
Takanen unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Takanen lands a body punch in the clinch.
Takanen lands a shot to the body.
Takanen keeps control of Saga as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Takanen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Takanen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Saga backwards.

The cut above Ian Saga's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Takanen lands with a right to the head.
Takanen lands a shot to the body.
Takanen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Saga backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Esko Takanen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Takanen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:25
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:25
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esko Takanen!