PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shooto Katsuragi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jin Shmizu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jin Shmizu has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Katsuragi
vs
Shmizu

175 cm
18
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
23
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shooto Katsuragi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jin Shmizu!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shmizu gets a takedown into half guard.
Katsuragi wants to get back to full guard.

Shmizu gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Shmizu has Katsuragi up against the cage in a clinch.
Shmizu throws an elbow that misses.
Katsuragi is trying to push Shmizu away but Shmizu has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Katsuragi is trying to break free.

Shmizu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Shmizu moves into the clinch successfully.
Katsuragi has had enough of the clinch but Shmizu keeps him there for the moment.
Shmizu tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Katsuragi.
Shmizu throws a right and a left that Katsuragi avoids nicely.
Katsuragi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Katsuragi throws a low kick but Shmizu avoids it.
Shmizu misses with a body kick.
Katsuragi lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Katsuragi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Shmizu counters by clinching up.
Katsuragi is breathing heavily.

Shmizu breaks the clinch.
Katsuragi swinging wildly here.
Katsuragi thows a body shot but no joy.
Katsuragi keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Danga de danga de dang - Shmizu scores with a four punch combination!
Katsuragi throws a nice looking combination but Shmizu bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Katsuragi goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Shmizu shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Still in half guard, Shmizu seems content to control.

Shmizu stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Katsuragi misses with a few strikes there.
Shooto Katsuragi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Shmizu scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Shmizu controls the position from side control.
Shmizu's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shmizu has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Shmizu clinches.
Katsuragi blocks the elbow strike.

Shmizu breaks from the clinch.

Shmizu feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Shmizu stays in close to Katsuragi's body and controls the position.
Let's hope that Shmizu has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Shmizu gets to his feet - Katsuragi follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katsuragi misses with a straight right.
Shmizu checks the leg kick.
Shmizu misses with a body kick.

Shmizu drives through and clinches with Katsuragi against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Shmizu has picked Katsuragi up - he's going for a ride! Shmizu dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Katsuragi is looking to improve his position.
Katsuragi is trying to stand up here but Shmizu is controlling him well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Shmizu is trying to work for a kimura but Katsuragi is defending well.

Shmizu is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Katsuragi is just riding it out for now. Shmizu eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jin Shmizu dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Katsuragi falls off balance throwing a combination

and Shmizu counters by clinching up.
Shmizu is struggling to control the position.

Shmizu manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Shmizu wants to sweep here but Katsuragi controlling him for the moment.
Shmizu managing to control the position.

Shmizu pushes Katsuragi off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Katsuragi throws a sloppy head kick and Shmizu moves out of range easily.
Katsuragi throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Shmizu throws a low kick but it's checked well by Katsuragi.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katsuragi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Katsuragi tries a head kick but it misses.
Katsuragi blocks a low kick nicely.

Shmizu closes the distance and clinches.

Katsuragi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shmizu moves out of range as Katsuragi throws a body kick.
Katsuragi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shmizu connects with a good right hand that stumbles Katsuragi. Katsuragi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Katsuragi falls off balance throwing a combination

and Shmizu counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Katsuragi's guard now.
Shmizu advances position into side control!
Shmizu is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Shmizu decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Katsuragi moves out of range of the body kick from Shmizu.
Shmizu looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Katsuragi misses with a double jab.
Katsuragi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Shmizu throws out a leg kick but Katsuragi moves out of range and Shmizu only half commits.

Shmizu shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Shmizu was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Shmizu controlling from the full mount.
Shmizu with good strikes from the mount here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shmizu controlling his opponent.
The referee warns Katsuragi that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Shmizu get's back to his feet.
Shmizu is trying hard to land a takedown here. Katsuragi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Katsuragi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Katsuragi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Katsuragi misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katsuragi throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Katsuragi gets caught napping as Shmizu dives in and scores a takedown. Katsuragi manages to retain guard.
Shmizu showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Katsuragi has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Shmizu has passed into side control.
Katsuragi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shmizu on the ground.
Shmizu content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
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!

Shmizu is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Katsuragi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jin Shmizu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Katsuragi throws a right hand that Shmizu ducks under and follows up with a left that Shmizu also avoids with ease.
Katsuragi is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Shmizu.
Katsuragi throws a series of punches but Shmizu avoids them all with ease.
Katsuragi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Shmizu closes the distance and clinches.

Shmizu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shooto Katsuragi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Katsuragi wants to land a leg kick but Shmizu is out of range.
Katsuragi lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Katsuragi.
Shmizu throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Shmizu throws a low kick but it's checked well by Katsuragi.
Katsuragi throws a hook to the side of Shmizu's head but Shmizu sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shooto Katsuragi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Shmizu clinches up with Katsuragi and pushes him back against the cage.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katsuragi misses with a low kick.

Shmizu closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Shmizu pulls guard effortlessly.
Shmizu keeping moving, preventing Katsuragi from controlling successfully.
Katsuragi is fighting to break Shmizu's control of his arms but Shmizu is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Shmizu bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Katsuragi's guard.
Shmizu stays in close to Katsuragi's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jin Shmizu hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Katsuragi misses with a leg kick.
Katsuragi scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Shmizu pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Shmizu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Katsuragi throws a head kick but Shmizu moves out of range.
Shmizu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shmizu throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Katsuragi lands with a right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Shmizu pushes Katsuragi up against the cage in a clinch.
Katsuragi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Shmizu pulls Katsuragi into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shmizu keeping moving, preventing Katsuragi from controlling successfully.
Shmizu pulls Katsuragi in close to prevent any damage.
Shmizu manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Katsuragi manages to get himself to full guard.
Katsuragi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shmizu showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Katsuragi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shmizu circles away quickly and effectively.
Shmizu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shooto Katsuragi is winning the standup battle so far.

Shmizu has managed to clinch.
Shmizu throws a knee to the head but misses.

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

Shmizu drives through and clinches with Katsuragi against the cage.
Katsuragi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Shmizu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Shmizu tries a knee to the head but Katsuragi blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Shmizu decides to pull guard.
Shooto Katsuragi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jin Shmizu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Shmizu looking for a sweep. Not yet Shmizu, not yet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Katsuragi being controlled here momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jin Shmizu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Shmizu has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jin Shmizu!