PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Wanderlei Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kushin Takahashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Silva
vs
Takahashi

180 cm
24
160 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

176 cm
25
166 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

MADE IN GERMANY

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Wanderlei Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kushin Takahashi!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva blocks a jab.
Takahashi missing with a left hand there. Silva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Takahashi misses with a looping right.
Silva takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Takahashi misses the jab.
Takahashi throws a lazy right hand but Silva sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Takahashi misses the target.
Takahashi scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Takahashi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Takahashi avoids the body shot from Silva.
Takahashi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Silva slips under a jab.
Takahashi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The fighters circling - Takahashi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Takahashi throws an overhand right that lands on Silva's shoulder, as Silva tries to avoid the shot.

Silva gets a takedown into half guard.
Silva throwing shots but Takahashi is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takahashi kicks Silva off and gets back to his feet.
Takahashi just misses with a punch to the body.
Silva shoots for a double leg takedown but Takahashi sprawls well. He's pushed Silva's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Takahashi looks to land a combination but Silva avoids it well.
Silva ducks under a wild hook from Takahashi.
Silva lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Silva.
Takahashi swinging wildly here.
Silva misses with a low kick as Takahashi jumps back.
Silva keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Takahashi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt - Takahashi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wanderlei Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Takahashi throws a combination that misses
and Silva counters with a nice body shot.
Takahashi misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Silva counters with a good low kick that Takahashi was not able to check.
Silva misses with a low kick.
Takahashi might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Takahashi swivels and escapes.
Takahashi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Silva.
Takahashi missing with a left hand there. Silva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Silva gets a takedown into half guard.
Silva prevents Takahashi from standing back up.
Takahashi makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Takahashi.

Silva drops back looking for a leg! Takahashi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Takahashi manages to kick Silva off! Silva jumps back into Takahashi's guard.
Takahashi wants to control the position but Silva says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Takahashi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Takahashi looking for a guillotine here but Silva defends easily.

Takahashi working for submissions but it's allowed Silva to get to half guard.

Silva is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Takahashi sees it coming and defends easily.
Takahashi desperately trying to maintain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Takahashi is staying active underneath Silva, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Takahashi wants to control but Silva is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Takahashi actively working from the bottom here.
Takahashi has hold of Silva's hands but Silva slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Takahashi tries to kick Silva off but Silva keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Silva is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Silva trying to control from half guard but Takahashi is working away.

Silva seems to be looking for submissions.
Silva misses with a head shot. Takahashi uses the momentum to regain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Silva dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Silva throws a hook but Takahashi blocks it.
Takahashi throws a big shot that misses.
Takahashi misses the shot to the body.
Takahashi thows a body shot but no joy.
Takahashi looks to land a left hand but Silva moved out of range nicely.
Takahashi throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Silva on the side of the head.
Takahashi throws a hook to the side of Silva's head but Silva sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Silva misses the body punch
and Takahashi counters with a nice body shot.
Takahashi throws a shot from downtown. Silva moves away and avoids it.
Takahashi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Takahashi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Silva scores with a nice right hand.
Silva slips under a jab.
A shot to the body from Takahashi misses
and Silva finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Silva shoots in for a takedown but Takahashi shows good takedown defense.
A big right from Takahashi misses.
Silva uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Takahashi.
Takahashi throws a left and a right that both miss

and Silva counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Silva.

Takahashi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Takahashi seems keen to control Silva's posture.
Takahashi controls Silva momentarily but Silva frees himself.

Silva postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Takahashi is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Silva, into his guard.
Takahashi prevents Silva from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Takahashi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Takahashi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Takahashi wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
Takahashi might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Silva kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Silva is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Takahashi regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Silva.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva punching from the bottom - just letting Takahashi know he's still in a fight.
Takahashi trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Silva trying to control the position.

Takahashi drops back, looking for a kneebar! Silva looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Silva looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Silva!
Takahashi is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Silva is trying to get an arm triangle but Takahashi is defending well.
Takahashi is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Silva working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Takahashi regains half guard.

Takahashi kicks off Silva and gets to his feet.
Takahashi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Silva uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Takahashi.
Takahashi missing with a left hand there. Silva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Takahashi scores with a jab to the body.
Silva uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Takahashi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kushin Takahashi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Takahashi lands a nice hook to Silva's body. Silva takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Wanderlei Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Takahashi throws a combination that misses

so Silva counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Silva is fighting to break Takahashi's control of his arms but Takahashi is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Takahashi keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Takahashi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Silva.
Silva would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Takahashi is keeping the position for now.

Takahashi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Silva doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Silva manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Takahashi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Silva gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is pushing down on Takahashi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Takahashi is fighting to maintain full guard but Silva has managed to sneak the leg through.

Takahashi is defending against the submission attempts here by Silva.
Silva stalling away here and it's allowed Takahashi to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Takahashi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takahashi has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Takahashi sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Silva's guard.
Takahashi trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.
Silva looks like he's trying to stand up.
Takahashi seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Takahashi is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Silva defends it well.
Wanderlei Silva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Silva does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Silva actively working from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Takahashi is working for a submission of some sort.
Silva trying to control but Takahashi postures up.
Silva is not content to let Takahashi control the position.

Takahashi is trying to work for a kimura but Silva is defending well.

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.
Takahashi is looking to take a break and control but Silva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Silva is pressing down on Takahashi's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Silva looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silva manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Takahashi manages to get himself to full guard.
Takahashi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Takahashi scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Silva with a poor takedown
and Takahashi counters with a left to the body.
Takahashi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Silva was well out of range. Poor timing from Takahashi.
Takahashi throws a right and a left that Silva avoids nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kushin Takahashi.
I think Takahashi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kushin Takahashi!