PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tupac Shaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuri Zurutuza (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.

Shaker
vs
Zurutuza

170 cm
20
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
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 Tokyo, Tupac Shaker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yuri Zurutuza!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shaker moves into the clinch.
Shaker crunches a lovely knee into Zurutuza's ribcage.
Shaker connects with a nasty looking knee right to Zurutuza's face.

It looks like Yuri Zurutuza has been cut.
Shaker missing with knees to the body.
Shaker is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Zurutuza is defending well for now.
Zurutuza changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Shaker fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Shaker looks to land a combination. Zurutuza sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Zurutuza throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shaker on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zurutuza. Zurutuza obviously looking to wear him down.
Shaker misses with a few strikes there.
Zurutuza shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Danga de danga de dang - Shaker scores with a four punch combination!
A nice combination there by Shaker.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zurutuza fails to land the takedown.
Tupac Shaker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuri Zurutuza.
Zurutuza looks gassed!
Zurutuza misses with a double jab

and Shaker counters by clinching up.
Shaker utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Shaker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yuri Zurutuza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Shaker has Zurutuza up against the cage in a clinch.
Zurutuza takes a knee to the side of the body.
Shaker lands a nice knee to the body.
Shaker lands a good knee to the midsection. Zurutuza won't want to take too many of those.
Zurutuza takes a knee right on the jaw!

Shaker manages to break the clinch.

Shaker moves into range and clinches up with Zurutuza.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shaker lands a knee to the body.
Shaker landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Shaker connects with a nasty looking knee right to Zurutuza's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaker unloads a knee to the mid-section. Zurutuza lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Shaker crunches a lovely knee into Zurutuza's ribcage.
Shaker unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Shaker breaks from the clinch.

Shaker clinches.
Shaker landing knees to the body.
Zurutuza is trying to force a seperation but Shaker has the dominant position.
Shaker unloads a knee to the mid-section. Zurutuza lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Shaker scores a nice knee to the body.
Shaker crunches a lovely knee into Zurutuza's ribcage.
Shaker is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Shaker lands a nice knee to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Shaker.

Shaker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zurutuza thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Shaker if he has to take too many more of those.
Zurutuza throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Shaker counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Shaker with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zurutuza drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Shaker gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Shaker unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Zurutuza tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Shaker smiles and moves away.

Zurutuza tries to keep at a distance but Shaker has taken the fight into the clinch.
Shaker lands a knee to the head.
Zurutuza tries for a takedown but Shaker manages to get underhooks.
Shaker landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Zurutuza takes a knee to the side of the body.
Shaker tries a knee to the head but Zurutuza blocks it.
Zurutuza tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Shaker smiles and moves away.
Zurutuza scores with a spinning back kick!

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.
Zurutuza shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Shaker sprawls well. Shaker wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zurutuza gets slowly back to his feet.
Zurutuza misses with a body punch

and Shaker counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Shaker scores a nice knee to the body.
Shaker crunches a lovely knee into Zurutuza's ribcage.
Shaker lands a knee to the body.
Zurutuza can't break the clinch.
Shaker with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shaker working Zurutuza over with knees to the body.
Shaker putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Zurutuza in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Shaker creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Zurutuza's defenses.
Zurutuza managing to block the knees to the body from Shaker.
Zurutuza avoiding damage as Shaker throws knees to the body.
Shaker tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zurutuza avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tupac Shaker dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Yuri Zurutuza's cut.
That's time! Shaker's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zurutuza closes the distance but Shaker moves to the side

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

Shaker's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zurutuza shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zurutuza shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Shaker sprawls well. Shaker wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zurutuza gets slowly back to his feet.

Shaker clinches.

Shaker manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Zurutuza tries to keep at a distance but Shaker has taken the fight into the clinch.

Zurutuza manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaker postures up.
Zurutuza is looking to stand up but Shaker isn't so interested in that idea.

Shaker decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Zurutuza tries to keep at a distance but Shaker has taken the fight into the clinch.
Shaker unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Zurutuza tries for a takedown but Shaker manages to get underhooks.
Tupac Shaker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuri Zurutuza.
Zurutuza tries to break the clinch but Shaker is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaker utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Shaker unloads a knee to the mid-section. Zurutuza lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Shaker landing knees to the body.
Zurutuza tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shaker just stands there and leans against the cage.
Shaker missing with knees to the body.
Zurutuza can't break the clinch.

Zurutuza turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Zurutuza looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Shaker regains half guard.

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

Zurutuza is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Shaker sees it coming and defends easily.
Zurutuza moves nicely into side control.
Zurutuza landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

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.
Shaker taking punishment in the form of punches.
Zurutuza creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Shaker is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Zurutuza has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Shaker on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Shaker tries to get out of the position.
Shaker gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Zurutuza throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
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 Tupac Shaker will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Yuri Zurutuza's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Zurutuza fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shaker displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zurutuza.

Shaker has taken the fight to the clinch.
Shaker unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Knees to the body from Shaker.
A knee to the head by Shaker.

Shaker manages to break the clinch.

Shaker clinches with his opponent.
Shaker landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Zurutuza trying to stall but Shaker improves his position.
Shaker lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shaker is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Zurutuza is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zurutuza can't break the clinch.
Shaker is trying to drag Zurutuza to the mat but Zurutuza just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Zurutuza blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shaker is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Zurutuza is defending well for now.
Shaker tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zurutuza avoids it.
Shaker landing knees to the body.
Tupac Shaker has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Shaker landing knees to the head.
Zurutuza goes for a takedown in the clinch but Shaker prevents it.
Tupac Shaker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuri Zurutuza.
Shaker unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Shaker lands a knee to the body.

Zurutuza manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Zurutuza has his hands on Shaker's head, controlling the position.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaker wanted to stand there but Zurutuza had control of the position.
Zurutuza looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zurutuza wants to stand but Shaker is controlling the position.

Zurutuza wriggles free and stands up.
Shaker wants to clinch up but Zurutuza keeps it at a distance.
Zurutuza misses with a body kick.
Shaker closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Shaker closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Shaker unloads a knee to the mid-section. Zurutuza lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Zurutuza avoiding damage as Shaker throws knees to the body.
Zurutuza wants to break the clinch but can't.
Shaker unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Shaker landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Zurutuza tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shaker just stands there and leans against the cage.
Zurutuza managing to block the knees to the body from Shaker.
Shaker working Zurutuza over with knees to the body.
Zurutuza on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zurutuza on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zurutuza wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Zurutuza takes a knee to the side of the body.
Shaker is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Zurutuza is defending well for now.
Zurutuza managing to block the knees to the body from Shaker.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shaker is pressed up against the cage. Zurutuza has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Shaker down to the mat. Shaker avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Shaker takes the fight into the clinch.
Yuri Zurutuza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tupac Shaker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Zurutuza gets control of Shaker's arms and successfully pulls guard. Zurutuza will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tupac Shaker showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shaker, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:26
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tupac Shaker!