PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thorbjorn Rekdal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenichi Shirahama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shirahama comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Fade To Black kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Thorbjorn Rekdal could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Kenichi Shirahama's chin.

Rekdal
vs
Shirahama

190 cm
29
275 lbs
28 - 6 - 0

202 cm
24
240 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

ADCC Champion
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)
Milwaukee's Best 160

Milwaukee's Best 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Thorbjorn Rekdal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kenichi Shirahama!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Daniel Cesar and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rekdal misses the shot to the body.
Rekdal wants to clinch.
Rekdal jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shirahama fails to land the takedown.
A low kick from Rekdal misses
and Shirahama counters with an inside leg kick.
Rekdal walks forward, straight into a front kick from Shirahama.
Shirahama shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rekdal but Rekdal pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nice takedown defense from Rekdal. No joy for Shirahama on that attempt.
Thorbjorn Rekdal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenichi Shirahama.
Shirahama uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rekdal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Shirahama.
Rekdal lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rekdal misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shirahama.
Rekdal misses with a hook. Shirahama ducked under it nicely.
Rekdal misses with a hook.
Rekdal throws a low kick but it's checked well by Shirahama.
Rekdal takes one on the button.
Rekdal misses with a right hand
enabling Shirahama to counter with a crisp jab.
Shirahama misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rekdal does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Thorbjorn Rekdal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shirahama shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rekdal but Rekdal pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shirahama throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rekdal.
Rekdal takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Shirahama throws a head kick that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shirahama drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Rekdal misses the shot to the body.
Rekdal misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rekdal checks the leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shirahama drives through with a takedown into Rekdal's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Shirahama wants to pass the guard but Rekdal is keeping the position.
Shirahama sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rekdal's guard.
Shirahama is looking to take a break and control but Rekdal is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Rekdal is defending against the submission attempts here by Shirahama.
Shirahama trying to control the action but Rekdal is working from the bottom.
Shirahama prevents Rekdal from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rekdal is staying active underneath Shirahama, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Shirahama sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rekdal defending well though.
Rekdal is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Rekdal makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rekdal falls off balance throwing a combination

and Shirahama counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Thorbjorn Rekdal will probably get the nod.
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.

Rekdal throws out a leg kick but Shirahama moves out of range and Rekdal only half commits.
Rekdal throws a head kick that misses.
Rekdal throws the left hand but Shirahama avoids the punch easily.
Rekdal lands a nice shot to the body.
Rekdal scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Shirahama on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Rekdal lands a right hook to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rekdal stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Thorbjorn Rekdal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rekdal misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Shirahama counters with a leg kick.
Shirahama uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rekdal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rekdal throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Rekdal misses the shot to the body.
Rekdal looks for the body kick but Shirahama saw that one coming.
Rekdal scores with a shot to the body.
Rekdal throws a lazy uppercut
and Shirahama counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Thorbjorn Rekdal is winning the standup battle so far.
Rekdal misses with a straight right.
Rekdal rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Shirahama moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rekdal ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
An inside leg kick from Rekdal misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rekdal has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Shirahama.
Rekdal throws the left hand but Shirahama avoids the punch easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rekdal. Shirahama does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shirahama fails with an attempt to clinch.
Shirahama dodges the punch combination from Rekdal.
Shirahama throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Shirahama tries to clinch but Rekdal is having none of it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shirahama throws a wild body kick that Rekdal sees coming a mile off.
A big left from Rekdal misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shirahama staying out of range there.
Rekdal swings for the body but Shirahama moves out of range.
Rekdal misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shirahama.
Shirahama avoids the body shot from Rekdal.
Rekdal swings for the body but Shirahama moves out of range.
Shirahama tried to score with a low kick but Rekdal checks it.
Rekdal lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rekdal with a nice cross.
Rekdal lands a nice leg kick that just misses Shirahama's sensitive parts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rekdal lands a jab to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rekdal lands a jab to the nose.
Rekdal throws a sloppy body shot
and Shirahama counters with a slapping leg kick.
Shirahama checks a low kick from Rekdal.
Shirahama steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rekdal.
Rekdal is looking to slow Shirahama down with leg kicks.
A big left from Rekdal misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rekdal ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shirahama moves away.
Shirahama uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rekdal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thorbjorn Rekdal dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Shirahama avoids the body shot from Rekdal.
Rekdal swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Shirahama makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Rekdal lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Kenichi Shirahama has been cut.
Rekdal throws a leg kick
and Shirahama counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Shirahama blocks a jab.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Shirahama.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rekdal managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Shirahama.
Shirahama misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Shirahama cracks Rekdal with a big right hand but Rekdal just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Rekdal is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rekdal regains half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rekdal is not content to let Shirahama control the position.
Shirahama throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rekdal to regain full guard.
Rekdal controls Shirahama momentarily but Shirahama frees himself.

Shirahama got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rekdal has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Shirahama has managed to get both his arms back between Rekdal's legs - danger averted.
Shirahama makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rekdal is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Shirahama is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Kenichi Shirahama has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rekdal might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shirahama scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Shirahama trying to control but Rekdal is working from the bottom.
Shirahama is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Shirahama drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Rekdal dives on top into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rekdal wants to control from the top but Shirahama keeps moving.

Rekdal decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Shirahama, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rekdal digs a good body shot into Shirahama's ribs.
Shirahama fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rekdal has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rekdal misses the shot to the body.
A head kick misses from Shirahama.
Rekdal throws a hook to the side of Shirahama's head but Shirahama sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shirahama checks a low kick from Rekdal.
Rekdal moves out of range of the body kick.
Shirahama tries to clinch up but Rekdal circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rekdal tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Shirahama walks into a jab.
Rekdal throws a lazy uppercut
and Shirahama makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shirahama throws a leg kick
enabling Rekdal to counter with a crisp jab.
Shirahama moves out of range of the leg kick from Rekdal.
Shirahama shoots in looking for a takedown. Rekdal tries to sprawl out of it but Shirahama keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rekdal manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rekdal is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Rekdal fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shirahama manages to avoid it.

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 Thorbjorn Rekdal.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rekdal, 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Thorbjorn Rekdal!
A victorious Thorbjorn Rekdal thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.