PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sho Shinjo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Vegata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Shinjo might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Theme of Sho. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Shinjo
vs
Vegata

176 cm
26
171 lbs
14 - 9 - 1

175 cm
29
165 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 14 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sho Shinjo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Vegata!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Edson Gomes and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vegata lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Vegata takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Jab, jab by Vegata - just one landing.
Vegata shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Shinjo misses with a body shot
and Vegata counters with a straight right hand.
Vegata looks to land a combination but Shinjo avoids it well.
Shinjo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Shinjo moves away from the strike by Vegata.
Shinjo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Vegata tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shinjo swivels and escapes.
Shinjo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vegata moves away.
Shinjo throws a right and a left that Vegata avoids nicely.
Shinjo scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Vegata doesn't seem bothered though.
Vegata throws a lazy right hand but Shinjo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vegata moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vegata fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Vegata ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vegata lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Shinjo at a distance.
Shinjo thows a body shot but no joy.
Shinjo scores with a nice head shot.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Vegata.
Shinjo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vegata loads up on a big right hand but Shinjo slips the punch.
Antonio Vegata seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shinjo defending well as Vegata loads up on a big left hand.
Shinjo lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Shinjo stalks Vegata and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Vegata's face. Vegata staggers backwards, shaken.
Vegata missing with a left hand there. Shinjo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
No joy there for Vegata, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Shinjo misses with a double jab.
Shinjo ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Shinjo lands a really nice looking cross but Vegata seems unphased.
Vegata misses with a looping left.
Shinjo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Vegata throws a lazy right hand but Shinjo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vegata moves out of range of the strikes.
Shinjo with a lazy takedown attempt
and Shinjo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A left and a right from Shinjo both land. Nice combination.
Jab from Vegata.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Vegata.
Sho Shinjo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Vegata.
Shinjo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Vegata dives in and grabs Shinjo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Shinjo pushes down on Vegata's head and hops out.
Shinjo is looking to wear down Vegata with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Vegata misses with a straight right.

Vegata gets caught napping as Shinjo dives in and scores a takedown. Vegata manages to retain guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Vegata avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Shinjo wants to stand but Vegata has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Shinjo wants to pass the guard but Vegata is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vegata is trying to control the position but Shinjo postures up.
Vegata is pulling down on Shinjo's head. It's preventing any offense from Shinjo, at least for the moment.
Vegata tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vegata looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Antonio Vegata was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Vegata shoots for a double leg takedown but Shinjo sprawls well. He's pushed Vegata's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Vegata gets a double leg takedown into Shinjo's guard.
Shinjo looking for a sweep. Not yet Shinjo, not yet.
Vegata trying to control but Shinjo is working from the bottom.
Shinjo wants to sweep here but Vegata controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vegata throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shinjo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vegata trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shinjo wants to sweep but no luck.
Vegata controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vegata stopping the sweep attempt from Shinjo.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Vegata bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shinjo slips a straight right by Vegata.
Vegata fails with the takedown.
Vegata looks for a takedown but Shinjo sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Antonio Vegata 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.

Shinjo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Shinjo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Shinjo lands a head shot.
Shinjo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Vegata changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shinjo tries to avoid it but Vegata manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shinjo to the ground. Shinjo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Vegata with a nice cross.
Shinjo lands with a nice body punch.
Vegata throws a hook but Shinjo blocks it.

Shinjo gets a takedown into half guard.
Shinjo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vegata keeps working.
Shinjo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vegata blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shinjo.
Shinjo is thwarting Vegata's attempts to control the position.
Shinjo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vegata's head.
Vegata trying to control from the bottom.
Shinjo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Shinjo moves nicely into side control.
Vegata sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Shinjo controlling the pace.

Shinjo seems to be looking for submissions.
Vegata trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vegata is trying to get back to full guard.
Vegata won't allow Shinjo to pass to mount.

Shinjo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Vegata doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Shinjo.
Shinjo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vegata holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shinjo prevents Vegata from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vegata makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Vegata.
Shinjo looking to pass the guard.
Shinjo throws a big right hand that misses.
Shinjo wanted to stand there but Vegata had control of the position.
Sho Shinjo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vegata keeping full guard, as Shinjo tries to pass.
Vegata pulls Shinjo in close to his closed guard and prevents Shinjo from doing any damage or advancing position.
Vegata trying 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.
Vegata has his takedown stuffed
and Shinjo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sho Shinjo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Vegata.
Vegata throws a looping overhand right but Shinjo ducks down to avoid it.
Shinjo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Vegata circles away quickly and effectively.
Vegata shoots in for a double leg but Shinjo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Shinjo leaves Vegata with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Shinjo shoots for a double leg takedown but Vegata sprawls well. He's pushed Shinjo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Vegata ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shinjo moves away.
Vegata throws a shot from downtown. Shinjo moves away and avoids it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vegata throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Shinjo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Vegata showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shinjo.
Vegata connects with a body shot.
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 Sho Shinjo 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!

Shinjo slips under a jab from Vegata.
Antonio Vegata seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Shinjo scores with a nice right hand.
Shinjo with a nice cross.
Shinjo throws a low kick but Vegata moves out of range easily.
Shinjo throws a body punch but Vegata moves out of range.
Vegata keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shinjo slips under a jab.
Shinjo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Shinjo swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Vegata darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Shinjo gets full guard.
Vegata landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shinjo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Shinjo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shinjo controls Vegata momentarily but Vegata frees himself.
Vegata postures up in Shinjo's guard and throws a big left but Shinjo blocks it.
Shinjo wants to sweep but no luck.
Shinjo keeping moving, preventing Vegata from controlling successfully.
Shinjo wants to improve his position but instead Vegata has moved into half guard.

Vegata looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Shinjo wants to get back to full guard but Vegata has mounted him!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vegata can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Shinjo is looking to escape.
Vegata in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Shinjo taking shots to the head.
Vegata tries to control but Shinjo wriggling away.
Shinjo taking shots to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vegata with shots to the head and body - Shinjo looks very uncomfortable down there.
Vegata unloading with bombs!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo is in all sorts of trouble here.
Vegata scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Shinjo?
Shinjo tries to hold on but Vegata postures up.
Vegata unloading with bombs!
BOOM! Vegata connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Shinjo is in all sorts of trouble here.
Vegata looking to control and managing it successfully.
Vegata raining down shots from the mount!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shinjo is in a horrible position here. Vegata smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Vegata wants to free his trapped foot but Shinjo is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Shinjo is defending against the submission attempts here by Vegata.
Vegata 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.
Vegata prevents Shinjo from improving his position.

Vegata seems to be working for a kimura but Shinjo defends the submission attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shinjo is not content to let Vegata control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio Vegata comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Vegata 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonio Vegata!
Antonio Vegata gave a mention to Real Fighters Nutrition in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).