PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shen Po (ranked 162 p4p, 227 weight class) and Krsto Vujić (ranked 22 p4p, 36 weight class). Po comes into the arena with Ei-tetsu Hayashi & 木下伸市 blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Vujić's choice of entrance music: Regeaton Montenegro. 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?

Po
vs
Vujić

177 cm
28
194
17 - 9 - 0

187 cm
32
191
18 - 11 - 1

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shen Po!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Krsto Vujić!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Taro Takaoka and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Po misses with a looping right.
Vujić misses with a shot to the body

and Po counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Po.

Vujić breaks the clinch.
Nice uppercut there from Vujić.
Vujić fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Po manages to avoid it.
A counter left hand to the body from Po misses its target.
Vujić keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Po misses with an uppercut. Vujić saw that one coming.
Vujić lands a really nice looking cross but Po seems unphased.
Vujić drops his hands momentarily and Po takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

It looks like Krsto Vujić has been cut.
Po scores with a decent looking hook.
Po smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
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!
Vujić tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Po was well out of range. Poor timing from Vujić.
An attempted straight right counter from Po misses the target.
Vujić throws a right and a left that both miss.
Po throwing a counter right hand but Vujić manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vujić throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vujić misses with a wild body shot.
A quick step to the side and Po tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

Po has closed the distance and engaged Vujić in a clinch.
Po keeps control of Vujić as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Vujić has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Po lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Vujić.
Po definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Po tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Po misses with a punch to the body.
Po connects with a nasty looking knee right to Vujić's face.

Vujić escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Po catches Vujić with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Vujić lands with a right hand.
Po misses the body punch
and Vujić counters with a straight right hand.
Po fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Vujić looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Vujić misses the body punch

and Po holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Po misses with a body punch.
Vujić tries to break the clinch but Po is controlling the position.
Po lands a nice uppercut.
Po cracks Vujić with a nice body shot.
Po can't find room to land a body shot as Vujić controls the action.
Vujić's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Vujić tries to break the clinch but Po is controlling the position.

Vujić's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vujić throws a body punch but Po moves out of range.
Po lands with a shot to the body.
Vujić misses the shot to the body.
Po swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Vujić throws a shot to the body.
Po tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vujić swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A nice side step and Vujić releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Vujić misses the jab.
Po half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Vujić dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vujić misses with a body shot
and Po counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Vujić throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Po gets a clinch.
Nice body punch from Po.
Po tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Vujić has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Still in the clinch, Po scores with a nice short uppercut.
Po tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vujić's elbow.
Po has Vujić pressed against the cage, preventing Vujić from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Po tries to land a knee to the head but Vujić blocks with his arms.
Po makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Po stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vujić.
Po misses with a hook to the ribs.

Vujić manages to break the clinch.
Po throws the left hand but Vujić avoids the punch easily.
Po throws a shot from downtown. Vujić moves away and avoids it.
Vujić throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Po keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vujić.
Po swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Vujić throws a jab when Po was well out of range.
Vujić ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vujić scores with a jab to the head.
Krsto Vujić is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vujić fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Some wild striking there from Vujić.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vujić. Po does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vujić is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Po rather than just go for the knockout.

Po gets a clinch.
A short uppercut from Po.

That has opened up Krsto Vujić's cut even more.
Po throws a punch but it's blocked by Vujić.
Po tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vujić's elbow.
A frustrated look appears on Vujić's face as he tries to break the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shen Po dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Krsto Vujić's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Vujić lands a nice looking body shot.
Po takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Po uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Vujić.
Vujić throws out a loose jab but Po uses good head movement to avoid it.
Po loads up on a big right hand but Vujić slips the punch.
Po scores with a hook.
Vujić misses with a looping left.
Vujić blocks a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vujić lands an overhand right.
Nice uppercut lands for Vujić. That snapped Po's head back.
Vujić lands a body shot.
Vujić lands a really nice looking cross but Po seems unphased.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Vujić. Beautiful body shot.
Vujić lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Vujić scores with a sloppy right hand. Po should have avoided that one.
Vujić throws a lazy right hand but Po sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Po seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Krsto Vujić seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Po misses with a wild body shot.
Vujić throws a jab but it's blocked by Po.
Po keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Krsto Vujić seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vujić uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Po has time to react.
Po misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vujić.
Vujić swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Vujić loads up on a big right hand but Po slips the punch.
Po pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vujić ducks under a wild hook from Po.
Vujić swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A cross from Po lands.
Vujić scores with a hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Po is looking to clinch but Vujić is avoiding it.
Vujić looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Vujić will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Po has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Vujić finds it's way round the side to connect with Po's head.
Vujić scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Po uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vujić.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Po cracks Vujić with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Po misses with a body shot.
Vujić swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Po scores with a sloppy right hand. Vujić should have avoided that one.
A shot to the liver by Vujić. Beautiful body shot.
Vujić ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Vujić circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Vujić to counter with a crisp jab.
Vujić throws a jab when Po was well out of range.
Jab, jab by Po - just one landing.

The cut above Krsto Vujić's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Vujić works the jab nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vujić scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
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!
Vujić misses with an uppercut
and Po counters with a straight right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vujić. Po does a little dance to reset his feet.
Po uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vujić.
Po was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A lazy left from Po finds it's target.
Vujić throws a shot to the body.
A punch lands to the side of Vujić 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Vujić is rocked!

Krsto Vujić's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Vujić lands a nice looking body shot.
Vujić steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Po.
Vujić now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Po shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Vujić sprawls well. Vujić wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Po gets slowly back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Krsto Vujić showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Krsto Vujić's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Vujić misses with a looping left.
The fighters circling - Po throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Vujić throws a body punch but Po moves out of range.
Po misses with an uppercut
and Vujić counters with a nice body shot.
Vujić throws a hook to the side of Po's head but Po sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Po slips a jab from Vujić.

Po pushes Vujić up against the cage in a clinch.
Vujić blocks a body shot from Po.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Po throws a punch but it's blocked by Vujić.
Vujić working hard to break the clinch.
Vujić is trying to push Po away but Po has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Vujić is trying to break free.
Po lands a right hand that snaps the head of Vujić backwards.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Po gets through Vujić's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Po lands a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Po creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Vujić pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Po moves in looking to clinch but Vujić pushes him off.
Vujić throws a looping overhand right but Po ducks down to avoid it.
Po misses with a takedown attempt
and Vujić cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Po ducks right into an uppercut from Vujić.
Po misses with a looping left.
Vujić misses with a body shot.
Po just misses with a punch to the body.
Po takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Po lands a body shot.
Vujić takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Po tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vujić swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Vujić keeps the fight on the outside.
The fighters circling - Vujić throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Po half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Vujić throws a big shot that misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vujić lands with a shot to the body.
Vujić throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Po sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Po gets the takedown into side control.
Po tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Po wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vujić keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vujić is looking to reverse the position.
Vujić struggling a bit here.
What's Vujić going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Po tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Po is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Vujić is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Po looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Vujić avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Po.

Po tries for a kimura but Vujić is defending well.

Po tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Po has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Shen Po.
I think Po 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shen Po!
A relieved looking Shen Po thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Krsto Vujić spoke after the fight, saying 'Who loses a Win, wins a Loss'.