PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jack Junk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kichiro Takaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takaki has chosen Kagaya, Shu, Takaki - Alexey Rybnikov as his entrance music. Jack Junk has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Junk
vs
Takaki

170 cm
26
130 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

177 cm
22
147 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jack Junk!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kichiro Takaki!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Junk closes the distance but Takaki moves to the side
and Takaki counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Junk keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Takaki.
Junk avoids the head kick by Takaki.
Junk throws a combination that misses
and Takaki counters with a straight right hand.
Takaki dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jack Junk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Junk looks to clinch
and Takaki counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Junk's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Takaki connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Junk scrambles back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Takaki takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takaki tries a head kick but it misses.
Junk connects with a good right hand that stumbles Takaki. Takaki circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Takaki throws a right hand that misses
and Junk counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Takaki uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Takaki lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Junk avoids the head kick by Takaki.
Takaki cracks Junk with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Takaki throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takaki swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Junk.
Takaki swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Takaki throws a looping overhand right but Junk ducks down to avoid it.
Junk avoids the head kick by Takaki.
Takaki is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Junk.
Junk tries to clinch up
and Takaki counters with a good low kick that Junk was not able to check.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takaki throws a hook but Junk blocks it.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Takaki.
Junk moves to clinch but Takaki breaks away
and Takaki counters with a low kick, right behind Junk 's knee.
A swing and a miss from Takaki.
Kichiro Takaki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Junk moves to clinch but Takaki breaks away
and Takaki counters with a two punch combo.
Junk moves to clinch but Takaki breaks away
and Takaki counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Junk displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Takaki throws out the jab.
Junk looks to clinch
and Takaki counters with a leg kick.
Takaki showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Junk.
Takaki is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Junk had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Junk tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Takaki counters with a nice low kick that buckles Junk's knee momentarily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Takaki shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kichiro Takaki dominated that round.
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.

Junk tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Takaki counters with a nice body kick.
Takaki feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Junk's calf.
Takaki throws a hook to the side of Junk's head but Junk sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Takaki misses the jab.
Takaki throws a body punch but Junk moves out of range.
Takaki circles away from the clinch attempt
and Takaki counters with an outside leg kick.
Takaki misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Junk counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takaki throws a right hand that misses
and Junk connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Takaki swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Junk to counter with a crisp jab.
Takaki lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Junk darts in trying to clinch
and Takaki counters with a stiff right hand.
Junk tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Takaki to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takaki throws a right and a left that Junk avoids nicely.
Junk swings for the body but Takaki moves out of range.
Takaki throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Junk counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A punch combination from Takaki misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Junk. Takaki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Takaki throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Takaki dodges the punch combination from Junk.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takaki throws a low kick but it's checked well by Junk.
Junk closes the distance but Takaki moves to the side
and Takaki counters with a big head kick but Junk shrugs it off.
Junk tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Takaki counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Kichiro Takaki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Takaki misses with a left hand
and Junk counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Junk lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Junk throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Takaki circles away from the clinch attempt
and Takaki counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Junk tries to clinch
and Takaki counters with a stiff right hand.
Junk throws a nice looking combination but Takaki bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Junk tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Takaki counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kichiro Takaki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Takaki throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Junk wants to clinch
and Takaki counters with a low kick, right behind Junk 's knee.
Junk tries to clinch
and Takaki counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Junk thinking.
Takaki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Junk counters with a one-two to the body.
Junk falls off balance throwing a combination
and Takaki counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Junk might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Nice straight punches there by Takaki. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Takaki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junk tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Takaki was well out of range. Poor timing from Junk.
Takaki feints and then cracks Junk's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Junk down.
Junk displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Takaki throws out the jab.
Takaki uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Junk.
Takaki attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Takaki thumps Junk with a low kick.
Takaki lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Takaki thumps Junk with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Takaki. That snapped Junk's head back.
Takaki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Junk.
Takaki misses with a hook.
Takaki misses with a hook
and Junk counters with a stiff right hand.
Takaki cracks Junk with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Takaki throws a head kick that misses.
Jack Junk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Junk tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Takaki counters with an outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Takaki. That's going to slow Junk down.
Takaki misses with a lunging right hand
letting Junk counter with a right hand.
Junk dodges the punch combination from Takaki.
Junk wants to clinch but Takaki slips to the side
and Takaki counters with a solid body kick.
Takaki feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Junks jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Takaki pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Junk misses with the combination.
Takaki has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Junk tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Takaki counters with a body kick.
Takaki throws a right hand that misses
and Junk counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Junk throws a lazy right hand but Takaki sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Takaki uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Junk has time to react.
Takaki will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Junk moves to clinch but Takaki breaks away
and Takaki counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kichiro Takaki really dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Junk lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Takaki throws a leg kick but Junk moved away.
Junk looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Takaki misses with a right hand
and Junk counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Takaki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Takaki misses with a head kick.
Takaki throws a head kick that misses.
Takaki plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Junk throws an overhand right that lands on Takaki's shoulder, as Takaki tries to avoid the shot.
Junk closes the distance but Takaki moves to the side
and Takaki counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takaki throws a lazy uppercut
and Junk counters with a stiff right hand.
Junk throws a body punch but Takaki moves out of range.
Takaki attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Junk tries to move into range but Takaki moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Takaki is looking to slow Junk down with leg kicks.
Junk looks to clinch
and Takaki counters with a two punch combo.
Junk tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Takaki counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takaki misses with a body shot
and Junk counters with a right hand to the body.
Takaki throws a leg kick but Junk checks it.
Junk closes the distance looking to clinch
and Takaki counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Junk is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Junk wants to clinch but Takaki slips to the side
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junk scores with a jab to the head.
Takaki showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Junk.
A slapping leg kick lands for Takaki.
Takaki misses with a right hand
and Junk counters with a nice uppercut.
Junk tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Takaki counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Junk wants to clinch
and Takaki counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Takaki misses with a body kick.
Junk is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Junk tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Takaki counters with a nice uppercut.
Junk misses with a hook
and Takaki counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Junk closes the distance but Takaki moves to the side
and Takaki counters with a series of strikes. Junk will be more careful next time no doubt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kichiro Takaki dominated that fourth round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Junk tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Takaki was well out of range. Poor timing from Junk.
Takaki throws the left hand but Junk avoids the punch easily.
Takaki throws a poor cross that misses
and Junk counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Takaki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Takaki lunges at Junk with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Junk's hand.
Takaki takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Junk checks a leg kick nicely.
Junk dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junk is trying hard to land a takedown here. Takaki sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Takaki shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Junk gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Takaki tries to move into range but Junk moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Junk scores with a jab to the body.
Junk tries to clinch but Takaki moves away
and Takaki counters with a nice uppercut.
Junk shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junk closes the distance but Takaki moves to the side
and Takaki makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Junk moves out of range of the strikes.
Junk wants to clinch but Takaki slips to the side
and Takaki counters with a leg kick.
Junk looks to clinch
and Takaki counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Junk moves out of range as Takaki throws a body kick.
Junk chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Takaki can pounce on him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junk looks to clinch
and Takaki counters with an outside leg kick.
Junk looks to clinch
and Takaki counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Takaki circles away from the clinch attempt
and Takaki counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kichiro Takaki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Junk avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Junk tries to clinch up
and Takaki connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takaki lands a high kick!
Takaki with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Takaki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Junk misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Takaki counters with a left and a right that stings Junk.
Jack Junk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Junk wants to clinch but Takaki slips to the side
and Takaki counters with a big head kick but Junk shrugs it off.
Takaki throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Junk makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kichiro Takaki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Takaki has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 44:50
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 45:50
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 44:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kichiro Takaki!
Kichiro Takaki is the new bantamweight champion!