PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Howie Finkelman (ranked 3881 p4p, 4470 weight class) and Shingen Takeda (ranked 315 p4p, 348 weight class). Takeda has chosen Now We Are Free as his entrance music. Shingen Takeda has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Finkelman
vs
Takeda

174 cm
24
152
3 - 8 - 0

184 cm
26
155
12 - 10 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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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 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Howie Finkelman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shingen Takeda!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Fedor Mirinova and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takeda lands with a right hand.
Finkelman takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Takeda looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Finkelman lands with a right hand.

It looks like Shingen Takeda has been cut.
Finkelman gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Takeda lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Finkelman misses with a looping left.
Takeda is looking for the big counter here.
Takeda misses with a head kick.
Finkelman looks to land a right hand but Takeda moved out of range.
Takeda lands a nice shot to the body.
Takeda throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Finkelman's waist but Finkelman gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Takeda off to one side.
It looked like Finkelman was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Finkelman swinging wildly here.
Takeda is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Finkelman with a body shot.
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!
Finkelman scores with a crisp jab that stopped Takeda in his tracks.
Finkelman has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Devil’s Playground in the buildup to the fight.
Takeda throws a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finkelman throws a hook to the side of Takeda's head but Takeda sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shingen Takeda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takeda connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Finkelman's hands.
Takeda scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Finkelman ducks right into an uppercut from Takeda.
Takeda connects with a looping right hand.
Takeda is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Takeda lunges at Finkelman with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Finkelman's hand.
Takeda blocks a jab.
Finkelman fails to land with a series of punches.
Finkelman takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Finkelman throws a sloppy head kick and Takeda moves out of range easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takeda with a nice calf kick.
The crowd cheers as Takeda lands an impressive looking overhand right. Finkelman doesn't seem phased though.
Finkelman misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takeda with a nice calf kick.
Takeda throws a solid leg kick but Finkelman takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Takeda.
A chopping leg kick lands by Takeda.
Takeda uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Finkelman.
Takeda let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Takeda is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Finkelman misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Takeda cracks Finkelman with a good jab.
Takeda lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Finkelman circles away quickly and effectively.
Takeda jabs at Finkelman's body.
Takeda pivots, looking for a leg kick but Finkelman is out of range and Takeda settles back down.
Finkelman throws a sloppy head kick and Takeda moves out of range easily.
Nice defenses there by Takeda.
Takeda looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Takeda connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Takeda avoids the head kick by Finkelman.
Finkelman has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Finkelman there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finkelman takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Finkelman takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Takeda closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Takeda uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Finkelman.
Finkelman rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Takeda moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Takeda lands a nice hook to Finkelman's body. Finkelman takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Takeda scores with a jab to the body.
Takeda has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Good exchange - Takeda coming out on top.
Finkelman tests Takeda's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Finkelman cracks Takeda with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Finkelman has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Takeda to stand back up!

Takeda is rocked!
Takeda moves out of range of the body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takeda connects with the punch.
Finkelman misses with a hook.
Takeda let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Takeda scores with a punch to the head.
Takeda scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Finkelman tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Finkelman lands a big head kick that sends Takeda tumbling to the mat! Finkelman takes a step backwards and waves Takeda back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Takeda is still on wobbly legs! Can Finkelman finish him?

That has opened up Shingen Takeda's cut even more.
Takeda uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Finkelman.
Takeda slips under a jab.
Takeda lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Finkelman is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Takeda throws a looping overhand right but Finkelman ducks down to avoid it.
Takeda has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Finkelman displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Takeda throws out the jab.
Finkelman swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Takeda counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Finkelman staying out of range there.
Takeda seems to have recovered his senses.
Takeda slips a straight right by Finkelman.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Takeda clobbers Finkelman with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Takeda throws a head kick but Finkelman moves out of range.
Takeda throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shingen Takeda will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Shingen Takeda's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Takeda has a takedown stuffed.
No luck for Takeda with that takedown attempt.
Takeda connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Finkelman's hands.
Takeda jabs Finkelman to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Takeda connects with a crisp jab.
Finkelman throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A left lands for Takeda.
Finkelman throws a sloppy head kick and Takeda moves out of range easily.
Takeda fails to land with a series of punches.
Takeda avoids the head kick by Finkelman.
Finkelman swings widly with a right hand
and Takeda counters with a series of strikes. Finkelman will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finkelman avoids the body shot from Takeda.
Takeda throws out a powerful jab.
Takeda lands a nice shot that snaps Finkelman's head back.
Finkelman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Takeda.
Finkelman misses with a wild combination.
Finkelman takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Takeda scores with a nice head shot.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Finkelman might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Takeda keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Finkelman.
Takeda tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Finkelman has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Finkelman throws a head kick that Takeda semi-blocks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takeda throws a right and a left that Finkelman avoids nicely.
Finkelman moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Finkelman has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Finkelman slips under a jab.
Takeda bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Takeda shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Finkelman as he jumps to the side.
Howie Finkelman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shingen Takeda.
Takeda fails to land with a series of punches.
A head kick misses from Finkelman.
Finkelman swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Takeda wants to land a leg kick but Finkelman is out of range.
Finkelman swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Takeda ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finkelman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Takeda.
Takeda lands a nice shot to the body.
Finkelman throws a jab but it's blocked by Takeda.
Takeda unleashes a big counter combination but Finkelman bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Takeda throws a head kick that misses
and Finkelman counters with a nice uppercut.
Finkelman slips a jab and a cross from Takeda.
Finkelman fails to land with a series of punches.
Finkelman lands a nice shot that snaps Takeda's head back.

The cut above Shingen Takeda's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Howie Finkelman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Finkelman swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Takeda lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Takeda with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Finkelman to score with a decent uppercut.
Finkelman rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Takeda moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Finkelman with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Takeda to score with a decent uppercut.
Howie Finkelman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Finkelman throws a jab but it's blocked by Takeda.
A little jabbing left from Takeda on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Finkelman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takeda lands a two punch combo.
Takeda takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Takeda avoids the body shot from Finkelman.
Takeda connects with a leg kick.
Finkelman stuffs the takedown.
Takeda showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Finkelman.
Takeda takes one to the chin there.
Finkelman misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Takeda looks to clinch
and Finkelman counters with a stiff right hand.
Takeda moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Shingen Takeda will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Shingen Takeda's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Takeda throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Takeda dives in for a single leg takedown but Finkelman sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Takeda throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Finkelman.
Finkelman swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Finkelman works the jab nicely.
The fighters circling - Finkelman throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Finkelman scores with a jab. Takeda acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Takeda tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Finkelman was well out of range. Poor timing from Takeda.
Takeda walks into a left hand.
Finkelman cracks Takeda with a hook to the temple - Takeda is on wobbly legs here! Finkelman swarms him with hook after hook, landing with each one! Takeda falls to the canvas face first and the referee dives in to stop the fight! Finkelman wins by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Howie Finkelman!
An out of breath Howie Finkelman thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.