PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Koji Murosaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vaughn Shaunessey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murosaki comes to the cage accompanied by Now We Are Free. Shaunessey has chosen Die Antwoord - Enter the Ninja as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Murosaki
vs
Shaunessey

185 cm
24
157 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

164 cm
25
152 lbs
17 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ultra Fight Gear

Perkele!
DJs Locker

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Koji Murosaki!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vaughn Shaunessey!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksandr Martynov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shaunessey throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Murosaki.
Shaunessey is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shaunessey moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Shaunessey takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Murosaki throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Good leg kick by Shaunessey there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Murosaki closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Shaunessey quickly recovers to half guard.
Shaunessey is trying to control but can't.
Shaunessey is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

Murosaki is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Shaunessey has managed to free his arm - good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Murosaki is trying to work for a kimura but Shaunessey is defending well.

Murosaki is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murosaki is trying to work for a kimura but Shaunessey is defending well.
Shaunessey is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Shaunessey is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Murosaki tries to pass the half guard into mount. Shaunessey knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Shaunessey manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Murosaki advances position into side control!
Shaunessey wants to control but Murosaki postures up.

Murosaki tries for a kimura but Shaunessey is defending well.
Shaunessey is looking for a sweep.

Murosaki goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Shaunessey has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Murosaki but great work by Shaunessey.
Shaunessey tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Shaunessey wants to control but Murosaki is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murosaki is looking for a sweep.
Shaunessey laying and praying for a moment but Murosaki takes advantage and regains half guard.
Murosaki makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Murosaki.
Shaunessey is pushing down on Murosaki's leg trying to pass to half guard. Murosaki is fighting to maintain full guard but Shaunessey has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaunessey wants to pass the guard but Murosaki is defending well.
Murosaki moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Murosaki looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Murosaki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Shaunessey can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Murosaki will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Murosaki wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Shaunessey is now in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Murosaki is trying to control but can't.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Murosaki gets full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koji Murosaki dominated 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.

Shaunessey misses with a low kick.
Murosaki lands with a hook. Shaunessey tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Shaunessey throws a leg kick which misses Murosaki's front leg but catches the back leg as Murosaki tries to avoid it.
Shaunessey 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.
Shaunessey tries a head kick but it misses.
Murosaki listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Shaunessey misses with a jab, cross combination.
Murosaki stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Vaughn Shaunessey seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murosaki avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Murosaki throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Shaunessey misses with a low kick.
Shaunessey is looking to score with low kicks.
Murosaki really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Shaunessey thumps Murosaki with a low kick.
Shaunessey moves in looking to clinch but Murosaki pushes him off.
Murosaki is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaunessey swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Murosaki counters with a shoot takedown. Shaunessey fights it but they end up in guard.
Murosaki advances to half guard.
Shaunessey is looking to escape.
Shaunessey is looking to control Murosaki's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shaunessey avoid being mounted?
Shaunessey is trying to get back to full guard.
Shaunessey holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Shaunessey trying to hold on to Murosaki's head to control him but Murosaki postures up.
Koji Murosaki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Murosaki is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Murosaki moves nicely into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Murosaki thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Murosaki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shaunessey keeps working.

Murosaki looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Murosaki wants to control but Shaunessey is keeping him busy.
Shaunessey trying to remain calm as Murosaki controls from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murosaki is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Shaunessey knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Murosaki tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Murosaki has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Murosaki is looking to take a break and control but Shaunessey is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shaunessey wants to control but Murosaki postures up.
Shaunessey tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Murosaki tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Shaunessey wants to get back to his feet.

Murosaki thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Murosaki is trying to get an arm triangle but Shaunessey is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Murosaki thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koji Murosaki dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Shaunessey misses with a shot to the body

and Murosaki counters with a takedown into side control.
Shaunessey wants to control but Murosaki postures up.

Murosaki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Shaunessey, who protects the arm well.

Murosaki working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Murosaki is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Shaunessey knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Murosaki goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Shaunessey has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Murosaki but great work by Shaunessey.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murosaki tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Shaunessey is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Shaunessey stands up.
Shaunessey doesn't manage to clinch there - Murosaki circles away.
Shaunessey is looking to land body kicks.
Murosaki tries to close the distance and clinch but Shaunessey swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murosaki moves out of range of the body kick.
Murosaki on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shaunessey. Shaunessey obviously looking to wear him down.
Murosaki keeps the fight on the outside.
Murosaki steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Shaunessey. That one must have hurt.
Murosaki is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Shaunessey.
Shaunessey is looking to slow Murosaki down with leg kicks.
Shaunessey throws a low kick but it's checked well by Murosaki.
Murosaki uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Shaunessey.
Murosaki moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Shaunessey clinches up against the cage.
Shaunessey works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Shaunessey with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Koji Murosaki has been cut.
Shaunessey connects with a nasty looking knee right to Murosaki's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaunessey tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A left hand lands to the body for Shaunessey.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shaunessey is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Murosaki jumps guard but Shaunessey turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Shaunessey misses with a punch to the body.
Knees to the body from Shaunessey.
Shaunessey stalling the fight.
Shaunessey landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Shaunessey is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Murosaki is trying to pull guard but Shaunessey has him pressed against the cage.
Shaunessey is stalling here.
Shaunessey misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaunessey lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shaunessey lands a body shot.
Murosaki tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Shaunessey smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Koji Murosaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Shaunessey clinches up against the cage.
Shaunessey with a knee to the head.
Shaunessey just leaning against Murosaki, taking a breather.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Murosaki is trying to pull guard but Shaunessey turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Shaunessey lands with a short shot to the head.
Shaunessey pushes Murosaki back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Murosaki is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Murosaki tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vaughn Shaunessey really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Koji Murosaki's cut.
That's time! Murosaki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Shaunessey tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Murosaki lands a nice shot that snaps Shaunessey's head back.
Shaunessey cracks the inside of Murosaki's front leg.
Vaughn Shaunessey seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Murosaki takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Murosaki on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shaunessey. Shaunessey obviously looking to wear him down.
Shaunessey misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Murosaki.
Sloppy strikes from Shaunessey. Those never looked like landing.
Shaunessey tries a head kick but it misses.
Shaunessey walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Murosaki checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Shaunessey pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shaunessey scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Murosaki with a jab.
Shaunessey misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Shaunessey.
Murosaki wants to clinch.
Shaunessey is looking to slow Murosaki down with leg kicks.
Shaunessey pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Murosaki keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Shaunessey.
Shaunessey tries to clinch there but Murosaki circles away.
Shaunessey pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Shaunessey gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Murosaki pulls guard successfully.
Murosaki manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Shaunessey manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaunessey keeping moving, preventing Murosaki from controlling successfully.
Shaunessey is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Shaunessey content to control rather than advance.
Shaunessey stalling away here and it's allowed Murosaki to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shaunessey advances to half guard.
Murosaki is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaunessey is pressing down on Murosaki's thigh, looking to free his foot. Murosaki is holding on for now.
Shaunessey controlling the pace.
It looks like Shaunessey is going to stand back up.
Murosaki wants to improve his position but Shaunessey is controlling well.
Shaunessey is trying to control the action in half guard but Murosaki is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Murosaki wants to get back to full guard but Shaunessey has mounted him!
Murosaki is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaunessey looking to control but Murosaki is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Murosaki is working to get back to half guard.
Murosaki sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Shaunessey decides to stand up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shaunessey circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vaughn Shaunessey dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Koji Murosaki's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Shaunessey is looking to clinch.
Murosaki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shaunessey paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Murosaki lunges at Shaunessey with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Shaunessey's hand.
A big left from Shaunessey misses.
Murosaki lands a jab.
Murosaki doesn't manage to clinch there - Shaunessey circles away.
Shaunessey lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Shaunessey darts in and clinches Murosaki up against the cage.
Murosaki tries to pull guard but Shaunessey forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Shaunessey with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Murosaki pulls Shaunessey into guard.
Shaunessey trying to control but Murosaki is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaunessey looking to pass the guard.
Murosaki manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Shaunessey manages to get himself to full guard.
Murosaki passes into half guard.
Murosaki is keen to just control but Shaunessey is a slippery customer.
Shaunessey is trying to control but can't.

Murosaki in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Shaunessey tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Murosaki!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Koji Murosaki!
Koji Murosaki is the new featherweight champion!
A victorious Koji Murosaki thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.