PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kenichi Shirahama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brock Samson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shirahama's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Fade To Black. Samson has chosen The Venture Brothers Opening Theme as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Shirahama
vs
Samson

202 cm
31
240 lbs
23 - 9 - 1

195 cm
35
300 lbs
23 - 11 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Merciless Gladiators
Reaper Combatwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kenichi Shirahama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brock Samson!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Jorge Garcia and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A leg kick checked by Shirahama.
Samson throws a lazy right hand but Shirahama sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Samson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've been hearing reports that Shirahama has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Samson throws an overhand right that lands on Shirahama's shoulder, as Shirahama tries to avoid the shot.
Samson throws a body punch but Shirahama moves out of range.
Samson throws a leg kick that is checked

so Shirahama counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Samson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Samson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Shirahama can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Shirahama scoring with some ground and pound.
Samson looking for a sweep. Not yet Samson, not yet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Samson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Samson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Shirahama stays in close to Samson's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Samson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Samson is looking for a triangle but Shirahama pushes his legs off easily.
Shirahama stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Samson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Samson 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.
Samson keeping full guard, as Shirahama tries to pass.

Shirahama avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Shirahama stopping the sweep attempt from Samson.
Samson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Shirahama!
Shirahama slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shirahama regains full guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Samson drops back looking for a leg! Shirahama is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Shirahama manages to kick Samson off! Samson jumps back into Shirahama's guard.
Shirahama wants to sweep but no luck.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Shirahama looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Samson postures up.
Samson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shirahama swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Samson advances to full mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Samson moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Shirahama has worked his arm free - good work by Shirahama!
Shirahama is trying to get back to half guard.
Shirahama is trying to control Samson's posture but Samson avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shirahama tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Samson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Shirahama manages to get back to half guard.
Shirahama works his way to full guard. Good work.

Samson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Shirahama looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Shirahama looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Shirahama!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Samson is looking for a sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Samson is trying to work for a sweep but Shirahama has mounted him!
Samson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Shirahama looking to control but Samson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
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 Kenichi Shirahama will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Samson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Shirahama counters with a series of strikes. Samson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Shirahama uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Samson.
Samson thuds a left hand into Shirahama's body.
Samson tries to score with a low kick but Shirahama moves his leg out of the way.
Samson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Shirahama makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Brock Samson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Samson misses with an uppercut

so Shirahama counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Samson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Shirahama manages to get himself to full guard.
Kenichi Shirahama overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shirahama looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shirahama manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Shirahama unloading with bombs!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shirahama prevents Samson from getting the reversal.
Shirahama landing strikes, looking to finish!
Samson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Shirahama is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Shirahama with the ground and pound from mount.
Shirahama working Samson over with strikes here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shirahama with the ground and pound from mount.
Shirahama prevents Samson from getting the reversal.
Shirahama scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Samson?
Samson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Shirahama 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.
BOOM! Shirahama connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Shirahama fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Shirahama landing strikes from the mount and Samson is in trouble!
Shirahama with a couple of short strikes.
A nice elbow there by Shirahama.
Samson is desperately trying to improve his position but Shirahama has a good base and remains in mount.
Shirahama scoring with strikes but Samson is staying in there.
Samson is desperately trying to improve his position but Shirahama has a good base and remains in mount.
Shirahama trying to control but Samson is having none of it.
BOOM! Shirahama connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Samson in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Shirahama lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Shirahama cracks Samson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Shirahama looking to control but Samson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shirahama raining down shots from the mount!
Shirahama drops a big elbow. That's hurt Samson! More shots from Shirahama and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kenichi Shirahama!
A relieved looking Kenichi Shirahama thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.