PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Saguro Takada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Shaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saguro Takada has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Takada
vs
Shaw

165 cm
27
155 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

175 cm
21
157 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

MADE IN GERMANY

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Saguro Takada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sam Shaw!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Russell Pearce and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shaw takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Shaw avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Takada misses with a two punch combination.
Takada jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shaw misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Takada.
Takada throws a good cross that connects.
Shaw moves away from the strike by Takada.
Horrible takedown by Shaw or perhaps it was just good defense by Takada which made him look bad.
Takada dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Shaw throws a nice looking combination but Takada bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Takada works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Shaw drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Shaw is looking to take a break and control but Takada is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Takada is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Shaw's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takada connecting with a few gentle strikes.

Shaw wants to work for an arm triangle but Takada is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shaw tries to pass the half guard into mount. Takada knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Shaw seems to be looking for submissions.
Takada is looking to control Shaw's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Takada avoid being mounted?

Shaw is working for a kimura but Takada is defending it quite comfortably.
Takada wants to improve his position but Shaw is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Takada makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Takada.
Takada has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Takada is trying to control the position but Shaw postures up.
Shaw wants to control from the top but Takada keeps moving.
Takada bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Shaw's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takada is pushing down on Shaw's leg trying to pass to half guard. Shaw is fighting to maintain full guard but Takada has managed to sneak the leg through.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takada trying to control the action but Shaw is working from the bottom.
Takada passes to side control.
Shaw struggling a bit here.
Takada working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Shaw holds on to Takada's head and controls the position momentarily.

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.
Shaw trying to remain calm as Takada controls from the top position.
Takada wants to control but Shaw is keeping him busy.
Shaw is trying to escape the position but Takada is controlling the position.
Takada sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Shaw is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Takada in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Takada lands a few punches from side control.
Who's going to make the next move?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saguro Takada dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Takada gets a clinch.
Takada is trying to stall.
Shaw misses with a hook to the ribs.
Takada blocks a body shot from Shaw.
Shaw is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Takada is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A left hand lands to the body for Takada.
Takada keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Shaw's efforts to push away.
Takada holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Takada breaks the clinch.
Takada thows a left - swing and a miss!
Takada throws a solid leg kick but Shaw takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Takada.
Shaw fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Shaw throws a hook but Takada blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw tries to move into range but Takada moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Shaw fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Takada manages to avoid it.
Takada misses with a hook. Shaw ducked under it nicely.
Takada misses with an uppercut.
Takada lands a slapping body shot.
Shaw fails with the takedown.
Takada digs a good body shot into Shaw's ribs.
Sam Shaw is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shaw will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Shaw shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Takada defends it nicely.
Shaw connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Takada's hands.
Sam Shaw seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takada with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Shaw to score with a decent uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaw falls off balance throwing a combination
and Takada counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Shaw throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Takada lands a jab to the head.
Takada bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Takada will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A big left from Shaw misses.
Shaw gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Takada counters with a stiff right hand.
Saguro Takada has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Shaw.
A swing and a miss from Takada.
Shaw tries for a takedown but Takada circles away easily
and Shaw takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Shaw is breathing heavily.

Takada is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Shaw's half guard.
Takada perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takada sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shaw defending well though.
Takada prevents Shaw from improving his position.
Shaw wants to control but Takada is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Takada works his way into side control.
Shaw takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Takada throws a strike aimed at the side of Shaw's head but Shaw avoids it well.
Shaw tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Takada presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Takada breaks from Shaw's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Shaw is rocked!
Shaw wants to hold on but Takada pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaw is looking to get to half guard.
Takada connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Shaw is still in real trouble! Can Takada finish him?
Shaw tries to lock up and control but Takada gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Shaw seems to have recovered his senses.
Takada breaks from Shaw's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Takada looking to control and managing it successfully.
Shaw is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Shaw wants to control but Takada is having none of it.
Takada tries to control but Shaw wriggling away.
Shaw is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saguro Takada dominated that second 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.

A shot to the body from Shaw misses
and Takada counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Shaw connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Shaw throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Takada sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Shaw throws a predictable looking body shot
and Takada makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Takada ducks under a wild hook from Shaw.
A telegraphed right hand from Takada misses the target.
Shaw misses with a wild body shot.
Takada scores with a three punch combo!
Shaw uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Takada.
Takada works Shaw's body with a nice hook.
Shaw gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Takada cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Shaw takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shaw throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Takada sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Shaw throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Takada thuds his right hand into Shaw's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw has his takedown stuffed

and Takada counters with a single leg into guard. Shaw didn't expect that.
Takada seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Shaw wants to sweep but no luck.
Takada tries to free his leg and advance position but Shaw is retaining full guard.
Takada controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Takada tries to free his leg and advance position but Shaw is retaining full guard.
Takada is in close to Shaw's body, working some short punches and elbows.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takada trying to control the position from guard on top but Shaw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takada pushes down on Shaw's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Takada tries to pass to full mount but Shaw defends it.
Saguro Takada overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Takada sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shaw defending well though.
Takada trying to control from half guard but Shaw is working away.
Takada keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Shaw is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Takada's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Takada's back!

Shaw is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Takada knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Takada for a finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takada trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Takada tries to break free.

Shaw looking for the choke but no joy.
Takada turns into Shaw and is now in his guard.
Takada trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Takada looking to pass the guard.

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.
Takada postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shaw looking for a sweep. Not yet Shaw, not yet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Takada moves out of range as Shaw strikes.
Takada lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Shaw avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Takada doesn't manage to clinch there - Shaw circles away.
Shaw swings for the body but Takada moves out of range.
Shaw lands a jab to the head.
A nice combination there by Takada.

Takada clinches up against the cage.
Takada lands a nice shot to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Shaw as Takada tries to tie him up.
Shaw wants a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saguro Takada clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Takada slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Takada misses the target.
The fighters circling - Takada throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Takada tries to clinch up but Shaw circles away and keeps his distance.
Takada just misses with a punch to the body.

Shaw closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Takada to the mat! Takada manages to get full guard.
Takada will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Takada keeping moving, preventing Shaw from controlling successfully.
Shaw is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Takada looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takada doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Shaw trying to control the position from guard on top but Takada is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Shaw thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shaw tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Takada was well out of range. Poor timing from Shaw.

Takada feints and as Shaw raises his hands in defense, Takada changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Shaw looking to hit a scissor sweep but Takada is one step ahead there.
Takada throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takada looking to pass the guard.
Shaw keeping moving, preventing Takada from controlling successfully.
Shaw not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Shaw keeping full guard, as Takada tries to pass.
Shaw is looking to sweep but instead, Takada has passed into half guard.
Shaw is refusing to be controlled, as Takada sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Takada jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shaw uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Takada.
Takada takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Shaw fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Takada looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Takada lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Shaw at a distance.

Takada rushes Shaw and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Shaw stalling in the clinch but Takada improves position.
Shaw swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nice body punch from Takada.

Takada breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Takada throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Shaw takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Takada throws a big shot that misses.
Takada loads up on a big right hand but Shaw slips the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takada misses with a looping left.
A jab from Takada misses.
Shaw ducks under a wild hook from Takada.
Shaw misses with a wild combination.
Takada ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Takada misses with an uppercut.
Shaw scores with a three punch combo!
Shaw misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Takada.
Takada is trying hard to land a takedown here. Shaw sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Takada listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Takada displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Shaw throws out the jab.
Shaw ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saguro Takada had his way with Sam Shaw in that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Takada shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Takada lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Takada jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Shaw with a hook.
A combination from Shaw does no damage.
Shaw fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Takada manages to avoid it.
Takada throws a hook to the side of Shaw's head but Shaw sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shaw throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shaw misses with a wild body shot.
Takada tries to clinch but Shaw is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takada scores with a hook.
Shaw misses with a takedown
letting Takada counter with a right hand.
Shaw lands a jab to the nose.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw takes a swing at Takada's ribcage but misses.
Takada misses with a hook. Shaw ducked under it nicely.
Shaw throws a series of punches but Takada avoids them all with ease.
Takada scores with a nice right hand.
Takada ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shaw moves away.
Takada pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Shaw displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Takada swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Shaw fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shaw is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Shaw misses with a double jab
enabling Takada to counter with a crisp jab.
Shaw tries for a takedown but Takada sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Saguro Takada has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Shaw.
Takada lands a head shot.
Takada throws a nice looking combination but Shaw bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takada bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Shaw's head backwards.
Shaw ducks under a wild hook from Takada.
Takada steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Shaw.
Shaw has his takedown stuffed
and Takada connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Takada looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Shaw!
Takada loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Shaw scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Takada land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Takada stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:44 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Saguro Takada!