PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Gibbs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edwin Shogun (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gibbs
vs
Shogun

160 cm
20
214 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alexander Gibbs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Edwin Shogun!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shogun tries to clinch

and Gibbs decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Shogun's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Gibbs sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Shogun looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gibbs is one step ahead there.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Alexander Gibbs.
Shogun wants to clinch up but Gibbs keeps it at a distance.

Gibbs darts in and clinches Shogun up against the cage.

Shogun pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shogun wants to sweep here but Gibbs controlling him for the moment.

Gibbs drops back, looking for a kneebar! Shogun looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Shogun looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Shogun!
Gibbs tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Shogun wants to stand but Gibbs is controlling his arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibbs is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gibbs has one of Shogun's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Gibbs is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shogun tries to score with some ground and pound. Gibbs controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Shogun working away.
Gibbs tries to buck Shogun off but Shogun is having none of it.
Gibbs can't do much from the bottom here.
Shogun wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gibbs keeps working.
Shogun in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibbs is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Shogun is controlling him well.
Shogun is looking to take a break and control but Gibbs is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shogun is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Gibbs will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Shogun has knee on belly and moves into mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Shogun jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Gibbs is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Gibbs and Shogun has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Gibbs dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gibbs clinches.
Gibbs is looking to break free of the clinch but Shogun has double underhooks.

Shogun gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Gibbs tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Shogun trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shogun throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gibbs works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gibbs bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Shogun's guard.

Shogun had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gibbs defends it easily.
Shogun is striking from the bottom but Gibbs uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shogun is staying active underneath Gibbs, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gibbs is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Shogun is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Gibbs seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

We're going to have a standup here because Alexander Gibbs wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Shogun misses with a takedown attempt

and Gibbs counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Shogun slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gibbs looking to sit in guard and control but Shogun gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Shogun tries to stand but Gibbs is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibbs is striking off his back. Shogun thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Shogun is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Gibbs wants to improve his position but Shogun is controlling well.
Alexander Gibbs overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shogun looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibbs wants to improve his position but Shogun is controlling well.
Gibbs wants to control but Shogun is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gibbs could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Shogun trying to control the action but Gibbs is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gibbs wants to get back to full guard.

Gibbs actively working from the bottom here.
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 Alexander Gibbs will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gibbs avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shogun lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Alexander Gibbs has been cut.
Shogun dives in and grabs Gibbs's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gibbs pushes down on Shogun's head and hops out.

Shogun lands a left and a right that send Gibbs crashing to the mat, dazed. Shogun thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Gibbs is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gibbs shoots in looking for a takedown but Shogun manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gibbs's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Oh Gibbs is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The fight stays on the outside here - Shogun looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shogun moves in looking to clinch but Gibbs pushes him off.
Gibbs seems to have got his legs back now.
Gibbs circles away from the clinch attempt

and Gibbs counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gibbs.
Shogun keeping full guard, as Gibbs tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gibbs wants to get up but he can't break Shogun's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Shogun is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alexander Gibbs wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Shogun looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Shogun is looking to stall here but Gibbs recovers full guard.
Gibbs trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shogun throws an elbow that misses. Gibbs uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Shogun's guard. Nice move by Gibbs!
Gibbs tries to stand but Shogun is controlling from the bottom.

Shogun throws his legs up looking for a submission but Gibbs uses it to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shogun tries to bench press Gibbs off him but Gibbs keeps the position.
Shogun managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Gibbs.
Gibbs trying to control the action but Shogun is working from the bottom.
Shogun is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shogun is looking to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Alexander Gibbs has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A chopping leg kick lands by Shogun.

And that's the end of the fight!
Edwin Shogun comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gibbs 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Alexander Gibbs!