PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cooper Abreu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ichiro Takahashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Abreu's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Die for Metal. Takahashi comes into a darkened arena with his song building. 暗殺者 kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Abreu
vs
Takahashi

170 cm
32
174 lbs
18 - 4 - 0

180 cm
31
174 lbs
21 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Milwaukee's Best 160

Convicted Trap House

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 18 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cooper Abreu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ichiro Takahashi!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abreu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Takahashi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Takahashi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Abreu scores with a nice strike.
Nice body kick from Takahashi.
Takahashi takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Takahashi throws a lazy body kick

and Abreu counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Takahashi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Abreu can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Takahashi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Abreu defends well.
Takahashi has momentary wrist control but Abreu slips an elbow through the middle.
Abreu trying to control but Takahashi is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abreu advances position into side control!
Abreu misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Abreu trying to control the position but Takahashi is working away.
Takahashi gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Takahashi is looking to control Abreu's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Takahashi avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abreu slows the pace down in half guard.
Takahashi is looking to control Abreu's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Takahashi avoid being mounted?
Takahashi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Abreu trying to advance position but Takahashi counters by regaining guard.
Takahashi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've been hearing that Abreu has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Abreu postures up in Takahashi's guard and throws a big left but Takahashi blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Takahashi is adopting a defensive guard.
Takahashi controls Abreu momentarily but Abreu frees himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ichiro Takahashi.
Takahashi on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Takahashi lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Abreu takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Abreu is defended easily by Takahashi.
Takahashi looks to score with a jab to the body but Abreu is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Abreu has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Jab, jab by Abreu - just one landing.
Takahashi scores with a hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Abreu scores with the left hand. Takahashi knows he should have avoided that one.
Abreu connects with a single shot there.
Abreu throws a hook but Takahashi avoids it easily.
Takahashi moves out of range of the body kick from Abreu.
Ichiro Takahashi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takahashi takes one on the button.
Takahashi scores with a push kick.
A shot to the liver by Takahashi. Beautiful body shot.
Takahashi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Takahashi cracks Abreu with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Takahashi blocks a jab.
Abreu tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A decent looking cross lands there for Abreu.
Abreu has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Takahashi.
Abreu throws an overhand right that lands on Takahashi's shoulder, as Takahashi tries to avoid the shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Cooper Abreu will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Abreu swinging wildly here.
A chopping leg kick lands by Takahashi.
Takahashi lunges at Abreu with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Abreu's hand.
Abreu cracks the inside of Takahashi's front leg.
Takahashi lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Abreu at a distance.
Abreu bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Takahashi's head backwards.
Takahashi fails with an attempt to clinch.
A big right from Abreu misses.
Abreu looks to score with a jab to the body but Takahashi is just out of range.
Takahashi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Takahashi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Abreu wants to slow Takahashi down by chopping away at his legs.
Cooper Abreu is winning the standup battle so far.
Abreu will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Takahashi lands with a thumping leg kick.
Abreu bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Abreu swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Abreu dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Takahashi. That did some damage!
Abreu throws a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abreu scores with a punch to the head.
Takahashi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Abreu scores with the left hand. Takahashi knows he should have avoided that one.
Takahashi wants to clinch up but Abreu keeps it at a distance.
Nice defenses there by Takahashi.
Abreu takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Takahashi fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Takahashi moves away from the strike by Abreu.
Abreu pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Abreu throws a leg kick that is checked

and Takahashi holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Takahashi tries to land knees in the clinch but Abreu avoids the damage to the body.
Takahashi looking to throw knees to the head but Abreu is blocking nicely.
Takahashi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Abreu doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Abreu misses with a hook to the ribs.
Takahashi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
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!

Abreu is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Takahashi can't fight it off and eventually Abreu manages to take the fight to the floor. Takahashi looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Takahashi keeping moving, preventing Abreu from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Takahashi working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Abreu has passed into half guard!

Takahashi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Abreu pulls his head out easily.
Abreu trying to control the action but Takahashi is working from the bottom.
Abreu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takahashi actively working from the bottom here.
Takahashi is trying to maintain the position but Abreu is very close to passing his half guard.
Takahashi is staying active underneath Abreu, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Abreu lands a nice short elbow.
Abreu wants to take a breather but Takahashi is having none of it.
Abreu is stalling here. Takahashi is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Abreu seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Takahashi has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Takahashi tries to advance position but instead Abreu slips a leg back in to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi trying to control from Abreu's half guard. Abreu has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Takahashi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Takahashi passes Abreu's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Takahashi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Takahashi is looking to take a break and control but Abreu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Cooper Abreu will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Abreu cracks Takahashi with an open hand slap.
Abreu walks into a jab.
Takahashi scores with a body shot.
Abreu has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Takahashi.
Abreu misses with a low kick.
Takahashi defending well as Abreu loads up on a big left hand.
Takahashi shoots for a double leg takedown but Abreu sprawls well. He's pushed Takahashi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Abreu fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Takahashi pushes Abreu up against the cage in a clinch.
Abreu blocking some punches.
Abreu tries to work over Takahashi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Abreu lands a nice uppercut.
Takahashi has a couple of punches blocked by Abreu.
Takahashi trying to control the position but instead, Abreu has worked for underhooks and has pushed Takahashi into 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!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Abreu.
Takahashi working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abreu throws a head punch that misses.
Takahashi lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Abreu.
A short right from Abreu.
Takahashi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Abreu pushes Takahashi back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Abreu has a couple of punches blocked by Takahashi.
Takahashi throws a punch but it's blocked by Abreu.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Takahashi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Abreu lands with a light punch inside.
Abreu working aggressively here.
Abreu misses with a punch on the inside.
Abreu looking for a takedown.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takahashi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Takahashi looking to throw knees to the head but Abreu is blocking nicely.
Takahashi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Takahashi tries to throw a body punch but Abreu avoids it by throwing Takahashi back against the cage.
Abreu misses with a punch to the body.
Abreu wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Takahashi has him pressed against the cage.
Ichiro Takahashi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Abreu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Takahashi has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Abreu throws a hook but Takahashi avoids it easily.
Abreu is trying hard to land a takedown here. Takahashi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Takahashi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Abreu paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Takahashi lands with a hook. Abreu tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Takahashi wants to slow Abreu down by chopping away at his legs.
Takahashi misses with an uppercut. Abreu saw that one coming.

Takahashi clinches.
Takahashi putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Abreu in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Takahashi looking to stall.
Takahashi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Abreu tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Abreu misses with a short punch on the inside.
Takahashi throws an elbow but it misses.
Takahashi misses with some punches.
Takahashi is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Takahashi misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Takahashi lands a damaging elbow.
Takahashi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Takahashi landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Takahashi scores with a shot to the side of Abreu's head.
Takahashi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Takahashi tries a body shot but Abreu blocks it.
Abreu misses with some punches.
Takahashi creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Abreu's defenses.
Takahashi scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Takahashi struggles to land a body shot inside as Abreu controls his hands.
Takahashi is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Abreu is defending well for now.
Takahashi stalling.
Takahashi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Abreu.
Takahashi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Takahashi swings wildly with an uppercut but Abreu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Takahashi swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abreu scores with a nice hook to the head.
Abreu lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A hook to the body from Takahashi.
Nice body punch from Abreu.
A right hook to the body lands for Takahashi.
Takahashi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Takahashi tries a knee to the head but Abreu blocks it.
Abreu lands a right hand that snaps the head of Takahashi backwards.
Takahashi lands a body punch.
Takahashi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Abreu is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Takahashi is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cooper Abreu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Abreu blocks an uppercut.
Abreu misses with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Takahashi with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Abreu changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Takahashi fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Abreu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Takahashi.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ichiro Takahashi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Abreu has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cooper Abreu!
After the fight, Cooper Abreu was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.