PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joel Caputo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takeshi Shuhan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takeshi Shuhan will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Caputo
vs
Shuhan

180 cm
19
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

168 cm
21
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joel Caputo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Takeshi Shuhan!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Russell Pearce and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Caputo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Shuhan as he jumps to the side.

Caputo closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Caputo is trying to control. Shuhan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Caputo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shuhan defending well though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Caputo trying to control from half guard but Shuhan is working away.

Caputo seems to be looking for submissions.
Caputo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Shuhan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Caputo.
Caputo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Caputo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Shuhan sees it coming and defends easily.
Caputo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Caputo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Caputo is working for a submission of some sort.
Caputo is breathing heavily.

Caputo is looking for a kimura but Shuhan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Caputo to get the leverage.
Shuhan wants to get back to his feet.

Caputo looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Caputo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Shuhan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Caputo.
Caputo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shuhan defending well though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shuhan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Caputo counters with a left and a right that stings Shuhan.
Caputo with a lazy takedown attempt
and Shuhan counters with a good low kick that Caputo was not able to check.
Caputo tries to clinch there but Shuhan circles away.
Caputo falls off balance throwing a combination
and Shuhan counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Shuhan connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Caputo has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joel Caputo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Caputo throws a sloppy head kick
and Shuhan counters with a three punch combo that has Caputo backing up. Caputo nods at Shuhan to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caputo wants to clinch up but Shuhan keeps it at a distance.
Caputo lands a jab-cross combination.
Caputo throws a combination that misses
and Shuhan counters with a head kick.
Shuhan moves in looking to clinch but Caputo pushes him off.
Shuhan lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Shuhan moves into the clinch successfully.
Caputo prevents a takedown attempt there.
Shuhan is trying to break the clinch but Caputo is controlling him.
Shuhan putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Caputo in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Shuhan lands an elbow inside.
Shuhan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Caputo has him pressed against the cage.
Caputo tries to pull guard but Shuhan holds him up against the cage and eventually Caputo drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Shuhan tries to break free but Caputo pushes him back against the cage.
Caputo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Shuhan is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Shuhan can't get the takedown.

Shuhan breaks from the clinch.
Caputo throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Shuhan makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Caputo really felt that one!
Caputo throws a series of strikes that have Shuhan backpedaling.
A head kick misses from Caputo.
Shuhan lands with a shot to the body.

Shuhan gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Caputo to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Caputo drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Shuhan dives on top into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joel Caputo dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Caputo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Shuhan looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Caputo has an Americana. Shuhan didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Caputo is delighted and gyrates infront of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Caputo hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Joel Caputo!