PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sho Shinjo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iuraiah Vaber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shinjo comes into the arena with Theme of Sho blaring out of the sound system. Vaber has chosen Crystal Castles - xxzxczx me as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Shinjo
vs
Vaber

176 cm
20
168 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

167 cm
26
165 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Gilop®

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sho Shinjo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Iuraiah Vaber!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Paulo Santos and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Vaber.
Shinjo paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Shinjo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Shinjo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vaber.
Shinjo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Vaber avoids the head kick by Shinjo.
Vaber blocks a head kick by Shinjo.
Vaber tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A head kick misses from Vaber.
Shinjo tries to clinch up but Vaber circles away and keeps his distance.
Shinjo throws a leg kick which misses Vaber's front leg but catches the back leg as Vaber tries to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vaber takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Shinjo tries to clinch there but Vaber circles away.
Vaber blocks the body kick.
Shinjo looks for a takedown but Vaber sprawls well.
Shinjo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vaber throws a solid leg kick but Shinjo takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Vaber.
Vaber connects with a leg kick. Shinjo looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Shinjo closes the distance but Vaber moves to the side
and Vaber counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Shinjo is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo avoids a kick to the body.

Shinjo throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Vaber tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Shinjo is in Vaber's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Shinjo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Vaber wants to control but Shinjo postures up.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo working away.
Shinjo creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Vaber sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Vaber can do anything to dispel that myth.
Vaber is trying to get back to half guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shinjo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vaber takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sho Shinjo dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Vaber throws a leg kick
and Shinjo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like Iuraiah Vaber has been cut.
Shinjo moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A big right from Shinjo misses.
Shinjo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vaber swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shinjo tries to clinch there but Vaber circles away.

Shinjo takes the fight into the clinch.
Shinjo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Vaber pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A short left from Shinjo.
Vaber wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vaber stops a takedown attempt from Shinjo.
Vaber is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Vaber tries to break free but Shinjo pushes him back against the cage.

Vaber escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sho Shinjo is winning the standup battle so far.
Vaber needs to keep his hands up - Shinjo had a free shot at his head there.
Sho Shinjo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shinjo looks to land a combination but Vaber avoids it well.
Shinjo lands a really nice looking cross but Vaber seems unphased.
Shinjo cracks the inside of Vaber's front leg.
Vaber slips a straight right by Shinjo.
Shinjo takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vaber slips a jab and a cross from Shinjo.
Shinjo is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Vaber lands with a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vaber gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Shinjo counters with a nice leg kick.
Shinjo looks to land a combination but Vaber avoids it well.
Vaber lands a leg kick that knocks Shinjo off balance momentarily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shinjo misses with a body kick.
A head kick misses from Vaber.
Iuraiah Vaber is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vaber takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vaber keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sho Shinjo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shinjo throws a hook but Vaber avoids it easily.
Sho Shinjo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vaber pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vaber ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shinjo moves away.
Vaber swats away the attempt to clinch by Shinjo.
Vaber ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo scores with a sloppy right hand. Vaber should have avoided that one.
Vaber connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Vaber throws a nice outside leg kick.
Shinjo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Shinjo throws a head kick but Vaber moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vaber tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shinjo throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sho Shinjo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Iuraiah Vaber's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Shinjo tries a head kick but it misses.
Vaber checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Shinjo looks for the body kick but Vaber saw that one coming.
Shinjo fails with a takedown attempt.
A clash of legs there as Shinjo blocks the low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Vaber tries to keep at a distance but Shinjo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Shinjo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vaber is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A short uppercut from Shinjo.
Shinjo scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short left from Shinjo.
Vaber stops a takedown attempt from Shinjo.
Vaber is trying to break free.
Shinjo goes for a takedown in the clinch but Vaber prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sho Shinjo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vaber is trying to force a seperation but Shinjo has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Vaber's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Vaber looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Vaber is trying to break the clinch but Shinjo has him pressed against the cage.
Shinjo has a couple of punches blocked by Vaber.
Vaber is trying to force a seperation but Shinjo has the dominant position.
Shinjo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Vaber gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Vaber is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Shinjo is keeping busy.
Shinjo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Vaber is trying to force a seperation but Shinjo has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vaber wants to break free but Shinjo has control.
A nice left hand lands by Shinjo.
Shinjo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Shinjo.
Shinjo throws a punch but it's blocked by Vaber.
Shinjo scores with a shot to the side of Vaber's head.

Vaber's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shinjo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Vaber.
Shinjo is looking to clinch but Vaber is avoiding it.
Vaber avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vaber checks the leg kick nicely there.
Shinjo throws a series of punches but Vaber moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Shinjo is defended easily by Vaber.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shinjo shoots in but no luck this time.
Shinjo walks forward, straight into a front kick from Vaber.
Shinjo is looking to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sho Shinjo clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Iuraiah Vaber's cut.
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.

Shinjo takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Vaber takes a swing at Shinjo's ribcage but misses.
Shinjo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vaber tries a head kick but it misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Shinjo is defended easily by Vaber.
Vaber scores with a leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Vaber. No joy for Shinjo on that attempt.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vaber keeps the fight on the outside.
Vaber misses with a head kick.
An inside leg kick from Vaber misses.
Vaber moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Shinjo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vaber bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Vaber pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shinjo wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vaber feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Shinjo's calf.
Vaber misses the shot to the body.
Shinjo scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Vaber chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Shinjo moves into range and clinches up with Vaber.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shinjo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Vaber gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sho Shinjo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vaber taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shinjo.
Shinjo has Vaber pressed against the cage, preventing Vaber from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shinjo.

Vaber pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shinjo thuds his shin into the meat of Vaber's side.
Shinjo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Vaber.
Vaber defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Shinjo.
Shinjo moves away from the strike by Vaber.
Shinjo fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo blocks the body kick.
Shinjo throws a head kick that misses.
Vaber showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shinjo.
Vaber throws a quick inside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shinjo tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Vaber lands a leg kick that knocks Shinjo off balance momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iuraiah Vaber dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Iuraiah Vaber's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Vaber pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Vaber.
Shinjo looks to land a combination but Vaber avoids it well.
Shinjo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Horrible takedown by Shinjo or perhaps it was just good defense by Vaber which made him look bad.
Vaber misses with a body shot.
Shinjo is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

Shinjo has closed the distance and engaged Vaber in a clinch.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Shinjo misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vaber wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Shinjo lands with a light punch inside.
A frustrated look appears on Vaber's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Shinjo misses with the head strike.
Shinjo is trying to drag Vaber to the mat but Vaber just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sho Shinjo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vaber blocking some punches.

Vaber breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo blocks a head kick by Vaber.

Shinjo forces Vaber back against the cage and clinches.
Shinjo changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Vaber fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Shinjo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Shinjo throws a left and a right that both miss
and Vaber counters with a thumping low kick.
Nice sprawl there from Vaber as Shinjo shoots in.
Shinjo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vaber is looking to land body kicks.
Vaber throws a head kick but Shinjo moves out of range.
Shinjo checks the leg kick nicely there.
Vaber motions for Shinjo to come forward. Vaber throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Shinjo throws a looping overhand right but Vaber ducks down to avoid it.
Shinjo misses with a wild combination.
Vaber throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Iuraiah Vaber has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Shinjo.
Vaber showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shinjo.
Shinjo tries to clinch but Vaber moves out of range.
Vaber ducks under a wild hook from Shinjo.
Vaber misses with a straight left.
Vaber misses with a series of wild punches.
Shinjo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

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 Sho Shinjo.
Well Shinjo has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 49:46
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 49:46
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sho Shinjo!
Sho Shinjo is the new lightweight champion!