PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Pettis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heiwajima Shizuo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shizuo comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Trollhammaren kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pettis
vs
Shizuo

178 cm
20
155 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

185 cm
20
154 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

[CBK] LEGAL HIGHS - AJFC ↑ DOUBLE 160Q *

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Anthony Pettis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Heiwajima Shizuo!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Sano and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shizuo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Shizuo takes an elbow to the forehead.
Pettis throws a knee to the head but misses.
Pettis with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pettis gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Pettis blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Pettis holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Pettis lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Pettis scores a nice knee to the body.
Pettis lands a damaging elbow.
Shizuo is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Pettis lands a damaging elbow.
Shizuo missing with knees to the body.
Pettis with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pettis misses with a knee strike.
Pettis stalling in the clinch but Shizuo improves position.
Pettis with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pettis taking a breather.
Shizuo connects with a nasty looking knee right to Pettis's face.
Shizuo is looking to break free of the clinch but Pettis has double underhooks.
Pettis blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettis throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Shizuo blocks it with crossed arms.
Shizuo wants to break free but Pettis has control.
Pettis tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Shizuo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Pettis tries to land a knee to the head but Shizuo blocks with his arms.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shizuo obliges.
Shizuo misses with a knee strike.
Pettis with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pettis connects with a knee to the head.
Pettis blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Pettis on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Pettis avoiding damage as Shizuo throws knees to the body.
Pettis throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Shizuo blocks it with crossed arms.
Shizuo taking a breather.
Pettis takes a knee right on the jaw!
Pettis misses with a knee to the head.
Pettis with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis has Shizuo pressed against the cage.
Shizuo looking to throw knees to the head but Pettis is blocking nicely.
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!
Shizuo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Pettis.
Pettis looking to throw knees to the head but Shizuo is blocking nicely.
Pettis taking a breather.
Shizuo has had enough of the clinch but Pettis keeps him there for the moment.
Shizuo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pettis has him pressed against the cage.
Pettis is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Shizuo looks gassed!
Pettis managing to block the knees to the body from Shizuo.
Shizuo is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Pettis is keeping busy.
Pettis throws a knee to the head but misses.
Shizuo is trying to force a seperation but Pettis has the dominant position.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Pettis is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Pettis with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pettis is pushing Shizuo up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pettis with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Shizuo trying to control the position but instead, Pettis has worked for underhooks and has pushed Shizuo into the cage.
Pettis throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Shizuo blocks it with crossed arms.
Shizuo looking to throw knees to the head but Pettis is blocking nicely.
Pettis with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Pettis using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shizuo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pettis is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Shizuo is defending well for now.
Shizuo has had enough of the clinch but Pettis keeps him there for the moment.
Shizuo is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Pettis tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Pettis misses with a knee strike.
Pettis with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pettis tries a knee to the head but Shizuo blocks it.
Shizuo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Pettis keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Shizuo's efforts to push away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pettis avoiding damage as Shizuo throws knees to the body.

Shizuo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Pettis looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Pettis blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shizuo stalling.
Pettis managing to block the knees to the body from Shizuo.
Pettis creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Shizuo's defenses.
Pettis is trying to maintain a safe position but Shizuo gets an underhook and turns Pettis into the cage.
Pettis landing knees to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pettis tries a knee to the head but Shizuo blocks it.
Pettis throws an elbow that misses.
Shizuo taking a breather.
Pettis is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Pettis avoiding damage as Shizuo throws knees to the body.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Pettis tries a knee to the head but Shizuo blocks it.

Shizuo breaks from the clinch.

Shizuo clinches with his opponent.
Pettis wants to stall.
Pettis just leaning against Shizuo, taking a breather.
Shizuo looking to throw knees to the head but Pettis is blocking nicely.
Pettis tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Pettis is trying to maintain a safe position but Shizuo gets an underhook and turns Pettis into the cage.
Shizuo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Pettis lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Pettis wants to stall.
Shizuo is looking to break free of the clinch but Pettis has double underhooks.
Pettis with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Shizuo lands a knee to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Shizuo - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Pettis has Shizuo pressed against the cage, preventing Shizuo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Pettis using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shizuo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pettis scores a nice knee to the body.
Pettis tries a knee to the head but Shizuo blocks it.
Pettis misses with an elbow over the top.
Shizuo manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Pettis looking to throw knees to the head but Shizuo is blocking nicely.
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!
Shizuo avoiding damage as Pettis throws knees to the body.
Shizuo tries to circle away but Pettis has him pinned against the cage.
Pettis misses with a knee strike.
Shizuo lands with a left to the head.
Pettis throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Shizuo blocks it with crossed arms.
A knee to the head by Pettis.
Shizuo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Pettis.
Pettis tries to stall but Shizuo uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Shizuo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Pettis is looking to clinch.

Shizuo moves into the clinch.
Pettis is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Pettis with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Shizuo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Pettis gets tackled into the cage by Shizuo. Shizuo maintains the clinch.
Shizuo is looking to break free of the clinch but Pettis has double underhooks.
Pettis tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Pettis throws an elbow but it misses.

Shizuo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pettis is looking to clinch but Shizuo is avoiding it.
A low kick from Shizuo misses

and Pettis counters by moving into the clinch.
Pettis prevents Shizuo from breaking the clinch.
Shizuo avoiding damage as Pettis throws knees to the body.
Pettis tries to land a knee to the head but Shizuo blocks with his arms.
Pettis with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Pettis misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Shizuo.
Shizuo wants to get back to striking at distance but Pettis won't allow it.
Shizuo utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Pettis is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Shizuo is keeping busy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shizuo has had enough of the clinch but Pettis keeps him there for the moment.
Pettis tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Pettis avoiding damage as Shizuo throws knees to the body.
Shizuo missing with knees to the body.
Pettis using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shizuo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Shizuo trying to control the position but instead, Pettis has worked for underhooks and has pushed Shizuo into the cage.
Shizuo is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Pettis on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Pettis avoiding damage.
Pettis with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Pettis keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Shizuo's efforts to push away.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Shizuo misses with a knee strike.
Pettis looking to throw knees to the head but Shizuo is blocking nicely.
Shizuo can't break the clinch.
Shizuo tries to land a knee to the head but Pettis blocks with his arms.
Pettis misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Shizuo.
Shizuo tries to land a knee to the head but Pettis blocks with his arms.
Pettis keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Shizuo's efforts to push away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Pettis crunches a lovely knee into Shizuo's ribcage.
Pettis lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Pettis keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Shizuo's efforts to push away.
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 Anthony Pettis will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Shizuo moves into the clinch.
Shizuo is trying to stall.
Pettis with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pettis with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Pettis managing to block the knees to the body from Shizuo.
Pettis managing to block the knees to the body from Shizuo.
Pettis avoiding damage as Shizuo throws knees to the body.
Pettis working Shizuo over with knees to the body.
Shizuo lands a knee to the head.
Shizuo is trying to break the clinch but Pettis has him pressed against the cage.

Shizuo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Shizuo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Pettis looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Shizuo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Pettis blocks it with crossed arms.
Shizuo is breathing heavily.
Pettis tries to land a knee to the head but Shizuo blocks with his arms.
Pettis is trying to maintain a safe position but Shizuo gets an underhook and turns Pettis into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettis scores with a knee to the head.
Pettis is trying to maintain a safe position but Shizuo gets an underhook and turns Pettis into the cage.
Pettis tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Pettis lands a knee to the body.
Shizuo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Shizuo lands a nice knee to the body.
Pettis looking to throw knees to the head but Shizuo is blocking nicely.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Shizuo trying to stall but Pettis improves his position.
A bit of stalling here from Shizuo.
Pettis tries to land a knee to the head but Shizuo blocks with his arms.
Shizuo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Pettis.

Shizuo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Shizuo rushes Pettis and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pettis is trying to stall.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Shizuo trying to land knees to the body.
Shizuo lands a knee to the body.

Shizuo manages to break the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pettis fails with a takedown attempt.
Shizuo scoring well with a low kick there.

Shizuo moves into the clinch.
Pettis throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Pettis blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Pettis connects with a knee to the head.
Shizuo landing knees to the body.
Pettis tries a knee to the head but Shizuo blocks it.
Pettis tries to land a knee to the head but Shizuo blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shizuo trying to land knees to the body.
Shizuo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Pettis tries to land a knee to the head but Shizuo blocks with his arms.
Shizuo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pettis is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Shizuo working hard to break the clinch.

Shizuo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pettis tries to clinch there but Shizuo circles away.

Shizuo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A knee to the head by Pettis.
Shizuo is trying to break the clinch but Pettis has him pressed against the cage.
Pettis misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shizuo letting Pettis take a breather here.
Anthony Pettis has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Shizuo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pettis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Shizuo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Shizuo closes the distance and clinches.
Pettis is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Shizuo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Pettis has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pettis is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Shizuo is keeping busy.
Shizuo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Pettis.
Pettis throws a knee to the head but misses.
Pettis is trying to stall.
Shizuo can't break the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Pettis just misses with a elbow thrown towards Shizuo's brow.
Pettis throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Shizuo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Pettis.
Pettis is looking to control Shizuo's arms but Shizuo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Pettis has his back to the cage.

Pettis manages to break the clinch.

Shizuo drives through and clinches with Pettis against the cage.
Shizuo can't break the clinch.
Knees to the body from Shizuo.

Shizuo breaks the clinch.

Shizuo pushes Pettis up against the cage in a clinch.
Shizuo looking to throw knees to the head but Pettis is blocking nicely.
Pettis tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Pettis lands a damaging elbow.
Pettis prevents Shizuo from breaking the clinch.
Pettis looking to throw knees to the head but Shizuo is blocking nicely.
Shizuo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pettis is defending well for now.
Pettis misses with a knee strike.
Shizuo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Pettis.
Pettis looking to throw knees to the head but Shizuo is blocking nicely.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Pettis with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Shizuo stalling.
Pettis misses with a knee strike.
Shizuo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pettis is defending well for now.
Pettis throws a knee to the head but misses.
Pettis on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Pettis prevents Shizuo from breaking the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Knees to the body from Shizuo.
Pettis on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Pettis crunches a lovely knee into Shizuo's ribcage.
Pettis throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Shizuo blocks it with crossed arms.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Shizuo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Anthony Pettis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Shizuo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Pettis to the mat! Pettis manages to get full guard.
Pettis trying to control the position here.
Pettis wants to sweep here but Shizuo controlling him for the moment.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Shizuo wants to pass the guard but Pettis is keeping the position.
Pettis trying to keep a closed guard but Shizuo is proving a slippery customer.
Pettis is adopting a defensive guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

We're going to have a standup here because Anthony Pettis wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Shizuo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Shizuo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Pettis wants to clinch up but Shizuo keeps it at a distance.
Shizuo misses with a head kick.

Shizuo has managed to clinch.
Pettis tries for a takedown but Shizuo manages to get underhooks.
Pettis with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Shizuo trying to land knees to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Pettis.
Shizuo tries to break the clinch but Pettis is controlling the position.
Pettis using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shizuo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Pettis avoiding damage as Shizuo throws knees to the body.
Pettis looking to throw knees to the head but Shizuo is blocking nicely.
Shizuo looking to throw knees to the head but Pettis is blocking nicely.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Pettis is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Shizuo is defending well for now.

Shizuo breaks the clinch.

Shizuo clinches.
Pettis misses with a knee strike.
Pettis tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

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

Shizuo takes the fight into the clinch.
Pettis keeps control of Shizuo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Pettis scores with a knee to the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Shizuo - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Shizuo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pettis using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shizuo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Shizuo is trying to push Pettis away but Pettis has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Pettis lands a nice knee to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Heiwajima Shizuo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Heiwajima Shizuo!
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Anthony Pettis!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Heiwajima Shizuo!

Heiwajima Shizuo wins by split decision!
A pretty intense looking Heiwajima Shizuo took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.