PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Esko Takanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ace Darko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Darko has chosen The Black Keys - Breaks as his entrance music. Ace Darko is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Takanen
vs
Darko

175 cm
36
179 lbs
37 - 18 - 2

178 cm
34
180 lbs
35 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 37 - 18 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Esko Takanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 14 - 1, fighting out of London, Ace Darko!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takanen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Takanen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Darko tries to score with a low kick but Takanen moves his leg out of the way.
Darko fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Takanen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A big right from Darko misses.
A big right from Darko misses.
Darko goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A big right from Takanen misses.
Takanen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Takanen misses with a straight left.
Takanen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Takanen there as he acknowledges the shot.
Darko tries a low kick but Takanen avoids it.
Darko takes a jab right on the kisser.
Takanen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Takanen dips to his left and cracks Darko with an uppercut!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Darko just misses with a punch to the body.
Darko takes a swing at Takanen's ribcage but misses.
Sloppy strikes from Takanen. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darko throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Takanen stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Darko waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Takanen.
Takanen just misses with a punch to the body.
Darko misses the jab.
Darko swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Takanen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Darko.
Darko avoids a punch combination nicely.
A chopping leg kick lands by Takanen.
Darko ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Takanen moves away.
Takanen bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Darko's head.
Darko finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Darko walks into a jab.
Darko throws a right and a left that Takanen avoids nicely.
Darko fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Takanen has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darko misses with a kick to the body
and Takanen counters with a nice body shot.
Darko is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Takanen rather than just go for the knockout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Takanen looks to score with a jab to the body but Darko is just out of range.
Takanen staying out of range there.
Takanen thows a body shot but no joy.
Takanen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Darko ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Takanen moves away.
Darko gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Takanen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Darko misses with a low kick.
Darko punishes Takanen's body with a nice straight punch.
Takanen with a hook.
Darko throws a body punch but Takanen moves out of range.
Darko on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Takanen. Takanen obviously looking to wear him down.
Good standup being displayed there by Takanen as he connects with a hook.
Takanen moves forwards but Darko connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Takanen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Takanen swings for the body but Darko moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takanen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Takanen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Darko.
Good standup being displayed there by Takanen as he connects with a hook.
A thudding body kick lands there by Darko!
Takanen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Darko manages to avoid it.
Darko throws a sloppy head kick
and Takanen counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Takanen misses with a hook. Darko ducked under it nicely.
Takanen swings for the body but Darko moves out of range.
Darko takes one on the button.
Darko misses with a straight right.
Takanen scores with a jab to the jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Darko misses with a series of wild punches.
A big left from Takanen misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takanen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Takanen blocks a jab.
Darko scores with a punch to the head.
A bone on bone clash there as Takanen blocks the leg kick.
Takanen jabs Darko to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Darko misses with a low kick.
Darko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Darko throws a body punch but Takanen moves out of range.
Takanen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Darko at a distance.
Darko thows a body shot but no joy.
Takanen swings for the body but Darko moves out of range.
Takanen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Darko moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Takanen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Darko doesn't seem bothered though.
Darko lands with a straight right. Takanen didn't see that one coming.
Takanen scores with a body shot.
Darko waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Takanen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esko Takanen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Darko has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Takanen.
Darko plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Darko looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Darko stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Takanen.
Takanen misses with a double jab.
Darko will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Darko swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Takanen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Darko can pounce on him.
Darko moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Darko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Darko throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Takanen counters with an outside leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Darko.
Takanen cracks Darko with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Darko scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Takanen throws a right and a left that Darko avoids nicely.
Darko thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takanen misses with a hook.
A shot to the body from Takanen misses
and Darko counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Darko. Takanen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Darko fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Takanen avoids the head kick by Darko.
Takanen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Takanen throws out a loose jab but Darko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Takanen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Takanen lands with a nice body punch.
Darko throws a right and a left that Takanen avoids nicely.
Darko goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Takanen misses with a straight left.
Takanen lands with a cross.
Darko lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Darko avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Takanen lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Darko steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Takanen.
A left lands for Darko.
Takanen looks to score with a jab to the body but Darko is just out of range.
Takanen connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Darko's hands.
Takanen throws the left hand but Darko avoids the punch easily.
Darko throws a shot from downtown. Takanen moves away and avoids it.
Takanen misses with a leg kick
and Darko counters with an outside leg kick.
A leg kick checked by Darko.
Darko avoids the body shot from Takanen.
Takanen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Darko throws a head kick that misses.
Takanen looks to score with a jab to the body but Darko is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Takanen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Takanen.
Takanen lands a jab.
Darko looks to land a left hand but Takanen moved out of range nicely.
Takanen misses with a wild body shot.
Takanen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Takanen slips under a jab.
Darko lands a really nice looking cross but Takanen seems unphased.
Darko lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Darko jabs at Takanen's body.
Darko throws a lazy uppercut
letting Takanen counter with a right hand.
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!
Takanen misses with an uppercut.
Takanen lands with a cross.
Takanen lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darko throws a shot from downtown. Takanen moves away and avoids it.
Darko swings for the body but Takanen moves out of range.
Darko dodges the punch combination from Takanen.
Takanen tests Darko's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Darko lands with an uppercut that bounces Takanen off the cage and back into range.
Takanen misses with an uppercut.
Takanen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Darko looks to score with a jab to the body but Takanen is just out of range.
Darko throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Takanen counters with a right hand to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Darko thows a body shot but no joy.
Takanen throws a body kick that misses.
Darko displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Takanen throws out the jab.
Takanen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
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 Esko Takanen will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!

Takanen avoids the head kick by Darko.
Darko takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Takanen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Darko. Darko circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Darko throws a body kick that misses.
Takanen scoring well with a low kick there.
Darko loads up on a big right hand but Takanen slips the punch.
Darko lands a jab to the head.
Darko has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Takanen moves out of range of the strikes.
Darko misses with an uppercut. Takanen saw that one coming.
Takanen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Darko swings for the body but Takanen moves out of range.
Darko on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Takanen scoring well with a low kick there.
Takanen digs a good body shot into Darko's ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Darko throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Esko Takanen is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takanen misses with a wild body shot.
Takanen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Darko.
Takanen tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Darko is able to avoid easily.
Takanen misses with a looping left.
Takanen throws a shot to the body.
Darko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Takanen.
Takanen scores with a jab to the body.
Takanen connects with a leg kick. Darko looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Darko, as that shot connected.
A nice leg kick lands there from Takanen.
Darko thuds a left hand into Takanen's body.
A decent looking cross lands there for Takanen.
Takanen scores with the left hand. Darko knows he should have avoided that one.
Takanen throws a good cross that connects.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darko scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Takanen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Darko has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Takanen throws an overhand right that lands on Darko's shoulder, as Darko tries to avoid the shot.
Darko lands a jab to Takanen's midsection.
Darko with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Takanen to score with a decent uppercut.
Takanen ducks under a wild hook from Darko.
Darko's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Darko checks a low kick from Takanen.
Takanen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Takanen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nice body punch from Darko.
Takanen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Darko misses with a straight left.
Takanen lands a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darko shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Darko stuns Takanen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Darko slips under a jab.
Takanen throws a shot from downtown. Darko moves away and avoids it.
Darko wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Takanen moves out of range as Darko throws a body kick.
Takanen lands a two punch combo.
Takanen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Darko looks to throw the jab but Takanen is out of range.
Esko Takanen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Darko avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Darko takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Ace Darko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Darko throws a leg kick that misses.
Takanen fakes the leg kick and cracks Darko in the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takanen slips a straight right by Darko.
Good shot there by Darko.
Takanen lands with an uppercut that bounces Darko off the cage and back into range.
Takanen lands a really nice looking cross but Darko seems unphased.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Darko misses with a body shot.
Takanen misses with a hook.
Darko misses with a low kick.
Darko works Takanen's body with a nice hook.
Takanen lands a nice looking body shot.
Takanen throws a nice inside leg kick.
Darko throws out a loose jab but Takanen uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Darko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Takanen scores with a head kick.
Darko connects with a right hand. Takanen shakes it off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Esko Takanen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Takanen 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esko Takanen!
Esko Takanen gave a mention to Trill in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).