PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sho Shinjo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Izaac Kari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shinjo's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Theme of Sho. Kari has chosen Judas Priest - Painkiller as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shinjo
vs
Kari

176 cm
28
171 lbs
18 - 11 - 1

172 cm
30
159 lbs
16 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
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 18 - 11 - 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 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Izaac Kari!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Mauricio Rocha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shinjo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kari throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Shinjo throws an overhand right that lands on Kari's shoulder, as Kari tries to avoid the shot.
Kari throws a leg kick

and Shinjo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Shinjo.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Shinjo stopping the sweep attempt from Kari.
Kari is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shinjo working some strikes from top position.
Kari looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kari looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Kari tries to land a sweep but no joy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kari keeping moving, preventing Shinjo from controlling successfully.
Shinjo stopping the sweep attempt from Kari.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinjo throws a big right hand that misses.
Shinjo stopping the sweep attempt from Kari.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Shinjo trying to control but Kari is working from the bottom.
Kari avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kari misses with a body shot.
Shinjo feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Karis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Shinjo misses with a kick to the body.
Kari fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Shinjo checks it well.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Shinjo, right into the meat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kari ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Izaac Kari is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kari checks a leg kick.
Kari scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Shinjo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kari needs to keep his hands up - Shinjo had a free shot at his head there.
Shinjo misses with a hook. Kari ducked under it nicely.
Shinjo looks to score with a jab to the body but Kari is just out of range.
Kari cracks the inside of Shinjo's front leg.
Sho Shinjo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kari connects with an inside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kari throws a front kick aimed at Shinjo's knee but Shinjo avoids it well.
Shinjo misses with a series of wild punches.
Kari cracks Shinjo with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Shinjo throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kari thumps Shinjo with a low kick.
Shinjo lands a jab.
Kari gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Shinjo counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kari misses with a wild combination.
Kari lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Kari displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Shinjo misses with a low kick.
Kari slips a jab and a cross from Shinjo.
Shinjo connects with a right hand. Kari shakes it off.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shinjo misses with an uppercut.
Shinjo moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Some wild striking there from Shinjo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kari swings widly with a right hand
and Shinjo counters with a left to the body.
Shinjo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kari moves out of range of the leg kick from Shinjo.
Shinjo misses with a leg kick.
Shinjo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A telegraphed right hand from Shinjo misses the target.
Kari lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Shinjo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kari wants to land a leg kick but Shinjo is out of range.
Kari rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Shinjo counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A lazy left from Shinjo finds it's target.
Kari misses with a low kick.
Kari attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Shinjo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
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 Sho Shinjo will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Shinjo misses with an uppercut.
Izaac Kari seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kari lands a body shot.
Kari on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Kari ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Shinjo blocks a leg kick.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kari enables Shinjo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kari manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Kari is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Shinjo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kari keeping full guard, as Shinjo tries to pass.
Kari pulls Shinjo in close to prevent any damage.
Shinjo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shinjo trying to control but Kari is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Shinjo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kari utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kari is on top in guard.
Kari is stalling in the full guard.
Shinjo is trying to control the position but Kari postures up.
Shinjo looking for a sweep. Not yet Shinjo, not yet.
Kari is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Kari must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Shinjo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Shinjo is nestled in close to Kari, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shinjo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kari trying to control from the bottom.
Kari regains full guard. Nicely done.
Shinjo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Shinjo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shinjo is looking to work some ground and pound but Kari has wrist control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kari is trying to keep Shinjo in close.
Kari pulls Shinjo in close to his closed guard and prevents Shinjo from doing any damage or advancing position.
Shinjo throws a big right hand that misses.
Kari manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sho Shinjo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shinjo sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo wants to improve his position but Kari is controlling well.

Kari stands up out of the half guard.
Shinjo throws a push kick but Kari slaps the foot to one side.
Shinjo blocks the body kick.
Kari drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
The fighters circling - Kari throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kari blocks a jab.
Kari throws a leg kick but Shinjo checks it.
Kari connects with an inside leg kick.
Kari swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Shinjo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kari makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Shinjo really felt that one!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kari walks into a left hand.
Shinjo throws a poor cross that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Kari misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shinjo.
Shinjo swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kari.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kari scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kari checks a leg kick nicely.
Some bone on bone action there as Kari checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kari throws a leg kick but Shinjo checks it.
Shinjo tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kari stuffs the takedown attempt from Shinjo. Shinjo gets slowly back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shinjo tried to score with a low kick but Kari checks it.
Shinjo scores with a jab to the head.
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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Shinjo blocks the body kick.
No joy there for Shinjo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kari jabs Shinjo to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Shinjo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kari counters with a left to the body.
No luck for Shinjo with that takedown attempt.
Kari thows a body shot but no joy.
Kari goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kari lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
No joy there for Shinjo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Shinjo connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kari lands with a thumping leg kick.
Shinjo moves into range and connects with a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kari needs to keep his hands up - Shinjo had a free shot at his head there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinjo throws a leg kick that is checked
and Kari counters with a stiff right hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Shinjo misses the target.
Shinjo misses with a looping right.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kari.
Shinjo gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Shinjo swinging wildly here.
Shinjo throws a front kick aimed at Kari's knee but Kari avoids it well.
Kari scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Shinjo dips to his left and cracks Kari with an uppercut!
Shinjo shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Kari misses with a double jab.
Kari cracks Shinjo with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kari checks a leg kick nicely.
Shinjo falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kari counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shinjo fails to land with a series of punches.
Shinjo finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Shinjo with a body punch. A glancing blow.
The crowd cheers as Kari lands an impressive looking overhand right. Shinjo doesn't seem phased though.
Kari lands a nice leg kick that just misses Shinjo's sensitive parts.
Shinjo misses with a body shot.
Shinjo misses the jab.
Kari keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Shinjo.
Some bone on bone action there as Shinjo checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Sho Shinjo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A combination from Shinjo does no damage.
Shinjo connects with a right hand. Kari shakes it off.
Shinjo throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Kari misses with a straight left.
Kari defending well as Shinjo loads up on a big left hand.
Nice uppercut there from Shinjo.
Shinjo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kari was well out of range. Poor timing from Shinjo.
Kari is looking to chop away at Shinjo's legs.
Kari throws out a leg kick but Shinjo moves out of range and Kari only half commits.
Shinjo bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kari's head.
Kari dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Shinjo. That did some damage!
A head kick misses from Kari.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kari throws the kick towards the body but Shinjo avoids it.
Shinjo connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Shinjo throws a leg kick but Kari checks it.
Kari tries to score with a low kick but Shinjo moves his leg out of the way.
Shinjo fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kari checks it well.
Kari goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Nice takedown defense from Kari. No joy for Shinjo on that attempt.
Shinjo swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kari lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kari wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shinjo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kari throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Izaac Kari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kari dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Izaac Kari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Shinjo 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:30

The fight is ruled a draw!