PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yoshihiro Imanari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Makoto Shibasaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shibasaki comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Genki Sudo - 'Mind Shift' kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Imanari
vs
Shibasaki

172 cm
25
165 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

172 cm
24
164 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

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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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yoshihiro Imanari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Makoto Shibasaki!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Illya Tyunina and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick from Shibasaki lands but Imanari takes it in his stride.
Imanari checks a leg kick nicely.
Shibasaki uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Imanari.
Imanari cracks Shibasaki with a right hand to the side of the head.
Imanari avoids a kick to the body.
Imanari takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Shibasaki misses with a low kick.
Imanari looks to score with a jab to the body but Shibasaki is just out of range.
Shibasaki stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Shibasaki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Imanari gets a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shibasaki wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Imanari is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Shibasaki doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Imanari.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Imanari seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Shibasaki does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Imanari not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Imanari thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shibasaki's head.
Shibasaki regains full guard. Nicely done.
Shibasaki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Shibasaki is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Shibasaki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shibasaki is trying to control the position but Imanari postures up.
Imanari wants to pass the guard but Shibasaki is keeping the position.
Imanari throwing strikes from guard but Shibasaki blocks nicely.
Imanari stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shibasaki swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Shibasaki is looking for a triangle but Imanari pushes his legs off easily.
Imanari lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shibasaki wants to sweep but no luck.
Imanari postures up in Shibasaki's guard and throws a big left but Shibasaki blocks it.
Imanari throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shibasaki is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Imanari postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Imanari stopping the sweep attempt from Shibasaki.
Imanari sitting in guard here, content to control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shibasaki is on top in guard.
Imanari is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imanari keeping moving, preventing Shibasaki from controlling successfully.

Imanari throws his legs up looking for a submission but Shibasaki uses it to pass to side control.
Imanari can't do much from the bottom here.
Imanari tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Shibasaki tries to advance to mount but Imanari denies him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Imanari wants to get back to his feet but Shibasaki drags him back down.
Shibasaki wants to control but Imanari is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Makoto Shibasaki will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Imanari misses with a body shot.

Imanari shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Shibasaki's guard.
Imanari trying to control the position from guard on top but Shibasaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Shibasaki had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Imanari defends it easily.
Shibasaki preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Imanari is fighting to break Shibasaki's control of his arms but Shibasaki is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Imanari is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Shibasaki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shibasaki is looking for a triangle but Imanari pushes his legs off easily.
Shibasaki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Imanari postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Shibasaki is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Imanari, into his guard.
Shibasaki won't allow Imanari to sweep him here.
Yoshihiro Imanari overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Shibasaki has gone for a leg lock! Imanari slips out almost immediately though and dives into Shibasaki's guard.
Imanari tries to free his leg and advance position but Shibasaki is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shibasaki utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Imanari throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shibasaki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Imanari landing some decent shots from guard.
Imanari scoring with some ground and pound.
Imanari chips away with some ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Imanari advances to half guard.
Shibasaki trying to control here.

Imanari is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Shibasaki is just riding it out for now. Imanari eventually gives up the hold.
Imanari is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imanari prevents Shibasaki from improving his position.

Imanari is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Shibasaki sees it coming and defends easily.
Imanari slips a nice elbow through Shibasaki's hands, connecting with Shibasaki's forehead.
Imanari looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Imanari wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shibasaki keeps working.
Imanari throws a strike but Shibasaki avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Shibasaki managing to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shibasaki working for a triangle but Imanari defends it easily.
Shibasaki looking to control.
Imanari stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shibasaki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Imanari is working Shibasaki over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Imanari trying to control the position from guard on top but Shibasaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshihiro Imanari dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Imanari misses with a wild body shot.
Shibasaki ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Imanari misses with a wild combination.
Shibasaki throws a sloppy head kick and Imanari moves out of range easily.
Imanari throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Imanari looks to land a right hand but Shibasaki moved out of range.
Shibasaki looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Imanari misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shibasaki.
Imanari jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shibasaki looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Horrible takedown by Imanari or perhaps it was just good defense by Shibasaki which made him look bad.
Shibasaki takes one to the side of the head.
Imanari avoids the body shot from Shibasaki.
Shibasaki waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Imanari.
Shibasaki misses with a low kick.
Shibasaki finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Imanari fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shibasaki manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Imanari ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sloppy strikes from Shibasaki. Those never looked like landing.
Shibasaki ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Shibasaki shoots in for a double leg but Imanari sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Imanari looks to throw the jab but Shibasaki is out of range.
Shibasaki throws a body punch but Imanari moves out of range.
Imanari misses with a straight left.
Shibasaki misses with a straight right.
Shibasaki takes one to the side of the head.
Shibasaki tries to land a leg kick but Imanari saw it coming and moves away.
Shibasaki thuds his right hand into Imanari's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shibasaki throws a front kick aimed at Imanari's knee but Imanari avoids it well.
Shibasaki misses the shot to the body.
A shot to the liver by Imanari. Beautiful body shot.
Shibasaki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Imanari throws a right hand that misses
and Shibasaki counters with a nice kick to the body.
Imanari misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shibasaki.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Imanari checks a leg kick.
Shibasaki fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Imanari ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shibasaki moves away.
Shibasaki misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Imanari counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imanari lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shibasaki looks like he's trying to stand up.
Imanari sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shibasaki defending well though.
Shibasaki is trying to get back to full guard.
Shibasaki on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Shibasaki is defending against the submission attempts here by Imanari.
Imanari looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ground and pound from Imanari.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoshihiro Imanari showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Imanari has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoshihiro Imanari!
Yoshihiro Imanari really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that The Steel Penn Nutrition. Laundry - (10% charge + logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.