PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shingen Takeda (ranked 1834 p4p, 1603 weight class) and James Carter (ranked 216 p4p, 195 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Takeda
vs
Carter

184 cm
21
162
9 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
170
6 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
HELLBENT

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shingen Takeda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Carter!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Jorge Garcia and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Takeda scores with a takedown into Carter's guard.
Takeda trying to control but Carter is working from the bottom.

Takeda is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Carter is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Carter has escaped and now he's on top!

Takeda is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Carter is aware though and is defending well.
Carter tries to stand but Takeda is controlling from the bottom.

Takeda isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Carter stacks Takeda on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Carter!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takeda wants to control but Carter postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takeda is looking for a sweep.
Takeda struggling a bit here.
Takeda is looking for a sweep.
Carter working away.
Takeda is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takeda is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Takeda's coaches at Takeda Clan Gym have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.

Takeda looking for submissions off his back.

Takeda actively working from the bottom here.

Takeda is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Carter pulls his head out easily.
Carter slows the pace down in half guard.

Takeda looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeda tries to get to full guard but Carter has control of the leg.
Takeda is not content to let Carter control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Takeda wants to control but Carter is keeping busy.

Takeda actively working from the bottom here.

Takeda is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Carter pulls his head out easily.

Takeda looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Carter performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Takeda uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Carter.
Takeda tries to close the distance and clinch up but Carter swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Takeda walks into a stiff left hand from Carter.
Takeda slips under a jab from Carter.
Takeda's jab looks to have found its range, popping Carter under the eye.
Takeda shoots for a takedown but Carter saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Carter ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Takeda moves away.
Carter misses the jab.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Takeda moves into the clinch successfully.
Takeda blocks an uppercut.
Carter lands a nice shot to the body.
Takeda blocking some punches.
Takeda tries to pull guard but Carter holds him up against the cage and eventually Takeda drops back down to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James Carter will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Carter throws a hook but Takeda avoids it easily.
Carter misses the shot to the body.
Carter throws a body punch but Takeda moves out of range.
Carter misses with an uppercut.
Takeda cracks a nice hook into Carter's ribs.
Carter lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Carter moves into range and connects with a jab.
Carter staying out of range there.
Carter's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Takeda connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Carter scrambles back to his feet.
Carter thows a left - swing and a miss!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takeda misses the body punch
and Carter counters with a straight right hand.
Carter misses with a wild body shot.
Carter swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Takeda.
James Carter seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Carter misses with a hook.
Takeda darts in trying to clinch
and Carter counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter thows a left - swing and a miss!
Carter with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A slapping leg kick lands for Takeda.
A shot to the liver by Carter. Beautiful body shot.
Carter misses the shot to the body.
The crowd cheers as Takeda lands an impressive looking overhand right. Carter doesn't seem phased though.
Carter drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Takeda lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Carter throws a hook but Takeda avoids it easily.
Carter throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Takeda on the side of the head.
Takeda tries to clinch but Carter is having none of it.
Carter throws a hook to the side of Takeda's head but Takeda sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carter misses with a right hand
and Takeda counters with a nice body shot.
Takeda swings for the body but Carter moves out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takeda bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Takeda steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Carter.
Carter circles away from the clinch attempt.
Carter uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Takeda.
Carter misses with a wild body shot.
Takeda lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Carter takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Carter tries to bum rush Takeda with a series of wild strikes but Takeda uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Carter lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Carter misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Takeda.
Carter avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Takeda throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Carter looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carter throws a shot from downtown. Takeda moves away and avoids it.
Takeda was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Takeda avoids the body shot from Carter.
Takeda has a takedown stuffed.
Carter misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Carter takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Carter looks to throw the jab but Takeda is out of range.
Shingen Takeda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carter slips a jab from Takeda.
Carter defending well as Takeda loads up on a big left hand.
Takeda misses with a straight left.
Takeda takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Carter lands with a right hand.
Takeda misses with a hook. Carter ducked under it nicely.
Takeda is looking to clinch but Carter is avoiding it.
A swing and a miss from Carter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takeda walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Carter checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Carter fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Takeda looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Carter throws a body shot but no joy.
Carter misses with a wild body shot.
Takeda throwing a counter right hand but Carter manages to avoid it.

Carter gets tackled into the cage by Takeda. Takeda maintains the clinch.
Takeda is trying to pull guard but Carter has him pressed against the cage.
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!
Takeda tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shingen Takeda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Takeda tries to pull guard but Carter won't allow it.
Takeda lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Carter softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Carter can't find room to land a body shot as Takeda controls the action.
Takeda is trying to pull guard but Carter turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A short right from Carter on the inside.

It looks like Shingen Takeda has been cut.
Takeda jumps guard but Carter turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Carter lands a left hand.
Carter misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Carter lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Takeda or not.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Carter digs a good body shot into Takeda's ribs.
Carter avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Takeda tries to clinch up
and Carter counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Carter misses with an uppercut.
Takeda swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Carter has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Carter there as he acknowledges the shot.
Carter has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Takeda takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Takeda finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takeda tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Carter manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Carter throws a jab when Takeda was well out of range.
Carter throws a right and a left that Takeda avoids nicely.
Takeda shoots in but no luck this time.
Good work by Carter as he checks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter lands with an overhand left.
Carter takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Takeda tries to clinch up but Carter circles away and keeps his distance.
Takeda tries to clinch up.
Takeda slips a jab and a cross from Carter.
Carter needs to keep his hands up - Takeda had a free shot at his head there.

Carter tries to keep at a distance but Takeda has taken the fight into the clinch.
Takeda jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Carter walks away with a smile on his face. Takeda gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Takeda walks into a jab.
Takeda shoots and misses
letting Carter counter with a right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shingen Takeda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Carter keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Carter is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Takeda with a body shot.
Takeda lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A jab from Carter finds it's way through Takeda's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carter looks to land a left hand but Takeda moved out of range nicely.
Takeda throws a solid leg kick but Carter takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Takeda.
A punch combination from Carter misses.
Carter scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Takeda cracks a nice hook into Carter's ribs.
Takeda scores with a hook.
Carter scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Carter checks the leg kick nicely there.
Carter swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Carter scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Takeda scores with a nice head shot.
Carter throws out a loose jab but Takeda uses good head movement to avoid it.
Takeda tries to counter by clinching up but Carter breaks away and moves out of range.
Takeda takes one to the chin there.
Shingen Takeda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Carter.

Carter tries to keep at a distance but Takeda has taken the fight into the clinch.
Carter swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Carter lands an uppercut.
Takeda misses with a hook to the ribs.
Takeda lands an uppercut.
James Carter seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Takeda is trying to stall.
A left hand lands to the body for Carter.
Carter makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Carter cracks Takeda with a nice body shot.
Carter scores with a shot to the side of Takeda's head.
Takeda tries to pull guard but Carter holds him up against the cage and eventually Takeda drops back down to his feet.
Takeda swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Carter lands a shoulder strike.
Takeda goes for a takedown attempt but Carter pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carter throws a jab when Takeda was well out of range.
Takeda fires out a quick counter leg kick but Carter just manages to avoid it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A clash of legs there as Carter blocks the low kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Carter! But no joy.
Carter lands the left hand.
Carter ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Takeda throws a leg kick that misses.
Takeda throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Takeda takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Carter uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Takeda.
James Carter is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Takeda looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Takeda swings widly with a right hand
and Carter counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Takeda throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Carter throws a shot to the body.
James Carter is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Carter scores with a shot to the body.
Takeda jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Carter lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A punch lands to the side of Takeda 's head but he takes it in his stride.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Carter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Carter 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Carter!
James Carter thanked the fans post fight for their support.