PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Fidel Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sho Shinjo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Castro comes to the cage accompanied by Carlos Puebla - Y En Eso Llego Fidel. Shinjo has chosen Theme of Sho as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Castro
vs
Shinjo

180 cm
28
170 lbs
16 - 12 - 0

176 cm
25
171 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 16 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Fidel Castro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sho Shinjo!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Castro uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shinjo.
Shinjo fails with the takedown.
Shinjo looks to land a right hand but Castro moved out of range.
Castro tests Shinjo's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Castro scores with a nice strike.
Castro lunges at Shinjo with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Shinjo's hand.
Shinjo scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Castro doesn't seem bothered though.

Shinjo closes the distance and clinches.
Castro lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Shinjo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Shinjo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Castro dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shinjo shoots in looking for a takedown. Castro tries to sprawl out of it but Shinjo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Castro manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Shinjo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Castro moves away.
Shinjo misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinjo with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Castro to score with a decent uppercut.

Castro rushes Shinjo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A short left from Castro.

Castro has clasped his hands together around Shinjo's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Castro landing strikes.
Castro looks up at the clock and then as Shinjo takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Castro smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Shinjo is looking for a sweep.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shinjo manages to get back to half guard.
Castro looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Castro is working for a submission of some sort.
Shinjo wants to improve his position but Castro is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shinjo keeps working.
Castro drops an elbow to the side of Shinjo's head.
Shinjo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Castro is trying to control. Shinjo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Castro is pressing down on Shinjo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Shinjo is holding on for now.
Castro missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Shinjo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Shinjo keeping moving, preventing Castro from controlling successfully.

Shinjo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Castro defends it easily.
Castro postures up and lands a big shot to Shinjo's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Castro accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shinjo controlling Castro's posture.
Castro lands a couple of digs.

Shinjo uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Shinjo fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Shinjo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Shinjo is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Castro's half guard.

Shinjo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Castro defends it well.
Castro has his hands clasped together around Shinjo's back. He's all about the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro has hold of Shinjo's hands but Shinjo slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Shinjo looks to land a strike but Castro avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Castro lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Shinjo!
Shinjo regains half guard.
Shinjo has hold of Castro's hands but Castro slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Castro thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shinjo's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Castro throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Castro is trying to control the action in half guard but Shinjo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Shinjo is looking to improve his position.
Shinjo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fidel Castro dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice takedown defense from Shinjo. No joy for Castro on that attempt.
Shinjo fails with a takedown attempt.
Shinjo tries to score with a low kick but Castro moves his leg out of the way.
Castro pivots, looking for a leg kick but Shinjo is out of range and Castro settles back down.
Shinjo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Castro is looking to clinch but Shinjo is avoiding it.
Shinjo throws a right and a left that Castro avoids nicely.
Castro lands with a thumping leg kick.
Castro looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Shinjo is fending him off so far but Castro persists. Nope, Shinjo circles away and we're back to standing.
A big left from Shinjo misses.
Shinjo slips a jab from Castro.
Shinjo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shinjo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Castro.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shinjo moves into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Castro.
Castro tries to work over Shinjo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Shinjo taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Castro lands a knee to the body.
Shinjo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Shinjo lands a nice uppercut.
Shinjo scores with a shoulder strike.
Castro lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Shinjo.
Shinjo is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shinjo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shinjo is trying to break the clinch but Castro has him pressed against the cage.
Castro misses with a knee to the head.
Shinjo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Shinjo.
Castro using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shinjo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Shinjo gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Shinjo decides to stand and escape the position.
Shinjo throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A solid leg kick lands there for Castro.
Fidel Castro is winning the standup battle so far.
Shinjo lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A chopping leg kick lands by Shinjo.
An inside leg kick lands from Castro.
Castro throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Shinjo on the side of the head.
Shinjo thows a leg kick but Castro checks it
and Castro counters with a nice uppercut.
Castro loads up on a big right hand but Shinjo slips the punch.
Castro thows a body shot but no joy.
Castro doesn't manage to clinch there - Shinjo circles away.
Castro checks a leg kick.
Crunch! Castro slams his shin into Shinjo's torso.
Castro scores with a nice body kick.
Castro fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Shinjo on the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo stuns Castro with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Shinjo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shinjo throws a body punch but Castro moves out of range.

Castro darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Shinjo manages to get to full guard.
Castro lands a couple of digs.
Shinjo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Castro is one step ahead there.
Shinjo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Castro working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo trying to keep a closed guard but Castro is proving a slippery customer.
Castro lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Castro prevents Shinjo from getting back to his feet.
Shinjo wants to sweep but no luck.
Shinjo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Castro!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee warns Castro that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Shinjo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Castro is looking to escape.
Shinjo unloads with some shots from mount but Castro bucks and avoids them well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Castro tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Fidel Castro 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Shinjo tries to land a leg kick but Castro saw it coming and moves away.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Castro, as that shot connected.
A telegraphed right hand from Shinjo misses the target.
Castro tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
That kick from Castro tenderised Shinjo's leg. Shinjo is trying to keep his angry face on.
Castro with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Shinjo to score with a decent uppercut.
Castro fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A low kick from Shinjo is predictable there
and Castro counters with a slapping leg kick.
Castro lands a high kick!
Shinjo fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Shinjo throws the kick towards the body but Castro avoids it.
Shinjo misses the jab.
Shinjo takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Castro throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shinjo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sho Shinjo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Castro throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinjo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Castro wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Shinjo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Castro throws a head kick but Shinjo moves out of range.
Shinjo throws a left and a right that both miss
and Castro connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A solid leg kick lands there for Castro.
Shinjo takes one to the chin there.
Shinjo lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Castro throws a front kick aimed at Shinjo's knee but Shinjo avoids it well.
Castro connects with a crisp jab.

Shinjo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Castro, pushing him back against the cage.
Shinjo scores with an uppercut up the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short right from Shinjo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Castro.
Shinjo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shinjo misses with the head strike.
Shinjo stalling in the clinch but Castro improves position.
Castro lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Castro misses with a knee strike.
Castro gets through Shinjo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Shinjo lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Castro backwards.
Castro looking for a takedown.
A nice left hand lands by Shinjo.
Shinjo lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Castro lands a left hand that snaps the head of Shinjo backwards.
Castro tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Shinjo avoids it.
Shinjo takes a knee to the side of the body.
Castro tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Shinjo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Castro has him pressed against the cage.
Shinjo scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Shinjo manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castro misses with a looping right.
The fighters circling - Shinjo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Shinjo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Shinjo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Good leg kick by Shinjo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Castro misses with a series of wild punches.
Shinjo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Castro.
Castro blocks a low kick nicely.
A slapping body kick lands there for Shinjo.
Castro checks the leg kick nicely there.
Castro checks a low kick from Shinjo.
Castro chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Shinjo can pounce on him.
Shinjo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Castro.
The fighters circling - Castro throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Fidel Castro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castro lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Shinjo takes the fight into the clinch.
Castro struggles to land a body shot inside as Shinjo controls his hands.
Shinjo scores with a shoulder strike.
Castro is pressed up against the cage. Shinjo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Castro down to the mat. Castro avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A combination from Castro does no damage.
Shinjo takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Sho Shinjo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shinjo cracks the inside of Castro's front leg.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shinjo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Castro avoids it really well and circles away.
Fidel Castro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sho Shinjo.
Shinjo misses with a leg kick
and Castro counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Shinjo throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Castro.

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 Fidel Castro.
Well Castro 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fidel Castro!
After winning the bout, Fidel Castro thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.