PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ben Russel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takehiko Takaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takaki has chosen Mahavishnu Orchestra - Meeting Of The Spirits as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Russel
vs
Takaki

170 cm
31
153 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

177 cm
35
155 lbs
30 - 17 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Namunamu Clothing
SP Ultimate Nutrition

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 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ben Russel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Takehiko Takaki!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Patrick Alders and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Russel closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Russel tries to score with some ground and pound. Takaki controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Takaki is trying to get back to half guard.
Takaki defending against the ground and pound.
Russel tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Russel is chipping away with strikes.
An elbow from Russel crashes against the mat.
Russel throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The ground and pound from Russel seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Takaki manages to get back to half guard.
Takaki avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Russel.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Takaki is looking to control Russel's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Takaki avoid being mounted?
Russel scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Russel sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Takaki defending well though.
Takaki is pressing down on Russel's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Russel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Takaki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Russel looking to sit in guard and control but Takaki gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Russel wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Russel is on top in guard.
Russel controlling from the top position.
Russel throwing strikes from guard but Takaki blocks nicely.
Takaki 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Takaki keeping full guard, as Russel tries to pass.

Takaki looking for a guillotine here but Russel defends easily.
Russel looking to sit in guard and control but Takaki gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Russel looking to control.
Russel seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Russel keeping moving, preventing Takaki from controlling successfully.
Takaki won't allow Russel to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takaki trying to control but Russel is working from the bottom.
Russel looking for a sweep. Not yet Russel, not yet.
Russel looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Takaki puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Takaki passes to full mount!
My spies in Mano`s Elite BJJ Gym inform me that Takaki has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Takaki is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Russel keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Russel wants to control but Takaki is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russel is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Russel dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Russel shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Takaki counters with a straight right hand.
Russel tries for a takedown but Takaki circles away easily
and Takaki counters with a stiff right hand.
Russel shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Takaki but Takaki pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Russel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Takaki feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Russel's calf.
Takaki ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Russel moves away.
Takaki throws a head kick but Russel moves out of range.
Takaki cracks Russel with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Russel fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Russel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ben Russel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Russel shoots for a takedown but Takaki saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Takaki turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Russel misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Takaki.
Russel tries for a takedown but Takaki circles away easily
and Takaki cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Russel looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Takaki is fending him off so far but Russel persists. Nope, Takaki circles away and we're back to standing.
Takaki scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Russel misses with a takedown
and Takaki cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Russel on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Takaki lands with a right hand.

Russel is rocked!
Takaki comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Oh Russel is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Takaki connects with a looping right hand.
Takaki has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Russel fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Russel shoots and misses
and Takaki counters with a stiff right hand.
Russel gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Takaki counters with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takaki drops Russel with a straight right hand, right on the button! Takaki follows him down to the mat and pounds him out with hammerfists until the referee jumps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:13 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Takehiko Takaki!
Takehiko Takaki seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.