PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ken Takashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Shlemenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ken Takashi looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Takashi
vs
Shlemenko

171 cm
21
155 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
150 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

BeastMode

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ken Takashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Shlemenko!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Stewart Dunkirk and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick lands from Takashi.
Shlemenko moves out of range as Takashi strikes.
Takashi swings for the body but Shlemenko moves out of range.
Takashi tries a head kick but it misses.
Shlemenko gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Takashi counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Shlemenko throws a head kick that misses.
No joy there for Takashi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Shlemenko misses with a two punch combination.
Takashi looks to land a body kick but Shlemenko moved away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shlemenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Takashi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Shlemenko sees it coming and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takashi throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Shlemenko cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Takashi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Shlemenko fails to land with a series of punches.
Shlemenko is looking to clinch but Takashi is avoiding it.
Takashi misses the shot to the body.
Ken Takashi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takashi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Takashi misses with an attempted mid kick.
Takashi throws a wild body kick that Shlemenko sees coming a mile off.
Shlemenko throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Takashi's waist but Takashi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Shlemenko off to one side.
Takashi misses with a head kick.
Shlemenko wants to clinch up but Takashi keeps it at a distance.
Shlemenko dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Shlemenko blocks a head kick by Takashi.
Takashi is breathing heavily.
Takashi throws a head kick but Shlemenko moves out of range.
Takashi just misses with a punch to the body.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Shlemenko checks a leg kick.
Shlemenko throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shlemenko tries to clinch up.
Shlemenko lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Takashi throws a jab but it's blocked by Shlemenko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shlemenko instigates a clinch.
Shlemenko taking a breather.
Shlemenko keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Takashi's efforts to push away.
Takashi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Shlemenko wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Takashi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've been told by Takashi's head coaches at Den of Tears (22 coaches, $350 fee) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Shlemenko uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Takashi.
Takashi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Takashi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Takashi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shlemenko has a takedown stuffed.
Ken Takashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Shlemenko.
Takashi looks to land a left hand but Shlemenko moved out of range nicely.
Shlemenko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Takashi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Takashi misses.
Takashi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Shlemenko shoots in and drives through. Takashi sprawls well.
Ken Takashi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takashi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Takashi takes a swing at Shlemenko's ribcage but misses.
Takashi clobbers Shlemenko with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Shlemenko is trying hard to land a takedown here. Takashi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Shlemenko takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Shlemenko shoots for a takedown but Takashi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Takashi throws a combination that misses

and Shlemenko counters by clinching up.
A left hand lands to the body for Takashi.
Takashi is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Shlemenko's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

Shlemenko breaks from the clinch.
Takashi scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Takashi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shlemenko circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takashi throws a series of punches but Shlemenko moves out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takashi looks to land a combination but Shlemenko avoids it well.
Shlemenko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Shlemenko fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Shlemenko takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Takashi throws a hook but Shlemenko blocks it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Takashi. Shlemenko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Takashi takes a swing at Shlemenko's ribcage but misses.
Shlemenko fails to land the takedown.
Shlemenko wants to clinch up but Takashi keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ken Takashi dominated that round.
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.

Shlemenko ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Takashi misses with an attempted mid kick.
Takashi misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Shlemenko finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Shlemenko ducks under a wild hook from Takashi.
Shlemenko shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Takashi pinned against the cage. Takashi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Shlemenko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ken Takashi is winning the standup battle so far.
Shlemenko fails with the takedown.
Takashi leaves Shlemenko with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ken Takashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Shlemenko.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shlemenko moves out of range of the body kick from Takashi.
Shlemenko shoots in for a takedown but Takashi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Takashi throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Alexander Shlemenko has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shlemenko checks a leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shlemenko tries to clinch
and Takashi counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Takashi is looking to wear down Shlemenko with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Shlemenko darts in looking for a takedown but Takashi gets double underhooks and turns Shlemenko into the cage.
Takashi tries to land knees in the clinch but Shlemenko avoids the damage to the body.

Takashi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Takashi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Takashi throws a jab but it's blocked by Shlemenko.
Shlemenko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Takashi throws an overhand right that lands on Shlemenko's shoulder, as Shlemenko tries to avoid the shot.
Shlemenko blocks a low kick nicely.
Shlemenko shoots in for a takedown but Takashi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Shlemenko avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A punch combination from Takashi misses.
Takashi has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Takashi.
Takashi swinging wildly here.
A combination from Shlemenko does no damage.
Takashi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Shlemenko closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shlemenko checks a low kick from Takashi.
Takashi connects with a body shot that sends Shlemenko's belly button to the back.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Takashi.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Shlemenko.
Shlemenko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
An inside leg kick from Takashi misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shlemenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Takashi stuffs the takedown attempt from Shlemenko. Shlemenko gets slowly back to his feet.
Takashi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Shlemenko looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Takashi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shlemenko can do to turn this around?
Takashi attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Shlemenko looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Shlemenko avoids the body shot from Takashi.
Takashi throws a head kick that misses.
Takashi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shlemenko was well out of range. Poor timing from Takashi.
Takashi looks to land a body kick but Shlemenko moved away.
Takashi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shlemenko was well out of range. Poor timing from Takashi.
Takashi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Shlemenko makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Shlemenko is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko fails with the takedown.
Shlemenko blocks a head kick by Takashi.

Shlemenko clinches.
Shlemenko drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Shlemenko tries to circle away but Takashi has him pinned against the cage.
Shlemenko is trying to break free.
Takashi tries to land a knee to the head but Shlemenko blocks with his arms.
Takashi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Shlemenko is trying to pull guard but Takashi has him pressed against the cage.
Shlemenko fails to pull the fight into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ken Takashi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Shlemenko's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Takashi misses with a combination
and Shlemenko counters with a big head kick but Takashi shrugs it off.
Takashi misses with a looping right.
Takashi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Shlemenko sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A bone on bone clash there as Shlemenko blocks the leg kick.
Takashi gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Shlemenko counters with a two punch combo.
A head kick misses from Takashi.
Shlemenko misses with a head kick.
Shlemenko is looking to clinch but Takashi is avoiding it.
Takashi circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takashi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Shlemenko tries to clinch but Takashi moves away
and Takashi counters with a head kick.
Ken Takashi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shlemenko dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Takashi. That did some damage!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shlemenko fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Takashi avoids it really well and circles away.

Takashi tries to keep at a distance but Shlemenko has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takashi wants to break the clinch but can't.
Shlemenko blocks an elbow strike from Takashi.

Shlemenko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shlemenko ducks under a wild hook from Takashi.
Shlemenko throws a half hearted mid kick.
Takashi tries a head kick but it misses.
Shlemenko shoots in for a takedown but Takashi shows good takedown defense.
Takashi throws a body punch but Shlemenko moves out of range.
Takashi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Takashi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takashi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shlemenko cracks the inside of Takashi's front leg.
Takashi throws a sloppy head kick
and Shlemenko counters with a head kick.
Takashi leaves Shlemenko with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ken Takashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Shlemenko.
A nice inside leg kick there by Takashi. That's going to slow Shlemenko down.
Nice takedown defense from Takashi. No joy for Shlemenko on that attempt.
Takashi paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Shlemenko takes a head kick and keeps coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takashi scores with a decent looking hook.
Takashi scores with a jab. Shlemenko acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Shlemenko shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Takashi as he jumps to the side.
Takashi throws a left and a right that both miss
and Shlemenko counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takashi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shlemenko moves away.
Takashi looks to throw the jab but Shlemenko is out of range.
The fighters circling - Takashi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Takashi keeps the fight on the outside.
Shlemenko wants to clinch.
Takashi connects with a high kick.
Shlemenko shoots in for a takedown but Takashi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Takashi tries a head kick but it misses.
Takashi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Takashi misses the target.
Takashi connects with a nice looking jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Shlemenko with that takedown attempt.
Takashi scores with a nice strike.
Takashi lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Takashi.
A head kick misses from Takashi.
Shlemenko is trying desperately to land a takedown but Takashi is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Shlemenko.
Shlemenko fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Takashi has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takashi swings for the body but Shlemenko moves out of range.
Shlemenko ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Takashi on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Shlemenko shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Takashi counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Takashi scores with a nice right hand.
Alexander Shlemenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shlemenko wants to clinch up but Takashi keeps it at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ken Takashi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Takashi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ken Takashi!
Ken Takashi managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, BeastMode, into his post fight interview.