PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Aku Juhtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Atshushi Takeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Juhtanen
vs
Takeda

174 cm
22
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
22
146 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aku Juhtanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Atshushi Takeda!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Juhtanen clinches up against the cage.
Takeda manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Takeda is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Juhtanen is defending well for now.
Juhtanen gets underhooks to prevent Takeda's takedown attempt.
Juhtanen is trying to break the clinch but Takeda is controlling him.
Takeda is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Juhtanen is defending well.
Takeda tries a body shot but Juhtanen blocks it.
Good body shot from Juhtanen.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Takeda throws an elbow that misses.
Takeda fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Aku Juhtanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Atshushi Takeda.
Takeda wants to take the fight to the mat but Juhtanen manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Juhtanen breaks the clinch.
Takeda tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Juhtanen moves into range and clinches up with Takeda.

Takeda pulls guard effortlessly.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Juhtanen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Takeda's guard.
Juhtanen trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Juhtanen preventing the sweep.
Takeda keeping full guard, as Juhtanen tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Takeda working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Juhtanen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Takeda is proving hard to escape from.
Juhtanen postures up in Takeda's guard and throws a big left but Takeda blocks it.
Juhtanen passes into half guard.
Juhtanen controlling the action here.
Takeda wants to control but Juhtanen is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juhtanen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Takeda keeps working.

Juhtanen decides to stand and escape the position.
Juhtanen fails to land with a series of punches.
Takeda shoots in looking for a takedown. Juhtanen tries to sprawl out of it but Takeda keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Juhtanen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Juhtanen lands a jab.
Takeda changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Juhtanen tries to avoid it but Takeda manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Juhtanen to the ground. Juhtanen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Juhtanen takes a swing at Takeda's ribcage but misses.
Aku Juhtanen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Juhtanen swats away the attempt to clinch by Takeda.
Some wild striking there from Juhtanen.
Takeda tries to clinch but Juhtanen moves out of range.
Takeda shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Juhtanen pinned against the cage. Juhtanen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Takeda gets tackled into the cage by Juhtanen. Juhtanen maintains the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Juhtanen breaks the clinch.
Takeda shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Juhtanen as he avoids it easily.
Takeda doesn't manage to clinch there - Juhtanen circles away.
Juhtanen digs a good hook to Takeda's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aku Juhtanen dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Juhtanen clinches up against the cage.
Takeda takes a knee to the side of the body.
Juhtanen tries to break free but Takeda pushes him back against the cage.

Juhtanen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Takeda misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Juhtanen throws a series of punches but Takeda moves out of range.
Juhtanen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Takeda closes this distance looking for a takedown but Juhtanen circles away.

Juhtanen has managed to clinch.
Takeda trying to stall but Juhtanen improves his position.
Juhtanen slowing the pace effectively.
Takeda keeps control of Juhtanen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takeda is trying to break the clinch but Juhtanen is controlling him.

Takeda breaks the clinch.
Takeda is looking to clinch but Juhtanen is avoiding it.
Takeda takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Takeda is breathing heavily.
Juhtanen fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Takeda checks it well.
Takeda shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Juhtanen as he avoids it easily.
Aku Juhtanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Atshushi Takeda.

Takeda gets tackled into the cage by Juhtanen. Juhtanen maintains the clinch.
Takeda missing with knees to the body.
Juhtanen leaning against his opponent.

Juhtanen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Takeda wants to clinch.
Juhtanen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takeda throws a head kick that misses.
Juhtanen misses with a two punch combination.
Juhtanen lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Juhtanen throws a right and a left that Takeda avoids nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Takeda shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Juhtanen as he jumps to the side.
Juhtanen's corner calls for a 1-2. Juhtanen obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Juhtanen.
Juhtanen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Takeda takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Juhtanen has Takeda up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juhtanen putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Takeda in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Juhtanen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Juhtanen forces Takeda back against the cage and clinches.

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

Juhtanen clinches up with Takeda and pushes him back against the cage.
Juhtanen content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Juhtanen wants to break free but Takeda has control.
Takeda fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Juhtanen lands a body punch.
Juhtanen wants to get back to striking at distance but Takeda won't allow it.

Juhtanen breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takeda uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Juhtanen.
Juhtanen pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Takeda back to the cage. Juhtanen follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Juhtanen throws a right and a left that Takeda avoids nicely.
Takeda lands with a kick to the ribs.
Takeda shoots in looking for a takedown. Juhtanen tries to sprawl out of it but Takeda keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Juhtanen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Juhtanen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Juhtanen closes the distance and clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Juhtanen manages to break the clinch.
Juhtanen throws a lazy body kick

and Takeda counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Takeda.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aku Juhtanen dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Juhtanen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Juhtanen misses with a two punch combination.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Takeda.
Juhtanen connects with a solid leg kick.
Takeda tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Juhtanen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Juhtanen catches Takeda with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Takeda gets tackled into the cage by Juhtanen. Juhtanen maintains the clinch.
Takeda fails to pull guard.
Juhtanen tries to circle away but Takeda has him pinned against the cage.

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

Juhtanen clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Juhtanen is looking to break free of the clinch but Takeda has double underhooks.
Takeda scores a nice knee to the body.

Juhtanen breaks from the clinch.
Takeda shoots in but Juhtanen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Aku Juhtanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Atshushi Takeda.
Takeda takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Juhtanen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Takeda is out of range and Juhtanen settles back down.
Takeda lands a head kick!
Aku Juhtanen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Juhtanen stuffs the takedown attempt from Takeda. Takeda gets slowly back to his feet.
Takeda dodges the punch combination from Juhtanen.
Juhtanen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Juhtanen misses with a double jab.
Juhtanen blocks a head kick by Takeda.

Juhtanen clinches.
Juhtanen prevents the takedown attempt.
Juhtanen keeps control of Takeda as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Juhtanen breaks from the clinch.
Takeda shoots in looking for a takedown. Juhtanen tries to sprawl out of it but Takeda keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Juhtanen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Juhtanen pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Takeda back to the cage. Juhtanen follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Juhtanen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Takeda on the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juhtanen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Juhtanen throws a head kick that Takeda semi-blocks.

Juhtanen clinches up with Takeda and pushes him back against the cage.

Juhtanen breaks from the clinch.
Takeda tries to clinch up but Juhtanen circles away and keeps his distance.
Takeda slips a jab and a cross from Juhtanen.

Takeda tries to keep at a distance but Juhtanen has taken the fight into the clinch.

Juhtanen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Takeda rushes Juhtanen and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takeda stalling against the cage.
Takeda has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Juhtanen after a bit of a struggle.

Juhtanen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Takeda closes the distance and clinches.
Aku Juhtanen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Juhtanen manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Stalling in the clinch from Takeda.
Atshushi Takeda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Takeda drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aku Juhtanen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Juhtanen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aku Juhtanen!