PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Takem Downem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carter Jose De La Cus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jose De La Cus is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Tyler, The Creator - Seven. Carter Jose De La Cus told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Downem
vs
Jose De La Cus

180 cm
27
150 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

173 cm
20
146 lbs
5 - 4 - 1

Great wrestler
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

BlackStar Athletics

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 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Takem Downem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Carter Jose De La Cus!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Ren Mimura and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Downem avoids the body shot from Jose De La Cus.
Jose De La Cus misses with a double jab.
As Jose De La Cus backs away, Downem returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

Downem instigates a clinch.
Downem misses with the head strike.
Jose De La Cus blocks an uppercut.
Jose De La Cus has had enough of the clinch but Downem keeps him there for the moment.
Downem swings wildly with an uppercut but Jose De La Cus uses good head movement to avoid it.

Downem is working on a single leg takedown against the ropes. Jose De La Cus can't fight it off and eventually Downem manages to take the fight to the floor. Jose De La Cus looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Jose De La Cus 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Downem pushes down on Jose De La Cus's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downem works his foot free and advances to mount.

Downem get's back to his feet.
Jose De La Cus lands a jab.
Carter Jose De La Cus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Downem clinches up against the ropes.
Jose De La Cus blocks an uppercut.
Downem misses with a hook to the ribs.
Jose De La Cus wants to break free but Downem has control.
Downem tries to pull guard but Jose De La Cus won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jose De La Cus is trying to force a seperation but Downem has the dominant position.

Downem pulls guard successfully.

Downem looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Jose De La Cus throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Downem is edging up against the ropes. He's using the ropes to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Downem struggles to land a body shot inside as Jose De La Cus controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jose De La Cus wants to stand up but Downem is controlling him.

Downem decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Jose De La Cus, up you get!
Jose De La Cus swinging wildly here.
Downem half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Jose De La Cus misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jose De La Cus punishes Downem's body with a nice straight punch.

Downem moves into the clinch.
Jose De La Cus wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Downem's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jose De La Cus darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Jose De La Cus dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jose De La Cus swings and misses with a hook to the body.
It looked like Downem was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Jose De La Cus.
Downem keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Downem tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Jose De La Cus manages to circle out of the way.
Jose De La Cus just misses with a punch to the body.
Downem is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Downem scores with a takedown into Jose De La Cus's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Downem passes Jose De La Cus's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Downem slows the pace down in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takem Downem dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Jose De La Cus misses with a series of wild punches.
Downem tries for a takedown but Jose De La Cus sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Downem takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Jose De La Cus just misses with a punch to the body.
Downem attempts a counter takedown but Jose De La Cus avoids it well and moves away.

Downem closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Downem goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Jose De La Cus wants to break free but Downem has control.

Downem successfully pulls guard.
Jose De La Cus looking to sit in guard and control but Downem gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Downem stands up from Jose De La Cus's guard - Downem perhaps looking for a knockout.
Downem takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jose De La Cus throws a shot to the body.
Downem is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jose De La Cus can do to turn this around?
Some wild striking there from Jose De La Cus.
Jose De La Cus throws a body shot but no joy.
Jose De La Cus connects with the punch.

Downem shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Jose De La Cus has momentary wrist control but Downem slips an elbow through the middle.
Downem is stalling in the full guard.
Downem stops Jose De La Cus from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Downem is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Downem stands up from Jose De La Cus's guard - Downem perhaps looking for a knockout.
A shot to the liver by Jose De La Cus. Beautiful body shot.
Carter Jose De La Cus seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downem misses with a hook
and Jose De La Cus counters with a stiff right hand.
Some wild striking there from Jose De La Cus.
Downem ducks right into an uppercut from Jose De La Cus.
Downem fails to land the takedown.
Jose De La Cus throws a combination. Downem tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Jose De La Cus cracks Downem with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Jose De La Cus comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Jose De La Cus gets tackled into the ropes by Downem. Downem maintains the clinch.
Downem misses with the head strike.

Jose De La Cus pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Carter Jose De La Cus is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downem will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jose De La Cus swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Jose De La Cus has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Takem Downem is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jose De La Cus's corner calls for a 1-2. Jose De La Cus obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Jose De La Cus. Those never looked like landing.
Downem seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Jose De La Cus scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Nice takedown defense from Jose De La Cus. No joy for Downem on that attempt.
Jose De La Cus now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takem Downem. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Downem fails with the takedown.
Jose De La Cus swinging wildly here.
Jose De La Cus is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Downem rather than just go for the knockout.
A combination from Jose De La Cus does no damage.
Downem feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Jose De La Cus throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Downem on the side of the head.
Jose De La Cus cracks Downem with a good jab.
Downem shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Jose De La Cus sprawls well. Jose De La Cus wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Downem gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carter Jose De La Cus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Downem's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Downem dodges the punch combination from Jose De La Cus.
Jose De La Cus keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Downem throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jose De La Cus ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Downem moves away.
Jose De La Cus wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Jose De La Cus moves out of range of the strikes.
Jose De La Cus swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Downem shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jose De La Cus misses with a jab, cross combination.
Downem connects with a right hand. Jose De La Cus shakes it off.
Jose De La Cus lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
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!
Jose De La Cus tries to bum rush Downem with a series of wild strikes but Downem uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Jose De La Cus steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Downem.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Downem closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Downem lands in his opponent's guard.
Jose De La Cus tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jose De La Cus takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jose De La Cus wants to stand up but Downem is controlling him.
Downem controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Downem gets to his feet. Jose De La Cus looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Jose De La Cus swings for the body but Downem moves out of range.
Jose De La Cus takes a swing at Downem's ribcage but misses.
As Jose De La Cus looks to move away, Downem throws a big counter combo bu Jose De La Cus just gets out of the way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jose De La Cus lands a really nice looking cross but Downem seems unphased.

Downem darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Downem working over Jose De La Cus with some ground and pound. Jose De La Cus looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Downem with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Downem seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Jose De La Cus for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downem passes to side control.

Downem stands up and beckons Jose De La Cus to his feet.
Jose De La Cus darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Jose De La Cus stalks Downem and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Downem's face. Downem staggers backwards, shaken.

Downem gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downem is looking to take this one to the mat.

Downem breaks from the clinch.
Downem avoids the body shot from Jose De La Cus.

Downem gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Downem swings wildly with an uppercut but Jose De La Cus uses good head movement to avoid it.
Downem misses with a short punch on the inside.
Downem misses with some punches.

Downem manages to break the clinch.

Downem throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Jose De La Cus was covering up waiting for the punch and Downem finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Downem sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Jose De La Cus's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Takem Downem.
I think Downem has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takem Downem!
In defeat, Carter Jose De La Cus stepped up to the mic, saying 'I'll be back, stronger and better than ever. I get one more chance to write the book, one more chance to set the hook, one more chance to turn the pages, one more chance to get it right, one more chance to write the wrongs,one more chance to feel alive, one more chance to bust some heads.'.