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. Shinji Takeda is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Litwin
vs
Takeda

190 cm
26
290 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

225 cm
26
300 lbs
5 - 4 - 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 6 - 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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinji Takeda!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Paulo Santos and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Litwin tries to keep at a distance but Takeda has taken the fight into the clinch.
Takeda takes a shot to the head.
Takeda is trying to break free.
Litwin has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Takeda after a bit of a struggle.

Takeda has hold of one of Litwin's legs. Litwin is fighting the takedown attempt but Takeda gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Litwin throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Takeda wants to stand but Litwin has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Takeda looking to pass the guard.
Litwin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Litwin trying to control the position.

Takeda avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Takeda wants to control from the top but Litwin keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takeda is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Takeda trying to stand up but can't free himself from Litwin's guard.

Takeda drops back looking for a leg! Litwin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Litwin manages to kick Takeda off! Takeda jumps back into Litwin's guard.
Takeda wants to pass the guard but Litwin is keeping the position.
Litwin is trying to keep Takeda in close.

Takeda gets to his feet - Litwin follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Litwin misses with a takedown attempt

and Takeda counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Litwin is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takeda loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Takeda trying to control but Litwin is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Litwin keeping full guard, as Takeda tries to pass.
Takeda trying to control the position from guard on top but Litwin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Litwin on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Litwin tries to get out of the position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Shinji Takeda wasn't active enough on the ground.

Takeda looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Litwin!
Litwin tries to hold on but Takeda postures up.
Litwin is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takeda get's back to his feet.
Litwin doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Takeda counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Litwin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Takeda stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Takeda drives through with a takedown into Litwin's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
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!

Takeda stands up and waves to Litwin to follow him.

Takeda gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Takeda tightens his grip and picks Litwin up, before dumping him to the ground. Litwin manages to land in guard.
Takeda sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Litwin's guard.
Litwin has hold of Takeda's hands but Takeda slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Litwin is looking to improve his position.

Takeda stands up from half guard.
Takeda scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Takeda moves into the clinch.
Takeda tries to stall but Litwin uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Takeda has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Litwin clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Takeda throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

Takeda working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinji Takeda dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Litwin is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Takeda's half guard.

Litwin is working for a submission of some sort.
Takeda is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Litwin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Litwin's back!

Litwin defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Litwin breaks Takeda's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Takeda is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Litwin defends well.

Takeda looking for a guillotine here but Litwin defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takeda has an active guard here but Litwin has managed to pass into half guard.

Litwin wants to work for an arm triangle but Takeda is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Takeda is trying to stand.

Litwin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Takeda regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Litwin prevents Takeda from getting back to his feet.
Takeda keeping moving, preventing Litwin from controlling successfully.
Shinji Takeda has got the better of the ground game so far.
Takeda is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Takeda can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Litwin controls the pace.
Takeda is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Litwin wants to control from the top but Takeda keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Takeda gets the takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Takeda stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takeda drives through with a takedown into Litwin's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Takeda looking to sit in guard and control but Litwin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Litwin wants to pass the guard but Takeda is keeping the position.

Takeda is looking for a triangle but Litwin pushes his legs off easily.
Takeda trying to keep a closed guard but Litwin is proving a slippery customer.
Takeda keeping moving, preventing Litwin from controlling successfully.
Takeda is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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.
Takeda has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Litwin lands a couple of digs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Litwin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Takeda will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Takeda working for submissions but it's allowed Litwin to get to half guard.
Litwin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Takeda does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinji Takeda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Litwin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Litwin trying to control the position from guard on top but Takeda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Litwin drops back looking for a leg! Takeda is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Takeda manages to kick Litwin off! Litwin jumps back into Takeda's guard.
Litwin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Takeda working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Litwin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Litwin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Takeda throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Takeda looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takeda throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Litwin trying to control the position from guard on top but Takeda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Takeda had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Litwin defends it easily.

Takeda is looking for a triangle here but Litwin uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Litwin working away.
Litwin trying to control the action but Takeda is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Litwin tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Litwin has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Litwin wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Takeda, who protects the arm well.
Takeda can't do much from the bottom here.

Litwin tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Litwin swings around for an armbar but Takeda sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Litwin's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeda trying to control the position from guard on top but Litwin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Litwin has momentary wrist control but Takeda slips an elbow through the middle.
Takeda wants to control from the top but Litwin keeps moving.

Takeda stands up from Litwin's guard - Takeda perhaps looking for a knockout.

Litwin gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Takeda to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Takeda postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Takeda gets to his feet. Litwin looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Robert Litwin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Takeda closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Takeda lands in his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takeda tries to free his leg and advance position but Litwin is retaining full guard.
Robert Litwin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Takeda trying to control but Litwin is working from the bottom.

Takeda postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Litwin is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Takeda, into his guard.

Litwin is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shinji Takeda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Takeda 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shinji Takeda!
After the fight, Shinji Takeda was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.