PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Latish Festin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eddy Taksin (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.

Festin
vs
Taksin

170 cm
22
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

193 cm
21
160 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Latish Festin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Eddy Taksin!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Festin wants to clinch up but Taksin keeps it at a distance.
Taksin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Festin shoots in for a takedown but Taksin shows good takedown defense.
Taksin misses the shot to the body.
Taksin is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Festin dives in and grabs Taksin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Taksin pushes down on Festin's head and hops out.
Taksin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Festin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Taksin throws a right hand that Festin ducks under and follows up with a left that Festin also avoids with ease.
Eddy Taksin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taksin throws a sloppy head kick and Festin moves out of range easily.
Festin tries to score a power double leg takedown but Taksin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Festin somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Latish Festin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Festin fails with a takedown attempt.
Taksin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Taksin wants it to stay on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taksin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Taksin throws a nice looking combination but Festin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Taksin defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Festin.

Festin closes the distance and pushes Taksin back into the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Festin managing to block the knees to the body from Taksin.
Taksin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Festin is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Festin wants to break the clinch but can't.
Taksin tries to land a knee to the head but Festin blocks with his arms.
Taksin gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Festin.
A knee to the head by Taksin.
Festin tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A knee to the head by Taksin.
Festin slowing the pace effectively.
Taksin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Festin avoids it.
Festin pushes off an throws an elbow but Taksin leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Taksin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Festin avoids it.
Taksin tries to land a knee to the head but Festin blocks with his arms.
Taksin unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Festin is breathing heavily.
Festin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Festin has had enough of the clinch but Taksin keeps him there for the moment.
Festin jumps guard but Taksin stands there with Festin around his waist. Festin gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Taksin throws a knee to the head but misses.
Festin has had enough of the clinch but Taksin keeps him there for the moment.
Festin goes for a takedown in the clinch but Taksin prevents it.
Taksin scores with a knee to the head.
Festin avoiding damage as Taksin throws knees to the body.
Festin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taksin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Festin blocks it with crossed arms.
Festin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Taksin has him pressed against the cage.
Taksin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Festin is defending well for now.
Taksin landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Taksin misses with a knee to the head.
Festin avoiding damage as Taksin throws knees to the body.
Taksin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Festin avoids it.
Festin can't break the clinch.
Festin managing to block the knees to the body from Taksin.
Festin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Taksin avoids it.
Festin is working for takedown but Taksin is calmly controlling the position for now.
Festin tries to work over Taksin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Festin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Festin avoiding damage as Taksin throws knees to the body.
Festin managing to block the knees to the body from Taksin.
Taksin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Festin is defending well for now.
Taksin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Festin manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taksin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Festin's guard.

Taksin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Festin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Taksin has managed to get both his arms back between Festin's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Festin working a defensive guard here.
Taksin wants to stand but Festin is controlling his posture from full guard.
Taksin postures up.
Taksin has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Festin is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Taksin looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Taksin lands a high kick!
Festin moves out of range as Taksin throws a body kick.
Taksin throws a head kick that misses.
Taksin misses with a head kick.
Festin blocks a head kick by Taksin.
Festin fails with a takedown attempt.
Taksin scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Festin moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Festin jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Taksin walks away with a smile on his face. Festin gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Taksin connects with a high kick.

Taksin tries to keep at a distance but Festin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Festin wants a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddy Taksin dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Taksin misses with a series of wild punches.
A punch combination from Festin misses.
Taksin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Festin drives through and clinches with Taksin against the cage.
Taksin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Festin has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Taksin avoiding damage.
Taksin tries to land knees in the clinch but Festin avoids the damage to the body.
Festin managing to block the knees to the body from Taksin.
Taksin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Festin is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Taksin gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Taksin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Festin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Taksin tries to land a knee to the head but Festin blocks with his arms.
Festin tries for a takedown. No joy.
Taksin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Festin blocks it with crossed arms.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Festin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Festin fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Latish Festin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick misses from Taksin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Festin dives in and grabs Taksin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Taksin pushes down on Festin's head and hops out.
Festin wants to clinch
and Taksin counters with a body kick.
Taksin tries to clinch there but Festin circles away.
Taksin tries to clinch up.
Festin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taksin.
Taksin tries to close the distance and clinch but Festin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Taksin throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Taksin misses with a few strikes there.
Taksin fails with an attempt to clinch.
A head kick misses from Taksin.
Taksin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Taksin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taksin tries to clinch up but Festin circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Festin rushes Taksin and presses him up against the cage.
Taksin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Festin is defending well for now.
Taksin wants to stall.
Taksin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Festin is defending well for now.
Taksin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Festin is defending well for now.
Festin lands with a short shot to the head.
Taksin trying to stall but Festin improves his position.
Come on Festin - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Festin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Festin is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Taksin is keeping busy.
Taksin misses with a knee to the head.
Taksin missing with knees to the body.
Festin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Taksin smiles and moves away.
Taksin tries to clinch up

and Festin counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Festin fails to pull guard.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Taksin obliges.
Taksin slows down the pace here.
Festin trying to control the position but instead, Taksin has worked for underhooks and has pushed Festin into the cage.
Taksin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Festin blocks it with crossed arms.
Taksin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Taksin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Festin.
A knee to the head by Taksin.
A body shot lands from Festin.
Festin fails to pull guard.
Festin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Taksin smiles and moves away.
Taksin is looking to clinch.
Festin has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Festin there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Taksin closes the distance looking to clinch
and Festin counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Taksin misses with a double jab.
Taksin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Festin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taksin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Festin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Taksin but Taksin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Taksin thuds his shin into the meat of Festin's side.
Taksin tries to clinch up.
Taksin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taksin blocks the body kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Festin tries to clinch up.
Festin blocks the body kick.

Taksin drives through and clinches with Festin against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddy Taksin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Taksin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nice takedown defense from Taksin. No joy for Festin on that attempt.
Taksin falls off balance throwing a combination

and Festin moves into the clinch.
Taksin lands a knee to the head.
Taksin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Festin.
Taksin throws a knee to the head but misses.

Festin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Festin rushes Taksin and presses him up against the cage.
Festin tries a knee to the head but Taksin blocks it.
Festin has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Taksin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Festin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Festin jumps guard but Taksin stands there with Festin around his waist. Festin gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Latish Festin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taksin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Festin is defending well for now.
Taksin throws a knee to the head but misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Festin goes for a takedown in the clinch but Taksin prevents it.
Festin jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Taksin walks away with a smile on his face. Festin gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Taksin looks to land a combination but Festin avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Festin misses with a straight left.

Festin rushes Taksin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Taksin tries to land knees in the clinch but Festin avoids the damage to the body.
Festin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Taksin has him pressed against the cage.
Taksin effectively controlling the action here.
Taksin looking to throw knees to the head but Festin is blocking nicely.
Taksin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Festin is defending well for now.

Festin breaks the clinch.
Taksin misses with a two punch combination.
Taksin avoids the head kick by Festin.
Taksin tries to clinch there but Festin circles away.
Taksin keeps Festin at a distance using the push kick.
Taksin wants to clinch.
Taksin tries to land a front kick but Festin steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Festin has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Festin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Festin misses with a head kick.
Taksin throws a head kick that misses.
Festin shoots in but no luck this time.
Taksin wants to clinch

and Festin moves into the clinch.
Taksin lands a knee to the body.
Festin tries for a takedown but Taksin manages to get underhooks.
Festin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Taksin as Festin tries to tie him up.
Taksin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Festin blocks it with crossed arms.
Taksin gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Festin.
Festin managing to block the knees to the body from Taksin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taksin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Festin managing to block the knees to the body from Taksin.
Festin has Taksin pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Taksin manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Taksin tries to land knees in the clinch but Festin avoids the damage to the body.

Festin gets control of Taksin's arms and successfully pulls guard. Festin will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Taksin decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Festin, up you get!
Taksin misses with a two punch combination.
Nice takedown defense from Taksin. No joy for Festin on that attempt.
Taksin tries a head kick but it misses.
Festin shoots in but no luck this time.
Taksin misses with a head kick.
Festin closes the distance looking to clinch
and Taksin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Festin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Festin fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taksin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Taksin lands a jab-cross combination.
Festin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Taksin misses with a head kick.
Taksin stuffs the takedown attempt from Festin. Festin gets slowly back to his feet.
Taksin wants to clinch but Festin slips to the side

and Festin counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Festin.
Festin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Taksin tries a knee to the head but Festin blocks it.
Taksin creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Festin is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Taksin gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Festin avoiding damage as Taksin throws knees to the body.
Eddy Taksin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Festin digs a right hand into Taksin's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Taksin's gas tank.
Taksin tries to land a knee to the head but Festin blocks with his arms.
Taksin throws a knee to the head but misses.
Latish Festin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Festin is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Taksin is keeping busy.
Festin lands a body shot in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eddy Taksin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Taksin winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eddy Taksin!