PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tino Takala (ranked 977 p4p, 1864 weight class) and Rakeem Marley (ranked 153 p4p, 275 weight class). Marley has chosen Damian Marley - Welcome to Jamrock as his entrance music. 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.

Takala
vs
Marley

180 cm
36
218
16 - 11 - 2

189 cm
35
216
16 - 22 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Powerful

Champion Apparel

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 16 - 11 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Tino Takala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rakeem Marley!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Eddie Farnsworth and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takala throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A head kick misses from Marley.
Takala swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Marley on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Takala misses with a body kick.
Takala swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Takala leaves Marley with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marley goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Takala looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Marley doesn't manage to clinch there - Takala circles away.
Marley avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takala misses with a few strikes there.
Marley throws a counter combo.

Marley moves into the clinch.

Takala breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Takala misses with a double jab.
Marley delivers a nice body kick.
Marley rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Takala moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Marley has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Takala misses with the combination.
Takala cracks Marley with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takala throws a right and a left that both miss.
Takala avoids the head kick by Marley.
Marley misses with a wild body shot.
Takala throws a big counter combination but Marley scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
A head kick by Marley misses
and Marley takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Takala cracks Marley with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Takala avoids a punch combination nicely.
Marley works the jab nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takala takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Nice shot lands for Takala.

It looks like Rakeem Marley has been cut.
Takala lands with a straight right. Marley didn't see that one coming.
Marley tries to clinch there but Takala circles away.
Marley throws a head kick that misses.
Takala keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Marley.
Marley takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Takala feints with a jab and clips Marley right behind the ear with a massive overhand right! Marley is sent crashing into the canvas and Takala leaps in for the kill! Marley tries to get to his feet but Takala is just battering him from every conceivable angle. The ref decides that Marley is in need of a savior and steps in!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:50 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tino Takala!
After the big win, Tino Takala made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Champion Apparel and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.
Rakeem Marley was interviewed post fight and said 'I'll be back better, jah bless'.