PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Minotauro Shogun (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charles Filho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Charles Filho will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Shogun
vs
Filho

177 cm
20
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Minotauro Shogun!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Charles Filho!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Alexandre Firmino and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shogun stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Shogun wants it to stay on the feet.
Filho lands a nice looking body kick.
Filho tries to close the distance and clinch but Shogun swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Shogun tries to sprawl but Filho drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Shogun trying to control here.
Shogun is trying to get back to full guard.
Shogun knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Filho on the ground.
Shogun is trying is best to control the position here.

Filho is looking for a kimura but Shogun is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Filho to get the leverage.
Shogun controlling the position for now.
Shogun wants to improve his position but Filho is controlling well.
Shogun keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Filho stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Shogun to get to his feet.
Filho shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Shogun pinned against the cage. Shogun gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Filho doesn't manage to clinch there - Shogun circles away.
Filho misses with a head kick.
Filho tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shogun swivels and escapes.
Minotauro Shogun has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Charles Filho.

Filho fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Shogun, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shogun is pressed up against the cage. Filho has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Shogun down to the mat. Shogun avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Shogun changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Filho looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Shogun stands up.

Shogun shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Filho is trying to control but can't.
Shogun sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Filho defending well though.

Shogun is working for a kimura but Filho is defending it quite comfortably.
Shogun takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shogun decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Filho feints a jab promting Shogun to slip. Filho then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Shogun slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Shogun throws a half hearted mid kick.
Shogun shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Filho as he avoids it easily.

Shogun fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Filho sprawls well initially but Shogun persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Shogun will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Filho gets back to full guard.
Shogun throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filho seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Shogun has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Filho is trying to control the position but Shogun postures up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shogun makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Shogun got a little sloppy there for a moment and Filho has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Shogun has managed to get both his arms back between Filho's legs - danger averted.
Filho looks winded!
Filho looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shogun is one step ahead there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shogun is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
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 Minotauro Shogun will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Filho is looking to clinch.
Filho with a poor takedown

and Shogun counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Filho is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Filho being controlled here, momentarily.
Shogun wants to pass the guard but Filho is keeping the position.
Shogun scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filho is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Shogun is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Filho avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Shogun throwing strikes from guard but Filho blocks nicely.
Shogun wants to get up but he can't break Filho's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Shogun advances to half guard.
Shogun lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Filho trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Shogun dominating with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shogun with shots to the head and body - Filho looks very uncomfortable down there.
Shogun controlling the pace for now.
Shogun can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Filho is looking to escape.
Shogun connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Shogun moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Filho has worked his arm free - good work by Filho!
Filho struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shogun is looking to take a break and control but Filho is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Filho struggling a bit here.
Filho is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Shogun in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shogun stands up and beckons Filho to his feet.
Filho shoots in but Shogun avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Filho fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Minotauro Shogun has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Charles Filho.
Shogun on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shogun stuffs the takedown attempt from Filho. Filho gets slowly back to his feet.
Filho is breathing heavily.

Shogun closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Shogun lands in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Minotauro Shogun dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Filho misses with a two punch combination.
Filho scores with a head kick.
Shogun tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shogun works over Filho's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Charles Filho has been cut.
A head kick misses from Shogun.
Charles Filho seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Filho doesn't manage to clinch there - Shogun circles away.
Filho throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Filho fails in his attempt to clinch.
Filho should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
No luck for Shogun with that takedown attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shogun misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shogun keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice sprawl there from Shogun as Filho shoots in.
Filho takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Filho fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Filho swats away the attempt to clinch by Shogun.

Shogun shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Filho napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Shogun scores with punches from side control.
Filho seems a little lost for a moment, as Shogun dominates the positioning.

Shogun thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Filho being controlled for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shogun has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Shogun is looking to take a break and control but Filho is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Filho prevents Shogun from moving into mount.

Shogun decides to stand back up. Shogun steps back and let's Filho get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filho takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Filho keeps the fight on the outside.

Shogun bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Filho gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Shogun is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Filho wants to control the action here but instead Shogun manages to pass to full mount!
Filho tries to control the position but Shogun now has his back.
Shogun is working the ground and pound. Can Filho escape?
Filho manages to reverse the position and now he's in Shogun's guard. Nice work there by Filho.
Shogun is adopting a defensive guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shogun lands some strikes from the bottom.
Shogun has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Filho won't allow Shogun to sweep him here.
Shogun on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Shogun tries to get out of the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Charles Filho has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Minotauro Shogun is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shogun working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Filho.

And that's the end of the fight!
Minotauro Shogun showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shogun, 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Minotauro Shogun!