PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Hartman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tetsuya Takimoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Hartman
vs
Takimoto

180 cm
23
155 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

176 cm
30
157 lbs
18 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nathan Hartman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tetsuya Takimoto!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Seu Braga and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hartman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Takimoto.
Takimoto fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Takimoto showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hartman.
Hartman walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Takimoto stuffs the takedown.
Takimoto keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hartman.
Takimoto loads up on a big right hand but Hartman slips the punch.
Takimoto avoids a punch combination nicely.
Takimoto thows a body shot but no joy.
Takimoto misses with a hook. Hartman ducked under it nicely.
Takimoto throws a shot to the body.
Takimoto lands a body shot.
Takimoto pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hartman fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hartman misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takimoto throws a big shot that misses.
Takimoto scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hartman tries to clinch up but Takimoto circles away and keeps his distance.
Hartman has a takedown stuffed.
Takimoto looks to score with a jab to the body but Hartman is just out of range.
Takimoto misses the shot to the body.
Hartman rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Takimoto moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hartman tries to clinch there but Takimoto circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hartman.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Hartman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hartman fails to land with a series of punches.
The fighters circle momentarily. Takimoto darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hartman misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hartman looks to land a left hand but Takimoto moved out of range nicely.
Hartman swinging wildly here.
Takimoto lands a slapping body shot.
Takimoto takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Hartman scores with a nice strike.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Hartman feints and as Takimoto raises his hands in defense, Hartman changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hartman is breathing heavily.
Takimoto being controlled here, momentarily.
Hartman being controlled here momentarily.
Hartman won't allow Takimoto to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takimoto pushes Hartman off and gets back to his feet.
A punch combination from Hartman misses.
Takimoto throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hartman sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hartman looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Hartman uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Takimoto.
Hartman looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Takimoto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Takimoto looks to score with a jab to the body but Hartman is just out of range.
Hartman misses with a two punch combination.
Hartman lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Takimoto backs up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takimoto with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hartman to score with a decent uppercut.
Takimoto is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hartman blocks a jab.
Takimoto doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Hartman shoots in and bounces Takimoto off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hartman looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hartman wants to control from the top but Takimoto keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tetsuya Takimoto will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Takimoto misses with a looping left.
Hartman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Takimoto lands a glancing blow to the side of Hartman's head.

Takimoto gets caught flat footed, as Hartman shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hartman trying to control but Takimoto is working from the bottom.
Takimoto wants to sweep but no luck.
Takimoto being controlled here, momentarily.
Hartman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Takimoto has his foot on Hartman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hartman works his way back into a safe position though.
Takimoto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Takimoto is breathing heavily.
Hartman trying to control but Takimoto is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartman sitting in guard here, content to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Nathan Hartman just wasn't active enough.
Hartman tries to clinch up.
Takimoto just misses with a punch to the body.
Hartman misses with a wild combination.
Takimoto uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hartman.
Takimoto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hartman manages to avoid it.
Takimoto thows a body shot but no joy.
Tetsuya Takimoto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hartman connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Takimoto momentarily.
Hartman misses with a combination
and Takimoto counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Donk. Takimoto catches Hartman right on the button with a cross.
Tetsuya Takimoto seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hartman fails with the takedown.
Hartman shoots in looking for a takedown. Takimoto tries to sprawl out of it but Hartman keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Takimoto manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Hartman clinches.

Takimoto breaks from the clinch.

Hartman takes the fight into the clinch.
Hartman is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Hartman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Takimoto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Takimoto gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takimoto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Takimoto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hartman takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Takimoto displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hartman.
A slow jab from Takimoto misses its intended target.
Takimoto connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hartman wants to clinch.
Hartman tries to clinch but Takimoto is having none of it.
Nathan Hartman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hartman fails to land with a series of punches.
Hartman looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Takimoto is fending him off so far but Hartman persists. Nope, Takimoto circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hartman uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Takimoto.
Takimoto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hartman catches Takimoto with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Takimoto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hartman.
Hartman misses with a double jab.
Hartman throws a jab when Takimoto was well out of range.
A right-left combo lands from Takimoto.
Some wild striking there from Hartman.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Takimoto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hartman was well out of range. Poor timing from Takimoto.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Takimoto clobbers Hartman with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Hartman will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hartman tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Takimoto manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nathan Hartman will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Hartman gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Hartman closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hartman lands in his opponent's guard.
Takimoto seems keen to control Hartman's posture.
Takimoto looking to control.
Hartman tries to free his leg and advance position but Takimoto is retaining full guard.
Hartman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Hartman throwing strikes but missing.
Hartman trying to control but Takimoto is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Nathan Hartman just wasn't active enough.
Takimoto throws a jab when Hartman was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartman tries to clinch but Takimoto is having none of it.
Takimoto avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hartman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Takimoto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Takimoto connects with a body shot that sends Hartman's belly button to the back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hartman fails with a takedown attempt.
Hartman throws a right hand that Takimoto ducks under and follows up with a left that Takimoto also avoids with ease.
Hartman shoots in for a double leg but Takimoto sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hartman tries to clinch
and Takimoto counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Takimoto scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Takimoto lands a right hook to the body.
Good exchange - Takimoto coming out on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takimoto cracks Hartman with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Takimoto.
Takimoto stuns Hartman with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Takimoto digs a good body shot into Hartman's ribs.
Takimoto connects with a body shot.
Nice shot by Takimoto.
A telegraphed right hand from Takimoto misses the target.
Takimoto throws a body punch but Hartman moves out of range.
Takimoto fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hartman looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Takimoto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hartman manages to avoid it.
Hartman closes the distance and clinches up with Takimoto, looking for a takedown. Hartman pushes Takimoto against the cage but Takimoto circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Hartman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Takimoto looks to score with a jab to the body but Hartman is just out of range.
Hartman misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takimoto swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hartman fails with an attempt to clinch.

Hartman shoots in and gets a takedown into Takimoto's guard.
Hartman is fighting to break Takimoto's control of his arms but Takimoto is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Hartman trying to control the position from guard on top but Takimoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hartman looking to sit in guard and control but Takimoto gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Takimoto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hartman is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hartman takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hartman looks for a takedown but Takimoto sprawls well.
Hartman misses with a double jab.
Takimoto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hartman.
Hartman looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Takimoto is fending him off so far but Hartman persists. Nope, Takimoto circles away and we're back to standing.
Takimoto thows a body shot but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A big left from Takimoto misses.
Takimoto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Takimoto misses with a wild body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tetsuya Takimoto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Takimoto has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Tetsuya Takimoto!
Tetsuya Takimoto really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Vandal Fight Boutique (prices $8 - $30) logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.