PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kyle Carlton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenichi Shirahama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shirahama has chosen Fade To Black as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Carlton
vs
Shirahama

192 cm
32
264 lbs
28 - 5 - 0

202 cm
33
240 lbs
28 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Reaper Combatwear
Kemists ↑ 5x160Q

Reaper Combatwear
Bloodlust Horde Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kyle Carlton!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kenichi Shirahama!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Sam Margolis and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carlton displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Shirahama.
A slapping body kick lands there for Carlton.
Carlton scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A decent looking cross lands there for Carlton.
Carlton swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Shirahama stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Carlton.
We've been told by Carlton's head coaches at Mugler Jiu Jitsu that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shirahama stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Carlton.
An inside leg kick lands from Carlton.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Shirahama 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Shirahama is rocked!

It looks like Kenichi Shirahama has been cut.
Shirahama looks winded!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carlton misses with a looping left.
Shirahama is still on wobbly legs! Can Carlton finish him?
Shirahama takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Shirahama uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Carlton.
Shirahama seems to have recovered his senses.
Carlton throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shirahama blocks a low kick nicely.
Carlton lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Carlton misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shirahama.
Carlton is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Shirahama.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Carlton misses its intended target.
Carlton throws a leg kick but Shirahama sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Carlton lands a lovely overhand right.
Carlton throws a jab but it's blocked by Shirahama.
Shirahama keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Carlton misses with a low kick.
Carlton lands a jab to Shirahama's midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carlton misses with a left hand
letting Shirahama counter with a right hand.
Carlton punishes Shirahama's body with a nice straight punch.
Shirahama on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Shirahama staying out of range there.
Carlton dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shirahama chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Carlton can pounce on him.
Carlton throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Shirahama sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Carlton throws a right hand that misses
and Shirahama counters with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Carlton.
Carlton defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Shirahama.
Carlton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shirahama moves away.
The fighters circling - Shirahama throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Carlton throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Shirahama counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shirahama postures up.
Carlton can't keep his opponent in guard - Shirahama advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Shirahama is trying to control. Carlton wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Carlton dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kenichi Shirahama's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Carlton fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Shirahama has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Carlton rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Shirahama counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Carlton misses with a double jab
and Shirahama counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Carlton throws a wild body kick that Shirahama sees coming a mile off.
Carlton misses with the combination.
Shirahama slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Shirahama checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Carlton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shirahama moves away.
Carlton misses the jab.
Carlton walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Shirahama checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Carlton misses with a left hand

and Shirahama counters with a single leg into guard. Carlton didn't expect that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Carlton working a defensive guard here.
Shirahama working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Carlton's head.
Carlton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shirahama can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carlton is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shirahama's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Shirahama stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Carlton swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Carlton has Shirahama pulled in close to control his posture.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Kyle Carlton just wasn't active enough.
Carlton looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Carlton lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Carlton throws an overhand right that lands on Shirahama's shoulder, as Shirahama tries to avoid the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shirahama takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Shirahama bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A swing and a miss from Carlton.
Shirahama moves away from the strike by Carlton.
Carlton connects with a looping right hand.
Shirahama avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Shirahama takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carlton throws a jab when Shirahama was well out of range.
Carlton looks to land a left hand but Shirahama moved out of range nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Carlton throws a lazy right hand but Shirahama sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Shirahama checks the leg kick.
Carlton pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kyle Carlton is winning the standup battle so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Carlton throws a predictable looking body shot
and Shirahama counters with a left and a right that stings Carlton.
Carlton throws a sloppy body shot

so Shirahama counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Carlton dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kenichi Shirahama's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Carlton throws the kick towards the body but Shirahama avoids it.
Carlton cracks a nice hook into Shirahama's ribs.
Carlton throws an off balance right hand
and Shirahama counters with a three punch combo that has Carlton backing up. Carlton nods at Shirahama to acknowledge the strikes.
Carlton throws a shot from downtown. Shirahama moves away and avoids it.
Carlton fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Shirahama.
Carlton's jab looks to have found its range, popping Shirahama under the eye.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A solid leg kick lands there for Carlton.
Shirahama takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shirahama takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shirahama avoids a kick to the body.
Carlton thows a body shot but no joy.
Nice jab there from Carlton.
Carlton tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shirahama was well out of range. Poor timing from Carlton.
Carlton connects with a body shot that sends Shirahama's belly button to the back.
Carlton misses with a body kick.
Carlton dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carlton throws a good cross that connects.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Carlton lands a left and a right that send Shirahama crashing to the mat, dazed. Carlton thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Carlton closes the distance and lands a vicious right hand that drops Shirahama! Carlton dives in looking to finish! Shirahama is still trying to defend himself but he's taking too many shots and the referee has no choice but to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kyle Carlton!
Kyle Carlton retains his super heavyweight title!
After winning the bout, Kyle Carlton thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.