PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Simon Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenichi Shirahama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shirahama comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Fade To Black kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Williams
vs
Shirahama

193 cm
32
263 lbs
27 - 6 - 0

202 cm
29
240 lbs
20 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

TWGC Champion
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry
Sparta Fightware

Reaper Combatwear
Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Simon Williams!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kenichi Shirahama!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Williams misses with a lunging right hand
and Shirahama counters with a thumping low kick.
Williams misses with a kick to the body.
Williams throws a looping overhand right but Shirahama ducks down to avoid it.
Williams throws the kick towards the body but Shirahama avoids it.
Williams looks to throw a body kick

and Shirahama counters with a shoot takedown. Williams fights it but they end up in guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Shirahama drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Williams dives on top into guard.
Shirahama is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shirahama might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Williams haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Shirahama is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shirahama is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Williams defends well.
Shirahama wants to sweep here but Williams controlling him for the moment.
Williams seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Williams lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Williams looking to sit in guard and control but Shirahama gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Shirahama trying to control the position from guard on top but Williams is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shirahama loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Williams looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shirahama is one step ahead there.
Williams working a defensive guard here.
Shirahama missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shirahama stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Williams swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Williams bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Shirahama's guard.
Williams wants to stand but Shirahama is controlling his posture from full guard.
Shirahama is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Williams controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Shirahama keeping full guard, as Williams tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shirahama is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Williams in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Williams sitting in guard here, content to control.
Williams has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Williams slips nicely into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Williams is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
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 Simon Williams will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A punch lands to the side of Shirahama 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Williams misses with a body kick.
Shirahama showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Williams.
Williams throws a poor cross that misses
and Shirahama counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A low kick from Williams is predictable there
and Shirahama counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Williams misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shirahama.
Williams swings for the body but Shirahama moves out of range.

Shirahama closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Williams is looking to regain half guard here but Shirahama keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shirahama is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Williams knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Williams regains half guard, as Shirahama was trying to land strikes.
Williams controlling the position for now.
Shirahama trying to mount his opponent but Williams defends it.
Shirahama is trying to control the action in half guard but Williams is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Williams is holding on to half guard well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shirahama thows a huge punch but Williams dodges it nicely.
Williams is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Shirahama jumps into side control!
Williams tries to bench press Shirahama off him but Shirahama keeps the position.
You can see the frustration on Williams's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Shirahama trying to control the position but Williams is working away.
Williams manages to get back to half guard.
Williams is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Williams blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shirahama.
Shirahama missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Williams is concentrating on defense, preventing Shirahama from advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams trying to get back to full guard but Shirahama takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Shirahama looking to ground and pound but Williams is blocking nicely.
Shirahama landing shots from mount.
Shirahama content just to control the position here.

Shirahama working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Shirahama with shots to the head and body - Williams looks very uncomfortable down there.
Shirahama throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Williams manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Shirahama tries to pass the half guard into mount. Williams knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shirahama is trying to control. Williams wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Shirahama with the ground and pound but Williams uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Shirahama postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Williams tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Williams wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Shirahama not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Shirahama passes Williams's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Williams is trying to get back to full guard.
Shirahama is looking to pass Williams's guard but actually Williams recovers to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kenichi Shirahama will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Williams throws a lazy right hand but Shirahama sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
An inside leg kick lands from Williams.
Williams misses with a straight right.
A looping hook to the body misses from Williams. Shirahama does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jab, jab by Williams - just one landing.
Williams tries a head kick but it misses.
Williams throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Simon Williams is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shirahama uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Williams.
Williams throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
An inside leg kick lands from Williams.
Shirahama throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Williams misses with a hook
and Shirahama makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Williams.
Shirahama keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shirahama on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Williams. Williams obviously looking to wear him down.
Williams thows a body shot but no joy.
Williams does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Williams scores with a decent looking hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Williams.
Williams misses with a two punch combination.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Williams lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Shirahama has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Shirahama and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Williams throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Shirahama counters with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Williams.
Shirahama displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Williams throws out the jab.
Williams throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shirahama has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Williams finds it's way round the side to connect with Shirahama's head.
Simon Williams is winning the standup battle so far.
Williams throws a leg kick

and Shirahama counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Williams's guard now.
Shirahama postures up.
Williams looking for a sweep. Not yet Williams, not yet.
Williams is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams keeping moving, preventing Shirahama from controlling successfully.
Shirahama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shirahama preventing the sweep.
Shirahama being controlled here momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shirahama has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Simon Williams wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Williams misses with a left hand
and Shirahama counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Williams throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shirahama slips a straight right by Williams.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Williams clearly takes that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Williams feints and then cracks Shirahama's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Shirahama down.
Shirahama moves out of range as Williams throws a body kick.
Williams throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Williams throws a leg kick that misses.
Shirahama takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Williams ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shirahama moves away.
Williams misses with an uppercut
and Shirahama counters with a good low kick that Williams was not able to check.
Williams rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Shirahama counters with a good, hard body kick but Williams shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams throws a lazy uppercut
and Shirahama counters with a good, hard body kick but Williams shrugs it off.
Williams misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Shirahama counters with a body kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Williams.
Williams throws a leg kick but Shirahama sees it coming and moves out of range.
Williams looks to land a left hand but Shirahama moved out of range nicely.
Williams jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Williams scores with a sloppy right hand. Shirahama should have avoided that one.
Williams lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Shirahama at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams misses with a kick to the body

and Shirahama decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Williams's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shirahama showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Shirahama trying to control but Williams is working from the bottom.
Shirahama throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Williams works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Williams looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shirahama throwing strikes from guard but Williams blocks nicely.
Shirahama throws a strike but Williams rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Williams trying to control the position from guard on top but Shirahama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shirahama working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Williams doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Williams manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Williams is posturing up here but Shirahama has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Williams tries to roll out but it's too tight and Williams has to tap! Slick submission there by Shirahama!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:46 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kenichi Shirahama!
Kenichi Shirahama is the new heavyweight champion!
Kenichi Shirahama decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.