PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Luke Justice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazuo Takeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Justice
vs
Takeda

185 cm
22
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
173 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Luke Justice!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kazuo Takeda!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Russell Pearce and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Takeda.
Justice wants to get back to his feet but Takeda is dominant here and he's now got Justice's back!
Justice covering up well and avoiding damage.
Takeda is landing with strikes from the back.
Justice trying to get back to his feet but Takeda is in full control for now.
Takeda doesn't have the hooks in and Justice manages to turn into his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Takeda preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Takeda is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Justice keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Justice is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Takeda pulls his head out easily.
Takeda wants to pass to mount but Justice is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takeda missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Takeda has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Takeda wants to control the pace but Justice is squirming around nicely.
Justice flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Takeda looking to ground and pound but Justice is blocking nicely.
Takeda tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Takeda with the ground and pound from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Justice is in all sorts of trouble here.
Justice throwing hammer fists to the chest of Takeda. What's that going to do exactly?
Takeda is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Justice can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Takeda is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Justice can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Takeda lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Justice is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Takeda swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Justice is now in Takeda's guard. A big mistake from Takeda there, giving up the dominant position!

Takeda has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Justice can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Justice has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takeda working for a triangle but Justice defends it easily.
Justice trying to control the position from guard on top but Takeda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Justice sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Takeda's guard.

Justice decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Takeda swings for the body but Justice moves out of range.
Justice bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Justice looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Takeda!
Takeda is looking to get to half guard.
Takeda looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Justice stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Justice.
Takeda throws a body punch but Justice moves out of range.
A slow jab from Takeda misses its intended target.

Justice decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Takeda trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Justice wants to take a breather but Takeda is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Justice sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Takeda defending well though.
Justice seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Justice is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kazuo Takeda will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Justice has Takeda up against the cage in a clinch.
Takeda is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Justice gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Takeda is working for takedown but Justice is calmly controlling the position for now.
Justice's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Justice decides to pull guard.
Justice working a defensive guard but Takeda passes into half guard.
Takeda thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Justice scores with a few weak punches.

Justice actively working from the bottom here.
Takeda thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Takeda seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Justice does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Justice misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Justice trying to control from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Takeda shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Justice decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Takeda's guard.
Luke Justice has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazuo Takeda.
Takeda is breathing heavily.
Justice with a flurry of punches that miss.
Takeda wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Justice drops back, looking for a kneebar! Takeda looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Takeda looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Takeda!
Takeda working the ground and pound but Justice is defending the strikes.

Takeda tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Takeda has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Justice throws Takeda to one side and escapes!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takeda throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Justice avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Takeda throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Justice is looking to clinch.
Good shot there by Justice.
Justice cracks Takeda with a right hand to the side of the head.

It looks like Kazuo Takeda has been cut.
Luke Justice is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Justice looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Takeda!
Takeda is desperately trying to improve his position but Justice has a good base and remains in mount.
Takeda tries to control Justice's body but Justice pushes him off. Takeda squirms to his side and now Justice has his back!
Takeda tries to escape but Justice has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Justice gets his hands free as Takeda looks to control.
Justice controlling well, preventing Takeda from escaping the position.
Justice connects with a big shot to the side of Takeda's head.

Justice is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Takeda is defending well though. Justice let's go of the attempt for now.
Justice lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Takeda has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Takeda turns into Justice and is now in his guard.
Takeda is standing up over Justice. Justice looks to escape but Takeda dives into side control.
Justice is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Takeda's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takeda winds up and cracks Justice with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Takeda is trying to work for a kimura but Justice is defending well.

Justice has one foot on Takeda's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Justice scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Justice throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Takeda tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Takeda defending against the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Justice dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kazuo Takeda's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Justice shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Takeda wants to hold on but Justice pushes him away.
Takeda might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Justice kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Takeda sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Luke Justice overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Takeda trying to control but Justice postures up.
Justice is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Justice missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Takeda manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Takeda takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Takeda keeping moving, preventing Justice from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Justice thows a big elbow that misses.
Takeda trying to keep a closed guard but Justice is proving a slippery customer.
Justice lands a couple of digs.
Takeda avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Takeda manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Justice sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Justice is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Takeda pulls his head out easily.

Takeda is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Justice wants to control but Takeda is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Takeda not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Justice actively working from the bottom here.

Justice looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeda is tying to control. Justice wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Takeda not landing any meaningful shots this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Takeda throws a jab but it's blocked by Justice.
Some wild striking there from Takeda.
Justice lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Takeda looks to score with a jab to the body but Justice is just out of range.

Justice pushes Takeda up against the cage in a clinch.
Justice gets through Takeda's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Takeda goes for a takedown attempt but Justice pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Justice keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Justice moves into the clinch successfully.
Takeda tries for a takedown. No joy.
Justice lands with a light punch inside.
Justice lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Takeda backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Justice.
Justice blocking some punches.
Takeda drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Justice gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Luke Justice has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazuo Takeda.
Justice lands an uppercut.
Justice lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Takeda being controlled against the cage.

Justice jumps guard and drags Takeda to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Kazuo Takeda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Justice is looking for a triangle but Takeda pushes his legs off easily.

Takeda drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Takeda jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luke Justice showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Justice 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight for Luke Justice!
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight for Luke Justice!
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight for Luke Justice!

Luke Justice wins by unanimous decision!