PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Keisuke Takasugi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Viktor Krum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Takasugi
vs
Krum

177 cm
27
179 lbs
15 - 4 - 0

180 cm
29
180 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

GREEN!160

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 15 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Keisuke Takasugi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Viktor Krum!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yukihiro Shimada and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab from Krum.
Krum throws a low kick, looking for Takasugi's leg but Takasugi calmly moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Takasugi on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Krum throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Takasugi's head.
Takasugi closes the distance and clinches up with Krum, looking for a takedown. Takasugi pushes Krum against the cage but Krum circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Krum is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Takasugi.
Takasugi went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Viktor Krum seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Krum throws a jab but it's blocked by Takasugi.
Krum throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Takasugi looks to land a combination but Krum avoids it well.
Krum tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Takasugi was well out of range. Poor timing from Krum.
Takasugi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice body kick from Krum.
Takasugi looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Krum lands a head kick!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Krum cracks Takasugi with an open hand slap.
Krum tries to clinch up but Takasugi circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krum misses with an uppercut.
Jab, jab by Krum - just one landing.

Takasugi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Krum did well to prevent Takasugi getting side control.

Takasugi seems to be working for a kimura but Krum defends the submission attempt.

Takasugi is working for a kimura but Krum is defending it quite comfortably.
Krum is looking for a sweep. Takasugi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Krum makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Krum.
Krum seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Krum keeping moving, preventing Takasugi from controlling successfully.
Krum is trying to control the position but Takasugi postures up.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Krum has Takasugi pulled in close to control his posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Takasugi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Takasugi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Krum as he jumps to the side.
Krum scores with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krum jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Takasugi staying out of range there.
Takasugi attempts a counter takedown but Krum avoids it well and moves away.
Takasugi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keisuke Takasugi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Krum walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Takasugi checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Takasugi is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Krum looks to land a left hand but Takasugi moved out of range nicely.
Takasugi tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Krum with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Krum misses with a head kick.
Krum avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Krum throws an overhand right that lands on Takasugi's shoulder, as Takasugi tries to avoid the shot.
A jab from Krum misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takasugi closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Krum gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A body shot lands from Krum.
Krum stalling.
Krum lands on the inside with an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Takasugi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Krum just stands there and leans against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Krum creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Takasugi tries to score a body lock takedown but Krum shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Takasugi is looking to take this one to the mat.
Takasugi prevents a body shot from Krum.
Krum digs a right hand into Takasugi's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Takasugi's gas tank.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Takasugi.
Takasugi tries to pull guard but Krum won't allow it.

Krum manages to break the clinch.
Takasugi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Krum waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Takasugi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Krum 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.

Takasugi slips under a jab from Krum.
Nice uppercut there from Krum.
Good exchange - Krum coming out on top.
Krum throws out a powerful jab.
Takasugi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Krum.
Keisuke Takasugi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Takasugi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Takasugi backing away here, and Krum unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Krum walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Takasugi checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Takasugi tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Krum manages to circle out of the way.
Takasugi slips a straight right by Krum.
Takasugi moves out of range of the body kick.
Takasugi drops down looking for a counter takedown but Krum sprawls and moves away.
Krum has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takasugi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Krum's waist but Krum gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Takasugi off to one side.
No joy there for Krum, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Takasugi was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Krum leaves Takasugi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krum lands an overhand right.
Krum ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A good leg kick by Krum.
Krum tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Takasugi changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Krum tries to clinch up but Takasugi circles away and keeps his distance.
Krum scores with a leg kick.
Takasugi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Krum defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keisuke Takasugi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Krum just misses with a punch to the body.
Takasugi half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Takasugi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Krum connects with a crisp jab.
Viktor Krum seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Krum ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Takasugi moves away.
Takasugi changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Krum misses with a body kick.

Takasugi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takasugi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Takasugi looking to pass the guard.
Takasugi being controlled here momentarily.
Krum looking for a sweep. Not yet Krum, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krum controlling Takasugi's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Krum trying to control the position.
Takasugi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Takasugi wants to control from the top but Krum keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The fighters circling - Krum throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Krum misses with a hook.
The fighters circle momentarily. Krum darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Takasugi has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Krum finds it's way round the side to connect with Takasugi's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krum throws the left hand but Takasugi avoids the punch easily.
Takasugi half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Krum throws out a leg kick but Takasugi moves out of range and Krum only half commits.
Krum ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Takasugi moves away.
Takasugi attempts a counter takedown but Krum avoids it well and moves away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Takasugi or perhaps it was just good defense by Krum, which made it look bad.
Takasugi gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Takasugi has a takedown stuffed.
Takasugi goes for a double leg but Krum avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Krum continues to drive forward.
Krum lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Krum listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Krum showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A jab lands there for Krum.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Krum.
Nice sprawl there from Krum as Takasugi shoots in.
Krum misses with a hook.
Takasugi drops down looking for a counter takedown but Krum sprawls and moves away.
Krum throws a leg kick

and Takasugi counters with a single leg into guard. Krum didn't expect that.
Krum has Takasugi pulled in close to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takasugi scoring with some ground and pound.
Takasugi trying to control but Krum is working from the bottom.
Krum bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Takasugi's guard.
Krum must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krum trying to control the position from guard on top but Takasugi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Krum forces his way into half guard.
Takasugi trying to control from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Krum will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Takasugi gets tackled into the cage by Krum. Krum maintains the clinch.
Krum working aggressively here.
Takasugi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Krum fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Krum connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Krum lands with a good body shot.
Takasugi ducks under a wild hook from Krum.
Takasugi seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Krum cracks Takasugi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Takasugi takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Krum scores with a nice body kick.

Krum lands a big head kick that sends Takasugi tumbling to the mat! Krum takes a step backwards and waves Takasugi back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Takasugi is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Takasugi is holding his hands too far apart here. Krum throws a hard, straight punch right down the pipe and BOOM! Takasugi is out! That punch landed square on the jaw - what a shot!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Viktor Krum!
Viktor Krum thanked the fans post fight for their support.