PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Izaac Kari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sho Shinjo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Kari might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Judas Priest - Painkiller . Shinjo is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Theme of Sho. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kari
vs
Shinjo

172 cm
31
159 lbs
18 - 11 - 1

176 cm
29
171 lbs
19 - 13 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

TWGC Champion
World class MT
Granite chin

Mango Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 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 Tokyo, Izaac Kari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sho Shinjo!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Paulo Santos and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shinjo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kari.
Kari misses with a body shot.
Shinjo on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Shinjo connects with the punch.
Kari looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Shinjo tries to clinch but Kari moves away
and Kari counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Shinjo lands a front kick.
Kari misses with a body shot.
Shinjo is looking to slow Kari down with leg kicks.
A shot to the liver by Kari. Beautiful body shot.
Shinjo throws a body punch but Kari moves out of range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Shinjo checks a leg kick.
Shinjo takes a swing at Kari's ribcage but misses.
Kari swings and misses with a hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shinjo misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinjo has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kari finds it's way round the side to connect with Shinjo's head.
Kari throws a solid leg kick but Shinjo takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kari.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Shinjo has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Kari pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kari is looking to wear down Shinjo with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Shinjo lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kari lands a jab to the head.
Shinjo shoots in for a takedown but Kari shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Shinjo tries to work over Kari's front leg with a kick but Kari checks it.
Crunch! Shinjo slams his shin into Kari's torso.
Shinjo scores with a sloppy right hand. Kari should have avoided that one.
Kari takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Shinjo connects with a crisp jab.
Shinjo avoids a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo swings for the body but Kari moves out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kari's corner calls for a 1-2. Kari obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Shinjo misses with a leg kick.
Kari swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Shinjo counters with a stiff right hand.
Shinjo scores with a spinning back kick!
Shinjo connects with a jab.
Shinjo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shinjo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kari 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.
Kari on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shinjo. Shinjo obviously looking to wear him down.
Kari displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Shinjo.
Izaac Kari is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kari throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Shinjo on the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kari thows a leg kick but Shinjo checks it
and Shinjo makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kari misses with a jab, cross combination.
A low kick from Kari misses

and Shinjo counters with a takedown into side control.
Kari is trying to control Shinjo's posture but Shinjo avoids it.
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Kari is trying to get back to half guard.
Shinjo working the ground and pound but Kari is defending the strikes.
Kari is trying to improve his position.

Shinjo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kari is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo working away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kari sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Shinjo wants to pass to mount but Kari is defending the position.
Shinjo thows a huge punch but Kari dodges it nicely.
Shinjo thows a huge punch but Kari dodges it nicely.
Kari is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Shinjo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kari's head.
Shinjo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kari defending well though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shinjo is trying to control. Kari wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Shinjo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kari defends it well.
Kari is trying to maintain the position but Shinjo is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sho Shinjo will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Good leg kick by Kari there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Izaac Kari is winning the standup battle so far.
Kari looks to score with a jab to the body but Shinjo is just out of range.
An inside leg kick from Shinjo misses.
Kari is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Shinjo.
Shinjo moves out of range of the body kick from Kari.
Kari misses with a straight left.
Shinjo tries to move into range but Kari moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kari leaves Shinjo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Shinjo misses with a body kick.
Kari swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kari misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kari will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kari throws the left hand but Shinjo avoids the punch easily.
Shinjo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kari misses with a double jab.
Kari is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Shinjo.
Shinjo scores with a hook.
An inside leg kick from Kari misses.
Shinjo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kari was well out of range. Poor timing from Shinjo.
Kari on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Kari motions for Shinjo to come forward. Kari throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Shinjo throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kari lands a nice hook to Shinjo's body. Shinjo takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Shinjo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kari circles away.
Good work by Shinjo as he checks the leg kick.
Shinjo tries to land a leg kick but Kari saw it coming and moves away.
Shinjo lunges at Kari with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kari's hand.
Shinjo chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kari can pounce on him.
Kari tries a low kick but Shinjo avoids it.
A low kick from Kari misses
letting Shinjo counter with a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kari tries to land a front kick but Shinjo steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kari scores with a jab to the body.
Kari misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kari throws out a leg kick but Shinjo moves out of range and Kari only half commits.
Kari throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Shinjo.
Shinjo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kari scoring well with a low kick there.
Kari walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Shinjo checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Shinjo slips under a jab.
Kari ducks under a wild hook from Shinjo.
A low kick from Shinjo misses
and Kari counters with a left and a right that stings Shinjo.
Shinjo tries to clinch up but Kari circles away and keeps his distance.
Kari looks to score with a jab to the body but Shinjo is just out of range.
Shinjo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kari throws a shot from downtown. Shinjo moves away and avoids it.
Shinjo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kari misses with a leg kick
and Shinjo counters with a stiff right hand.
Shinjo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kari tries to avoid it but Shinjo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kari to the ground. Kari escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Izaac Kari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sho Shinjo.
Shinjo tries to clinch but Kari is having none of it.
Decent striking displayed by Kari there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shinjo tries to work over Kari's front leg with a kick but Kari checks it.
Kari fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Shinjo is out of range.
Crunch! Shinjo slams his shin into Kari's torso.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shinjo lands with a nice combination. Kari backs away looking to recover.
Shinjo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Izaac Kari dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Shinjo scoring well with a low kick there.
Kari scores with a jab to the jaw.
Shinjo gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kari misses with a few strikes there.
A slapping leg kick lands for Shinjo.
Kari throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Shinjo counters with a nice body kick.
Kari swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kari lands a right hook to the body.
Kari misses with a double jab.
Kari attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kari scores with a sloppy right hand. Shinjo should have avoided that one.
Kari avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shinjo avoids a kick to the body.
Shinjo throws a leg kick
and Kari counters with a straight right hand.
Nice body kick there by Shinjo.
Kari throws a body punch but Shinjo moves out of range.
Shinjo avoids a kick to the body.
Kari misses with a low kick.
Kari lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Shinjo chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kari can pounce on him.
Kari misses with a hook
and Shinjo counters with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo stuns Kari with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kari turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Shinjo attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Shinjo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kari is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kari connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kari lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kari lands with a cross.
Shinjo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shinjo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kari lands a front kick.
Kari throws a leg kick that is checked
and Shinjo counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kari swings away with a body shot that misses

and Shinjo counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Shinjo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Shinjo tries to pass to full mount but Kari defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kari wants to get back to full guard.
Shinjo working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Shinjo misses with a head shot. Kari uses the momentum to regain guard.
Kari trying to keep a closed guard but Shinjo is proving a slippery customer.
Shinjo landing some decent shots from guard.
Shinjo looking to pass the guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kari keeping moving, preventing Shinjo from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kari swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kari is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kari looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kari is pulling down on Shinjo's head to control his posture.
Kari looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shinjo connects with a couple of short punches.
Shinjo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kari is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shinjo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shinjo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kari swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sho Shinjo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kari is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Izaac Kari did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kari moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kari keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shinjo throws a big shot that misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kari.
Kari throws a nice inside leg kick.
Shinjo cracks the inside of Kari's front leg.
Kari misses with a hook.
Shinjo pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kari fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Shinjo ducks right into an uppercut from Kari.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kari uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shinjo.
Kari will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Kari lands with a straight right. Shinjo didn't see that one coming.
Shinjo tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kari is able to avoid easily.
Kari throws a half hearted mid kick.
Shinjo scores with a body shot.
Kari misses with a wild body shot.
Kari misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Shinjo counters with a good low kick that Kari was not able to check.
Kari looks to throw the jab but Shinjo is out of range.
Shinjo turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Decent striking displayed by Kari there.
Kari buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kari lands a leg kick that knocks Shinjo off balance momentarily.
Shinjo avoids the body shot from Kari.
Kari throws a big shot that misses.
Shinjo throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Kari scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
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 quick inside leg kick.

Shinjo feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Shinjo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kari swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Shinjo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Shinjo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Shinjo throwing strikes from guard but Kari blocks nicely.
Kari tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo trying to control the position from guard on top but Kari is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kari is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kari utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shinjo keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kari's head.
Kari trying to keep a closed guard but Shinjo is proving a slippery customer.
Shinjo wants to pass the guard but Kari is keeping the position.
Shinjo lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kari is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Kari working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kari can't keep his opponent in guard - Shinjo advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Shinjo prevents Kari from improving his position.
Shinjo throwing shots but Kari is blocking nicely.
Shinjo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kari regains full guard. Nicely done.
Shinjo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kari swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shinjo keeps trying to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shinjo throwing strikes from guard but Kari blocks nicely.
Kari pulls Shinjo in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Izaac Kari will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Shinjo fails to land with a series of punches.
Kari scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kari.
Kari throws a body punch but Shinjo moves out of range.
Kari ducks under a wild hook from Shinjo.
Kari comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Shinjo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kari dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Shinjo. That did some damage!
Shinjo throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kari, as that shot connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinjo thumps Kari with a low kick.
Shinjo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kari.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kari.
Shinjo misses with a low kick.
Kari's corner calls for a 1-2. Kari obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kari throws a sloppy head kick and Shinjo moves out of range easily.
Kari misses with a shot to the body
and Shinjo counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kari's knee momentarily.
Kari fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Shinjo jabs at Kari's body.
Kari misses with a wild body shot.
Sho Shinjo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Shinjo has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Shinjo throws a body kick that misses.
Shinjo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kari.
Shinjo misses with a body shot.
Kari takes a swing at Shinjo's ribcage but misses.
Kari cracks the inside of Shinjo's front leg.
Shinjo connects with a solid leg kick.
Kari throws a body punch but Shinjo moves out of range.
Kari ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shinjo throws a low kick, looking for Kari's leg but Kari calmly moves out of range.
Shinjo fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo throws a half hearted mid kick.
Shinjo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
An inside leg kick lands from Kari.
Shinjo is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Kari missing with a left hand there. Shinjo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kari lands a nice looking kick to the body. Shinjo takes a step back to recover.
A low kick from Kari is predictable there
and Shinjo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Shinjo tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting Kari counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Kari scores with a four punch combination!
Kari throws a wild body kick that Shinjo sees coming a mile off.
A big right from Shinjo misses.
Kari avoids the body shot from Shinjo.
Kari throws a jab but it's blocked by Shinjo.

Shinjo closes the distance and clinches.
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!
Shinjo jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kari walks away with a smile on his face. Shinjo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Shinjo tries to clinch but Kari is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Shinjo is defended easily by Kari.
Izaac Kari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sho Shinjo.
Kari finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Izaac Kari showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kari 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 49:48
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 47:48
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Izaac Kari!
A victorious Izaac Kari thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.