PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Esko Takanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Terry Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Takanen
vs
Silva

175 cm
22
175 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

172 cm
20
170 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Win Nutritional - proof of quality

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Esko Takanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Terry Silva!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Donatello Bradman and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva looks to throw the jab but Takanen is out of range.
Takanen misses with a few strikes there.
Silva has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Takanen finds it's way round the side to connect with Silva's head.
Takanen is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Silva.
Takanen misses with a double jab.
Silva slips a jab from Takanen.
Silva misses with a hook. Takanen ducked under it nicely.
Esko Takanen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takanen misses with a double jab
letting Silva counter with a right hand.

Takanen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Silva, pushing him back against the cage.
Takanen has Silva pressed against the cage, preventing Silva from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Takanen lands a good knee to the midsection. Silva won't want to take too many of those.
Takanen blocking some punches.
Knees to the body from Takanen.
Silva lands a nice shot to the body.
Silva misses with a hook from the clinch.
Takanen works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Takanen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Takanen lands with a short shot to the head.
Takanen blocks an elbow strike.
Silva takes a knee right on the jaw!
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!
Silva misses with a body punch.
Takanen crunches a lovely knee into Silva's ribcage.
Silva looks gassed!
Takanen putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Silva in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Takanen digs a right hand underneath Silva's ribcage. Silva let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A short left from Takanen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takanen stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Takanen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A short right from Takanen on the inside.
Takanen lands a body punch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Takanen.
A body shot lands from Takanen.
Takanen landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Takanen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Takanen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Silva backwards.
Takanen lands a nice elbow.
Silva tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Takanen's elbow.
Takanen lands with a light punch inside.
Silva wants to stall.
Silva takes a knee right on the jaw!
Takanen putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Silva in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Takanen is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Takanen landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Takanen stalling against the cage.
Takanen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Takanen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Silva goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Silva tries to throw a body punch but Takanen avoids it by throwing Silva back against the cage.
Takanen blocks a body shot from Silva.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takanen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Silva.
Takanen connects with a knee to the head.
A short body shot lands from Takanen as the two fighters clinch.
Silva tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Takanen landing knees to the head.
Takanen lands a damaging elbow.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Takanen.
Takanen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Silva's face.
Takanen misses with a knee to the head.
Takanen lands with a left to the head.
Takanen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Silva presses Takanen against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Takanen prevents Silva from breaking the clinch.
Silva misses with a punch to the body.
Takanen scores with a hook to the body.
Silva lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A right handed body shot lands from Takanen.
Takanen connects with a knee to the head.
Takanen lands a knee to the head.
Takanen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Silva managing to block the knees to the body from Takanen.
Takanen blocks an uppercut.
Silva swings wildly with an uppercut but Takanen uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takanen lands with a right to the head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Silva. Takanen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Takanen drops his hands momentarily and Silva takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Takanen doesn't manage to clinch there - Silva circles away.
Takanen throws a jab when Silva was well out of range.
A swing and a miss from Silva.
Nice cross by Takanen.
Takanen works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Takanen ducks under a wild hook from Silva.
Silva misses with a hook. Takanen ducked under it nicely.
Takanen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Silva.
Takanen wants to clinch.
Takanen moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Takanen throws a big shot that misses.
Silva uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Takanen.
Takanen throws a looping overhand right but Silva ducks down to avoid it.
Takanen looks to land a right hand but Silva moved out of range.
Silva swings for the body but Takanen moves out of range.
Takanen misses with a body shot
and Silva counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Takanen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Silva.
Silva takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Takanen tries to clinch but Silva moves away
and Silva counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Takanen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Silva at a distance.
Takanen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Silva ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Takanen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esko Takanen dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Takanen wants to clinch but Silva slips to the side
and Silva counters with a straight right hand.
Takanen throws a series of punches but Silva avoids them all with ease.
Takanen moves out of range of the strikes.

Takanen clinches up against the cage.
Silva looking to slow down the pace here.
Takanen trying to land knees to the body.
Takanen landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Silva trying to control the position but instead, Takanen has worked for underhooks and has pushed Silva into the cage.
Takanen putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Silva in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Takanen scores with a shoulder strike.
Takanen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Silva is defending well for now.
Silva takes a shot to the head.
Takanen lands a shot to the body.
Still in the clinch, Takanen scores with a nice short uppercut.
Silva looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Takanen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Silva lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Silva wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Takanen has him pressed against the cage.
A knee to the head by Takanen.
Takanen has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Takanen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Silva is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Takanen throws an elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takanen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Takanen lands a good knee to the midsection. Silva won't want to take too many of those.
Silva is breathing heavily.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Takanen.
A looping hook to the body misses from Silva. Takanen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Takanen is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Takanen moves into the clinch.
Takanen prevents Silva from breaking the clinch.
Takanen missing with knees to the body.
Takanen scores with a knee to the head.
Takanen keeps control of Silva as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Takanen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Silva lands a shot to the body.
Takanen misses with an elbow strike.
Takanen lands a body shot.
Takanen putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Silva in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Takanen misses with a knee strike.
Silva blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Takanen misses with a knee to the head.
Takanen's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Takanen trying to land knees to the body.
Silva is trying to break free.
Silva tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Silva swings wildly with an uppercut but Takanen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Takanen lands a left hand.

Silva breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Takanen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva connects with a body shot.
Takanen throws a combination that misses
letting Silva counter with a right hand.
Silva misses with a low kick.
Takanen takes a jab right on the kisser.
Takanen scores with a hook to the body. Silva takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Takanen missing with a left hand there. Silva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Silva looks to land a left hand but Takanen moved out of range nicely.
Silva keeps the fight on the outside.

Takanen has Silva up against the cage in a clinch.
Silva looking to stall.
Silva wants to break free but Takanen has control.
Takanen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Silva on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A body shot lands from Silva.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva throws a punch but it's blocked by Takanen.
Takanen blocks an uppercut.
Takanen missing with knees to the body.
A shot in the inside from Takanen.
Takanen misses with a knee to the head.
Takanen blocks a body shot from Silva.
Takanen tries to land a knee to the head but Silva blocks with his arms.
Silva digs a right hand underneath Takanen's ribcage. Takanen let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Still in the clinch, Silva scores with a nice short uppercut.
Silva cracks Takanen with a nice body shot.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Silva.
Silva taking a breather.
Takanen landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Takanen keeps control of Silva as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Silva lands a right hand.
Silva wants to get back to striking at distance but Takanen won't allow it.
Takanen misses with a body punch.
Takanen prevents a body shot from Silva.
Silva can't find room to land a body shot as Takanen controls the action.
Silva tries to throw a body punch but Takanen avoids it by throwing Silva back against the cage.
Silva is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A frustrated look appears on Silva's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Silva doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Takanen blocking some punches.
A shot in the inside from Takanen.
Takanen lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Takanen scores with a knee to the head.
Takanen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Takanen cracks Silva with a nice body shot.
Takanen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Silva has a couple of punches blocked by Takanen.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Takanen.
Silva looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Takanen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Silva has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Still in the clinch, Takanen scores with a nice short uppercut.
Silva trying to land knees to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Takanen.
Takanen misses with a hook from the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Takanen.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Takanen landing knees to the head.
Takanen has a couple of punches blocked by Silva.
Silva is trying to break free.
Silva misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Takanen.
Takanen misses with the head strike.
Silva lands a left hand that snaps the head of Takanen backwards.
Silva misses with a short punch on the inside.
Takanen with a knee to the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Takanen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esko Takanen dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Silva lands with a straight right. Takanen didn't see that one coming.
Takanen throws a nice looking combination but Silva bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Takanen stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Silva blocks a jab.
Silva fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Takanen manages to avoid it.

Takanen takes the fight into the clinch.
Takanen landing knees to the head.
Silva swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Silva avoids a wild elbow strike from Takanen.
Takanen lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Silva is trying to break the clinch but Takanen has him pressed against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Takanen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takanen is leaning against Silva and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Takanen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Takanen throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Silva.
Silva lands a body punch in the clinch.
Takanen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Silva's face.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Silva has had enough of the clinch but Takanen keeps him there for the moment.
A body shot lands from Takanen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takanen utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A short left from Takanen.

Silva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Takanen scores with a crisp jab that stopped Silva in his tracks.
Takanen connects with a crisp jab.
Takanen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Silva counters with a straight right hand.
Terry Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Good shot there by Takanen.
A punch lands to the side of Silva 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Crunch! Takanen slams his shin into Silva's torso.

Takanen drives through and clinches with Silva against the cage.
Takanen lands a body shot.
Takanen has Silva pressed against the cage.
Silva wants to break the clinch but can't.
A short left from Takanen.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Takanen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Silva lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Takanen blocks a body shot from Silva.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takanen with a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Takanen.
Takanen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Takanen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Silva is defending well for now.
Silva digs a right hand into Takanen's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Takanen's gas tank.
Silva tries to throw a body punch but Takanen avoids it by throwing Silva back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Silva's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Silva swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Takanen just misses with a elbow thrown towards Silva's brow.
Takanen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Silva digs a right hand underneath Takanen's ribcage. Takanen let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Silva can't find room to land a body shot as Takanen controls the action.
Takanen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Takanen blocks an uppercut.
Silva scores with a hook to the body.
Esko Takanen has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Silva wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Silva.

Silva breaks the clinch.
Silva looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Takanen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Takanen drives through and clinches with Silva against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Takanen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva working hard to break the clinch.
Silva throws a punch but it's blocked by Takanen.
Takanen has Silva pressed against the cage, preventing Silva from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Silva is looking to break free of the clinch but Takanen has double underhooks.
Takanen misses with a knee strike.
Silva wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Takanen lands a body shot in the clinch.
Takanen looking to throw knees to the head but Silva is blocking nicely.
Silva misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Silva tries to throw a body punch but Takanen avoids it by throwing Silva back against the cage.
Silva blocking some punches.
Silva can't find room to land a body shot as Takanen controls the action.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Takanen working Silva over with knees to the body.
A hook to the body from Takanen.
Takanen pushes off an throws an elbow but Silva leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Silva misses with some punches.
Silva has a couple of punches blocked by Takanen.
Silva taking a breather.
Takanen digs a right hand into Silva's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Silva's gas tank.
Takanen misses with a knee strike.
Silva misses with some punches.
Takanen putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Silva in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Silva has a couple of punches blocked by Takanen.
Silva wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Takanen lands with a left to the head.
Esko Takanen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Takanen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Silva misses with the head strike.
Takanen lands a knee to the body.
Takanen scores with a nice hook to the head.
Silva can't break the clinch.
Silva scores with a shoulder strike.
Silva misses with a hook to the ribs.
Takanen lands a nice uppercut.
A short left from Silva.
Takanen stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A shot in the inside from Takanen.
Silva takes a knee right on the jaw!
Takanen keeps control of Silva as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Takanen lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Silva.
Takanen with a knee to the head.
Takanen is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Takanen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Silvas head.
Terry Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Takanen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Silva blocks it with crossed arms.
Takanen digs a right hand underneath Silva's ribcage. Silva let out a lung full of air as it connected.

And that's the end of the fight!
Esko Takanen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Takanen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esko Takanen!