PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mike Durham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazuyuki Takimoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Durham comes to the cage accompanied by F**kin Problems. The crowd seem to be enjoying Takimoto's choice of entrance music: Instrumental. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Durham
vs
Takimoto

170 cm
28
160 lbs
19 - 7 - 1

175 cm
31
164 lbs
25 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Mike Durham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 12 - 1, fighting out of New York, Kazuyuki Takimoto!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Paul Gruel and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Durham misses with a few strikes there.

Durham manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Takimoto on his heels. He'll look to pass Takimoto's guard now, I'm sure.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Durham scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Durham has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Durham working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Durham trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Durham wants to control from the top but Takimoto keeps moving.
Durham stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Takimoto swivels though and keeps the full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Takimoto is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Durham tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Takimoto slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Takimoto is pushing down on Durham's leg trying to pass to half guard. Durham is fighting to maintain full guard but Takimoto has managed to sneak the leg through.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Durham wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takimoto tries to pass to full mount but Durham defends it.
Durham manages to get to full guard.

Durham throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Takimoto is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Takimoto distracts Durham with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Durham looking to control.
Takimoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Durham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Durham looking to hit a scissor sweep but Takimoto is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durham pulls Takimoto in to control the position.
Takimoto works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Takimoto is trying to control. Durham wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Durham wants to get back to full guard.
Takimoto is looking to advance position but Durham won't allow it.
Durham is trying to get back to full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Durham looking for submissions off his back.
Durham wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takimoto throwing shots but Durham is blocking nicely.
Takimoto moves into full mount! Durham won't be happy about that!
Takimoto takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Takimoto putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Durham tries to hold on but Takimoto pushes him away.
Takimoto content just to control the position here.
Durham tries to lock up and control but Takimoto gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Durham bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Takimoto keeping moving, preventing Durham from controlling successfully.
Durham throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durham wants to control from the top but Takimoto keeps moving.
Takimoto is trying to control the position but Durham postures up.
Durham is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takimoto looking to hit a scissor sweep but Durham is one step ahead there.
Durham wants to pass the guard but Takimoto is keeping the position.
Takimoto will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Durham wants to pass the guard but Takimoto is keeping the position.
Takimoto not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Takimoto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Takimoto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Durham 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.

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

Durham on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Durham lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Takimoto circles away quickly and effectively.
Durham thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kazuyuki Takimoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Durham moves out of range of the strikes.
Takimoto misses the shot to the body.
A low kick from Takimoto misses
letting Durham counter with a right hand.
Horrible takedown by Takimoto or perhaps it was just good defense by Durham which made him look bad.
Durham lands a jab.
Durham avoids the head kick by Takimoto.
Durham fails to land with a series of punches.
Takimoto connects with a right hand. Durham shakes it off.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Takimoto looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Durham takes a swing at Takimoto's ribcage but misses.
Some wild striking there from Durham.
Durham throws a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takimoto scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Durham struggling a bit here.

Takimoto working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Durham is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Durham wants to get back to full guard.

Durham actively working from the bottom here.
Durham trying to control here.

Durham looking for submissions off his back.
Durham is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Takimoto's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Takimoto's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durham punches the canvas rather than the man.

Durham is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Takimoto knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Takimoto for a finish.
Durham doesn't have the hooks in and Takimoto manages to turn into his guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takimoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Durham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Durham looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Durham looking to hit a scissor sweep but Takimoto is one step ahead there.
Takimoto pushes down on Durham's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Durham wants to control but Takimoto is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durham regains full guard. Nicely done.
Takimoto is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Takimoto trying to control but Durham is working from the bottom.
Durham is trying to control the position but Takimoto postures up.
Takimoto wants to control from the top but Durham keeps moving.

Durham has his foot on Takimoto's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Takimoto works his way back into a safe position though.
Durham looking to control.
Durham 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.
Takimoto wants to control from the top but Durham keeps moving.
Takimoto passes Durham's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takimoto wants to pass the guard but Durham is defending well.

Durham looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Durham moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Takimoto stopping the sweep attempt from Durham.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Durham is trying to control the position but Takimoto postures up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takimoto trying to control but Durham is working from the bottom.
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 Mike Durham will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Durham slips a straight right by Takimoto.
Durham scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Durham stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Takimoto.
Durham fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Takimoto ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Durham tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Takimoto was well out of range. Poor timing from Durham.
Takimoto lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Durham walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nice uppercut lands for Takimoto. That snapped Durham's head back.

Durham shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Takimoto manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Takimoto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Durham can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Durham throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Takimoto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Takimoto keeping moving, preventing Durham from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durham scoring with some ground and pound.
Durham cracks Takimoto with a solid left hand.
Durham throws a big elbow that misses.
Takimoto keeping moving, preventing Durham from controlling successfully.
Durham looking to pass the guard.
Takimoto trying to control the position.
Takimoto tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Takimoto controls Durham momentarily but Durham frees himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kazuyuki Takimoto was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Durham misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Takimoto misses.
Durham misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A punch lands to the side of Takimoto 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Takimoto avoids the body shot from Durham.
Durham looks to land a right hand but Takimoto moved out of range.
Durham waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Takimoto.
Takimoto takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Durham throws a right and a left that Takimoto avoids nicely.
Takimoto fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Durham avoids it really well and circles away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Durham slips under a jab from Takimoto.
Takimoto drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
The fighters circling - Takimoto throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durham throws a right and a left that both miss.
Durham uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Takimoto.
Nice shot by Durham.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Durham.

Durham shoots in and bounces Takimoto off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Takimoto wants to sweep but no luck.
Kazuyuki Takimoto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Takimoto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Durham keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Takimoto's head.
Durham trying to control but Takimoto is working from the bottom.
Mike Durham is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Takimoto trying to keep a closed guard but Durham is proving a slippery customer.
Durham throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takimoto doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Durham stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Takimoto swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Durham postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Takimoto is on top in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Takimoto throws a big elbow that misses.
Takimoto won't allow Durham to sweep him here.
Takimoto tries to free his leg and advance position but Durham is retaining full guard.

Takimoto drops back looking for a leg! Durham is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Durham manages to kick Takimoto off! Takimoto jumps back into Durham's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Durham manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Takimoto manages to get himself to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Durham showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Durham has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Durham!
Mike Durham bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.