PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Finalizador (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shin Katama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Katama has chosen Inject the Venom as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. This should be fireworks!

Finalizador
vs
Katama

188 cm
21
194 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

192 cm
23
185 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Finalizador!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Shin Katama!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Edson Gomes and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Katama lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Nice cross by Katama.
Finalizador shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Katama pinned against the cage. Katama gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Katama throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Finalizador misses with a double jab
and Katama counters with a one-two to the body.
Katama throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Finalizador tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Katama counters with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katama moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Finalizador misses with a takedown attempt
and Katama counters with a series of strikes. Finalizador will be more careful next time no doubt.
Finalizador closes the distance looking to clinch
enabling Katama to counter with a crisp jab.
Shin Katama is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Finalizador shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Katama counters with a good, hard body kick but Finalizador shrugs it off.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Finalizador. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Finalizador gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Katama counters with a nice low kick that buckles Finalizador's knee momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katama swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Finalizador misses with a takedown attempt
and Katama counters with a slapping leg kick.
Katama misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Katama misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Finalizador is looking to clinch but Katama is avoiding it.
Finalizador moves out of range of the body kick.
Katama lands with a nice body kick.
Ricardo Finalizador seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Finalizador doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Katama counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Finalizador is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katama throws a head kick that misses.
Finalizador with a poor takedown
and Katama counters with a head kick.
Finalizador waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Katama.
Katama misses with an attempted mid kick.
Finalizador has his takedown stuffed
and Katama counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Katama rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Finalizador moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Katama throws a wild body kick that Finalizador sees coming a mile off.
Finalizador gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Katama counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A right-left combo lands from Katama.
Finalizador swings for the body but Katama moves out of range.
Finalizador darts in trying to clinch
and Katama counters with a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shin Katama dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Katama tries to bum rush Finalizador with a series of wild strikes but Finalizador uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Finalizador clinches but Katama breaks the clinch
and Katama counters with a big head kick but Finalizador shrugs it off.
Finalizador checks a low kick from Katama.
Finalizador misses with a takedown
and Katama counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Finalizador gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Katama counters with a body kick that stops Finalizador in his tracks momentarily.
Katama fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finalizador doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Katama counters with a solid body kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Finalizador. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Finalizador misses with a takedown
and Finalizador takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Katama bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Katama throws a half hearted mid kick.
Finalizador avoids a kick to the body.
Finalizador with a lazy takedown attempt
and Katama counters with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finalizador looks to land a left hand but Katama moved out of range nicely.
Katama throws out a leg kick but Finalizador moves out of range and Katama only half commits.
Shin Katama seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Finalizador checks the leg kick.
Finalizador gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Katama counters with a leg kick.
Finalizador checks the leg kick.
Finalizador shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Katama counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katama throws the kick towards the body but Finalizador avoids it.
Finalizador throws a big shot that misses.
Finalizador checks the leg kick.
Finalizador takes a kick to the side of the head.
Finalizador with a lazy takedown attempt
and Katama counters with a good, hard body kick but Finalizador shrugs it off.
Nice body kick from Katama.
A clash of legs there as Finalizador blocks the low kick.
Finalizador takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katama slips a jab and a cross from Finalizador.
Finalizador misses with a takedown attempt
and Katama counters with a nice kick to the body.
Finalizador has his takedown stuffed
and Katama counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Finalizador avoids a kick to the body.
Finalizador looks to clinch
and Katama counters with a solid body kick.
Finalizador shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Katama counters with a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shin Katama showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Katama thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Finalizador if he has to take too many more of those.

Finalizador drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Katama is looking to stand up but Finalizador isn't so interested in that idea.
Katama keeping full guard, as Finalizador tries to pass.
Finalizador stops Katama from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katama keeping moving, preventing Finalizador from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Finalizador doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Katama counters with a two punch combo.
Finalizador misses with a takedown attempt
and Katama counters with a thumping low kick.
Finalizador with a lazy takedown attempt
and Katama counters with a leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Finalizador. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finalizador doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Katama counters with a left and a right that stings Finalizador.

Finalizador shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Finalizador showed some decent athleticism there.
Finalizador stops Katama from getting back to his feet.
Katama is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finalizador controlling the pace.
Finalizador wants to control but Katama is keeping him busy.
Katama wants to get back to his feet.
Katama has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Finalizador not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Finalizador throws a head kick that misses
and Katama counters with a series of strikes. Finalizador will be more careful next time no doubt.
Finalizador misses with a takedown attempt
and Katama counters with a head kick. That will keep Finalizador thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Ricardo Finalizador is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Katama connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

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.
A combination from Finalizador does no damage.
Katama pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Finalizador is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Katama lands with a nice body punch.
Finalizador with a lazy takedown attempt
and Finalizador takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Finalizador will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Finalizador shoots and misses
and Katama counters with a thumping low kick.
Finalizador with a lazy takedown attempt
and Katama counters with a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shin Katama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Katama winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 25:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 25:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shin Katama!