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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Topi Takala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Begbie Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takala comes to the cage accompanied by Volga. Franco comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Born Slippy kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Begbie Franco has the eye of the tiger tonight.
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| 198 cm
37
188 lbs
41 - 15 - 2 |
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185 cm
37
190 lbs
32 - 18 - 1 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
41 - 15 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Topi Takala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
32 - 18 - 1, fighting out of London, Begbie Franco!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takala looks to score with a jab to the body but Franco is just out of range.
Franco misses with a lunging right hand
and Takala counters with a stiff right hand.
Franco avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Takala connects with a leg kick. Franco looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Takala takes a jab right on the kisser.
Takala throws a shot from downtown. Franco moves away and avoids it.
Takala fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Takala moves out of range of the strikes.
Takala half committed to a counter leg kick.
Takala gets tackled into the cage by Franco. Franco maintains the clinch.
Takala lands with a right to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Takala.
Franco misses with some punches.
Still in the clinch, Takala scores with a nice short uppercut.
Franco blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takala tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Takala struggles to land a body shot inside as Franco controls his hands.
Franco misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short right from Takala on the inside.
Takala misses with a body punch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco manages to break the clinch.
Takala misses with a low kick.
A little jabbing left from Franco on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Takala scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Franco cracks Takala with an open hand slap.
Franco misses with a low kick.
Takala keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Franco throws a hook but Takala blocks it.
Takala throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Franco goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A clash of legs there as Takala blocks the low kick.
Takala misses with a wild body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Franco! But no joy.
Takala wants to land a leg kick but Franco is out of range.
Takala feints and then cracks Franco's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Franco down.
Takala fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Takala throws out a leg kick but Franco moves out of range and Takala only half commits.
Franco just misses with a punch to the body.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takala misses with a hook.
Takala throws a half hearted mid kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Franco tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Takala ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Takala swings for the body but Franco moves out of range.
Takala circles away from the clinch attempt.
Takala tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Takala with a hook.
Franco fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Takala is out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Takala.
Franco ducks under a wild hook from Takala.
Takala throws a leg kick but Franco sees it coming and moves out of range.
Takala checks a leg kick.
Takala throws a body shot but no joy.
Franco tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Takala connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco throws a head kick that Takala semi-blocks.
Takala fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Franco checks it well.
Takala punishes Franco's body with a nice straight punch.
Franco lands with a thumping leg kick.
Good leg kick by Takala there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Takala dodges the punch combination from Franco.
Franco slips a jab from Takala.
As Takala backs off Franco throws a huge counter combo but Takala manages to avoid it all.
Franco takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Franco misses the shot to the body.
Takala fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Franco steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Takala.
Takala chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Franco can pounce on him.
Takala circles away from the clinch attempt.
A nice inside leg kick there by Franco. That's going to slow Takala down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takala throws a hook but Franco blocks it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takala moves out of range of the body kick from Franco.
Franco lands a nice shot that snaps Takala's head back.
Takala throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Franco counters with a thumping low kick.
Franco misses with a hook.
Franco avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Franco avoids the body shot from Takala.
Franco appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Nice body kick from Franco.
Takala lunges at Franco with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Franco's hand.
Franco fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Franco takes a jab right on the kisser.
Takala is looking to score with low kicks.
Franco scores with the left hand. Takala knows he should have avoided that one.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice defenses there by Franco.
Franco misses with an attempted mid kick.
Franco throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Topi Takala will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.
A clash of legs there as Takala blocks the low kick.
Franco lands with a thumping leg kick.
Takala with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Franco turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Franco misses with a low kick.
Takala throws a shot from downtown. Franco moves away and avoids it.
Takala with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Franco is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Franco misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Takala misses with a two punch combination.
Takala is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Takala swings for the body but Franco moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takala connects with a leg kick. Franco looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Topi Takala is winning the standup battle so far.
Franco lands with a nice body punch.
Franco scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Takala throws a solid leg kick but Franco takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Takala.
A clash of legs there as Franco blocks the low kick.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Franco misses with a low kick.
Takala fires out a quick counter leg kick but Franco just manages to avoid it.
Franco staying out of range there.
Nice cross by Takala.
A good leg kick by Takala.
Takala misses with a kick to the body.
Takala checks a leg kick nicely.
Franco works Takala's body with a nice hook.
Franco tries to clinch but Takala moves out of range.
Franco moves out of range of the leg kick from Takala.
Takala cracks Franco with a good jab.
Takala really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Franco dodges the punch combination from Takala.
Takala looks to score with a jab to the body but Franco is just out of range.
Franco's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Takala is looking to score with low kicks.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takala chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Franco displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Takala throws out the jab.
Takala lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Franco backs up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takala takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Franco lands a head kick!
Takala misses with a wild body shot.
Franco throws out a counter right but Takala avoids it with no problem.
Takala misses with a looping left.
Franco misses with a wild body shot.
Franco scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Franco with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Franco throws the left hand but Takala avoids the punch easily.
Franco gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Franco misses with an uppercut.
Takala is looking to counter punch.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Takala.
Takala uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Franco has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Takala finds it's way round the side to connect with Franco's head.
Takala is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takala blocks a low kick nicely.
Franco blocks a low kick nicely.
Franco now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Franco is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Takala.
Takala scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Franco takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Takala is looking to chop away at Franco's legs.
It looks like Takala has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
A nice leg kick lands there from Franco.
Takala misses with a wild body shot.
Franco misses with a series of wild punches.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Franco throws a leg kick that is checked
and Takala counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Takala dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Takala swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Takala thows a leg kick but Franco checks it
and Franco counters with a nice uppercut.
Franco moves away from the strike by Takala.
Takala is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Franco can do to turn this around?
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco staying out of range there.
Nice defenses there by Franco.
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!
Franco throws a low kick but Takala avoids it.
An inside leg kick from Takala misses.
Takala swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Franco with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Franco tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Franco throws a head kick but Takala moves out of range.
Franco feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Takala's calf.
Franco throws a jab but it's blocked by Takala.
Takala lands with a right hand.
Takala looks to land a left hand but Franco moved out of range nicely.
A good leg kick by Franco.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Franco slips a straight right by Takala.
Franco lands with a straight right. Takala didn't see that one coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Topi Takala dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!
Takala scores with a head kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Franco.
Takala misses with a wild body shot.
Takala throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Takala throws a big shot that misses.
Franco lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Takala misses with a straight left.
Franco bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Franco throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Franco connects with a leg kick. Takala looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Franco takes one to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takala on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Franco throws a right and a left that Takala avoids nicely.
Takala throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Franco uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Takala.
Franco displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Takala throws out the jab.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Takala just misses with a punch to the body.
Takala pivots, looking for a leg kick but Franco is out of range and Takala settles back down.
Franco blocks a jab.
A slow jab from Takala misses its intended target.
Takala misses with a series of wild punches.
Takala swings widly with a right hand
and Franco counters with a nice uppercut.
Takala throws out a loose jab but Franco uses good head movement to avoid it.
Takala throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Takala is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Franco.
Takala moves out of range of the leg kick from Franco.
Franco thows a left - swing and a miss!
Takala tried to counter with a leg kick but Franco avoided it.
Takala uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Franco.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Takala manages to avoid it.
Takala fires out a quick counter leg kick but Franco just manages to avoid it.
Takala connects with a looping right hand.
Takala wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Franco throws a body kick that misses.
Takala scores with a punch to the head.
Franco misses with a straight left.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fighters circling - Franco throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Takala ducks under a wild hook from Franco.
Takala throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Franco connects with an inside leg kick.
Franco checks a leg kick.
Takala throws a poor cross that misses
and Franco counters with a nice body shot.
Franco attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Takala misses the jab.
Takala works the jab nicely.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takala checks the leg kick.
Franco throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Takala throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Takala lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Franco at a distance.
Takala misses with a wild body shot.
Franco fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Takala is out of range.
Takala feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Takala scores with a sloppy right hand. Franco should have avoided that one.
Begbie Franco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Takala scoring well with a low kick there.
Franco has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Takala connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Franco's hands.
A jab from Takala misses.
Franco takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Takala fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Franco manages to avoid it.
Franco is looking to clinch.
Franco looks to land a combination but Takala avoids it well.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takala with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Franco throws a low kick but Takala avoids it.
Franco walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Takala checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Franco misses with a combination
and Takala counters with a one-two to the body.
Franco fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Takala has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Franco lands a leg kick that knocks Takala off balance momentarily.
Takala lands a head shot.
Franco swings for the body but Takala moves out of range.
Takala connects with a leg kick. Franco looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Takala lands with a hook. Franco tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Franco shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Franco checks a low kick from Takala.
A solid leg kick lands there for Takala.
Franco throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Takala.
And that's the end of the fight!
Topi Takala showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Takala 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Topi Takala!
An out of breath Topi Takala thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
74% |
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