PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between RK Mate (ranked 5535 p4p, 400 weight class) and Amir Taake (ranked 6057 p4p, 415 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Mate
vs
Taake

168 cm
25
146 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

166 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, RK Mate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Amir Taake!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Steve Montenegro and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taake lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mate circles away quickly and effectively.
Mate appears to be looking for a big counter.
Mate looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Mate throws a left and a right that both miss
and Taake counters with a nice uppercut.
Mate fails to land the takedown.
Taake looks to land a combination. Mate sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Taake fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Taake shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mate sprawls well. Mate wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Taake gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Taake closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taake is trying to pull guard but Mate has him pressed against the cage.
RK Mate has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Amir Taake.

Taake pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mate throws a nice looking combination but Taake bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Taake pushes Mate back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mate avoiding damage as Taake throws knees to the body.

Taake breaks the clinch.
Mate looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Taake has closed the distance and engaged Mate in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taake has Mate pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Taake pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Mate tumbling to the mat - Taake dives into Mate's guard.
Taake wants to control from the top but Mate keeps moving.

Mate is looking for a triangle but Taake pushes his legs off easily.
Mate utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Taake sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mate avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Taake stopping the sweep attempt from Mate.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Taake tries for a takedown but Mate sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mate tries to counter by clinching up but Taake breaks away and moves out of range.
Taake tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mate sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Taake somewhat.

Taake looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Mate!
Taake wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mate keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taake tries to move to mount but Mate blocks the move with his legs.
Taake wants to stand but Mate has his arm trapped.
Mate wants to control but Taake postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taake cracks Mate with a big right hand but Mate just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Taake tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Taake has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Amir Taake dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Taake bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Mate's head.
Taake misses with a kick to the body
and Mate counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Taake rushes Mate and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mate misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Taake's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Mate being controlled against the cage.
Taake has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taake is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Mate to keep the fight standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mate takes a shot to the head.
Mate throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mate is trying to pull guard but Taake turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Taake is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mate pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Taake pulls Mate into guard.
Taake 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.
Mate postures up in Taake's guard and throws a big left but Taake blocks it.
Taake is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Taake has Mate pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taake looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Taake looking for a guillotine here but Mate defends easily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Taake throws a solid leg kick but Mate takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Taake.
Mate throws a right and a left that Taake avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taake throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Mate counters with a series of strikes. Taake will be more careful next time no doubt.
Taake looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Taake fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
RK Mate has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Amir Taake.
Taake tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mate sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Taake somewhat.
Mate looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Taake shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Mate counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Taake pushes Mate up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taake tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Taake has Mate pushed against the cage.
Mate tries to pull guard but Taake holds him up against the cage and eventually Mate drops back down to his feet.

Taake breaks from the clinch.
Taake goes for a double leg but Mate avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mate continues to drive forward.
Mate avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Taake closes the distance and clinches.
Taake misses with a punch to the body.

Taake pulls guard successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Amir Taake showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Mate bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Mate shoots in and gets a takedown into Taake's guard.

Taake has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mate can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Taake pulls Mate in close to prevent any damage.
Mate stops Taake from standing up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taake throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Taake controls Mate momentarily but Mate frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taake might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Mate haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Taake keeping moving, preventing Mate from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
RK Mate is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Taake drives through and clinches with Mate against the cage.
Mate is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Taake gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Taake displaying some good clinch control by pressing Mate up against the cage.

Taake escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Taake moves into the clinch successfully.

Taake decides to pull guard.
Taake controlling the position.
Taake is trying to keep Mate in close.
Taake wants to sweep here but Mate controlling him for the moment.

Taake looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mate won't allow Taake to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taake not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Taake shoots in for a double leg but Mate sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mate avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mate appears to be looking for a big counter.
Taake looks for a takedown but Mate sprawls well.
Mate changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Mate shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Taake but Taake pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mate leaves Taake with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
RK Mate has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Amir Taake.
Taake tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mate swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Taake misses with a body shot.
Taake scores with a one two! Mate had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Taake closes the distance and pushes Mate back into the cage.
Mate goes for a takedown in the clinch but Taake prevents it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taake is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
RK Mate has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Amir Taake is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mate tries a body shot but Taake blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Amir Taake comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Taake has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Amir Taake!