PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robert Litwin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinji Takeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takeda has chosen Fort Minor-Kenji as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Litwin
vs
Takeda

190 cm
26
290 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

225 cm
26
300 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Robert Litwin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinji Takeda!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Seu Braga and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Litwin manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Takeda on his heels. He'll look to pass Takeda's guard now, I'm sure.
Litwin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Takeda swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Takeda has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Litwin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Takeda preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Litwin sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Takeda's guard.

Litwin is working for a kimura but Takeda is defending it quite comfortably.
Takeda is looking for a sweep. Litwin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Takeda looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Takeda looking for submissions off his back.
Litwin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Takeda keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Litwin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Litwin is looking to take a break and control but Takeda is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Takeda wants to control but Litwin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Litwin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Litwin looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Takeda looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Litwin is trying to control the action in half guard but Takeda is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Takeda trying to control from the bottom.
Litwin trying to mount his opponent but Takeda defends it.
Litwin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Takeda trying to hold on to Litwin's head to control him but Litwin postures up.
Litwin is looking to take a break and control but Takeda is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Takeda is looking to control Litwin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Takeda avoid being mounted?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Takeda slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeda keeping moving, preventing Litwin from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Litwin closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Takeda quickly recovers to half guard.
Takeda tries to roll over but Litwin keeps him under control.
Takeda moves into full guard.
Takeda keeping full guard, as Litwin tries to pass.
Litwin passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Litwin tries for a kimura but Takeda is defending well.
Litwin is looking to take a break and control but Takeda is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takeda is pushing Litwin's head away, looking to escape. Litwin manages to hold on to the position though.
Takeda is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Litwin off and has taken his back!

Litwin is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Takeda gets his way!
Litwin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takeda controlling well, preventing Litwin from escaping the position.

Takeda working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Litwin looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Takeda has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Robert Litwin will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Litwin shoots for a takedown but Takeda saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Litwin looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Takeda escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Litwin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Litwin wants to control from the top but Takeda keeps moving.
Litwin preventing the sweep.
Litwin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Takeda working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Litwin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Litwin throws a big elbow that misses.
Litwin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Takeda is keeping the position for now.

Litwin has gone for a leg lock! Takeda slips out almost immediately though and dives into Litwin's guard.

Takeda stands and steps away. Litwin gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Takeda clinches up against the cage.

Litwin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Litwin shoots in and bounces Takeda off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Takeda manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takeda thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Litwin is looking to get to half guard.
Takeda looking to control but Litwin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Takeda sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Litwin wants to control but Takeda is having none of it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Litwin is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.

Takeda goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Litwin is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Litwin's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Robert Litwin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Takeda wants to sweep here but Litwin controlling him for the moment.
Litwin trying to control but Takeda is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Litwin drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Takeda is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Litwin off and has taken his back!

Takeda is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Litwin is defending well though. Takeda let's go of the attempt for now.

Takeda patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Takeda is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Takeda is looking for the choke from the back position but Litwin is controlling his hands well.
Litwin trying to control the hands but Takeda breaks the grip.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Takeda looking for the choke from the back.
Litwin holding both Takeda 's hands and preventing any damage.
Takeda gets his hands free as Litwin looks to control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Takeda doesn't have the hooks in and Litwin manages to turn into his guard.
Litwin trying to control but Takeda is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Takeda looking to hit a scissor sweep but Litwin is one step ahead there.
Litwin cracks Takeda with a solid left hand.
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 Robert Litwin will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Takeda pushes Litwin up against the cage in a clinch.

Takeda is trying to trip Litwin. He has hold of a leg but Litwin is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Takeda persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

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

Litwin looking for a guillotine here but Takeda defends easily.

Takeda gets to his feet. Litwin looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Litwin tries to sprawl but Takeda drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Takeda wants to work for an arm triangle but Litwin is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takeda tries to stand but can't do so whilst Litwin controls his leg.
Takeda trying to mount his opponent but Litwin defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Litwin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Takeda pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Takeda postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Litwin to stand up.

Takeda gets a clinch.

Takeda pulls guard.
Litwin scoring with some ground and pound.
Litwin trying to control but Takeda is working from the bottom.

Litwin has gone for a leg lock! Takeda slips out almost immediately though and dives into Litwin's guard.
Litwin keeping moving, preventing Takeda from controlling successfully.

Litwin working for a triangle but Takeda defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takeda 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.

Takeda stands and steps away. Litwin gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Litwin closes the distance and clinches up with Takeda, looking for a takedown. Litwin pushes Takeda against the cage but Takeda circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Takeda is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Litwin's half guard.
Litwin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Litwin is trying to maintain the position but Takeda is very close to passing his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takeda is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Litwin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Takeda pulls his head out easily.
Takeda missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Takeda is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Litwin has managed to free his arm - good work.

Takeda is looking for a kimura here.

Takeda is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Litwin looking for submissions off his back.
Litwin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Robert Litwin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Takeda seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Litwin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Takeda is looking for a kimura but Litwin is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Takeda to get the leverage.
Takeda is trying to control the action in half guard but Litwin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Shinji Takeda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Litwin desperately trying to maintain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shinji Takeda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Litwin has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Robert Litwin!