PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dean Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masaru Shimabukuro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Shimabukuro's choice of entrance music: Warrior. Masaru Shimabukuro is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Thomas
vs
Shimabukuro

185 cm
28
180 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

172 cm
23
182 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dean Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Masaru Shimabukuro!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Shirou Masuda and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shimabukuro throws a right and a left that Thomas avoids nicely.
Shimabukuro throws a good cross that connects.
Shimabukuro misses with a looping left.
Shimabukuro swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A head kick misses from Shimabukuro.
A punch combination from Shimabukuro misses.
Masaru Shimabukuro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shimabukuro misses the jab.
Shimabukuro misses with an attempted mid kick.
Thomas finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Thomas misses with a head kick.

Thomas gets a clinch.
Thomas tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thomas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Our sources have told us that Thomas has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Shimabukuro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Thomas throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Shimabukuro blocks it with crossed arms.

Shimabukuro breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shimabukuro throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thomas explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Thomas throws a head kick but Shimabukuro moves out of range.
Thomas is looking to land body kicks.
Shimabukuro throws a sloppy head kick and Thomas moves out of range easily.
Thomas feints and then cracks Shimabukuro's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Shimabukuro down.
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!
A head kick from Thomas lands but Shimabukuro takes it in his stride.
Shimabukuro feints and then cracks Thomas's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Thomas down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shimabukuro throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thomas tries a head kick but it misses.
Shimabukuro throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thomas lands a leg kick that knocks Shimabukuro off balance momentarily.
Thomas moves out of range of the body kick.
Thomas throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Shimabukuro misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shimabukuro throws a one two combo.
A leg kick checked by Shimabukuro.
Thomas walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Shimabukuro checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Thomas throws a leg kick but Shimabukuro checks it.
Thomas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shimabukuro. Thomas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shimabukuro throws a hook but Thomas blocks it.
Shimabukuro fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Shimabukuro misses with the combination.
Thomas throws a head kick that half lands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses.
Thomas tried to score with a low kick but Shimabukuro checks it.
Thomas throws a low kick but Shimabukuro moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands a front kick.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shimabukuro throws a right and a left that Thomas avoids nicely.
Thomas lands a leg kick that knocks Shimabukuro off balance momentarily.
Thomas tries a head kick but it misses.
Thomas is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Shimabukuro.
Thomas connects with a high kick.
Shimabukuro throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thomas.
Thomas pivots, looking for a leg kick but Shimabukuro is out of range and Thomas settles back down.
Shimabukuro blocks the body kick.

Thomas forces Shimabukuro back against the cage and clinches.
Thomas unloads a knee to the mid-section. Shimabukuro lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Thomas struggles to land a body shot inside as Shimabukuro controls his hands.
Shimabukuro looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Shimabukuro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Shimabukuro, right into the meat.
Shimabukuro throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A nice inside leg kick there by Thomas. That's going to slow Shimabukuro down.
Shimabukuro throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Thomas lands a leg kick that knocks Shimabukuro off balance momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shimabukuro misses with a jab, cross combination.
Thomas is looking to clinch.
Shimabukuro closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Thomas tries to score with a low kick but Shimabukuro moves his leg out of the way.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses.
Shimabukuro gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Thomas counters with an inside leg kick.
Sloppy strikes from Shimabukuro. Those never looked like landing.
Shimabukuro throws a right hand that Thomas ducks under and follows up with a left that Thomas also avoids with ease.
Thomas wants to slow Shimabukuro down by chopping away at his legs.
Thomas cracks the inside of Shimabukuro's front leg.
Thomas throws a leg kick which misses Shimabukuro's front leg but catches the back leg as Shimabukuro tries to avoid it.
Thomas will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Shimabukuro connects with a leg kick. Thomas looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Shimabukuro misses with the combination.
Thomas misses with a head kick.
Thomas throws a leg kick but Shimabukuro sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Thomas misses with a kick to the body.
Shimabukuro moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas misses with a body kick.
Thomas scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A slapping body kick lands there for Thomas.
Thomas lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - Shimabukuro circles away.
Shimabukuro thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Thomas if he has to take too many more of those.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thomas throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Shimabukuro throws a sloppy head kick and Thomas moves out of range easily.
Thomas misses with a body kick.
Shimabukuro avoids the head kick by Thomas.
Thomas tries a head kick but it misses.
Shimabukuro connects with a good right hand that stumbles Thomas. Thomas circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Thomas, right into the meat.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Shimabukuro crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Thomas - the referee stops the clock and Shimabukuro gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Thomas. Shimabukuro manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Shimabukuro.
Shimabukuro looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thomas throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Thomas fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Shimabukuro tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Thomas dominated that round.
That's time! Thomas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Thomas throws a solid leg kick but Shimabukuro takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Thomas.
A swing and a miss from Shimabukuro.
Thomas defending well as Shimabukuro loads up on a big left hand.
Thomas throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Shimabukuro scores with a one two! Thomas had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Thomas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shimabukuro swinging wildly here.
Shimabukuro blocks a low kick nicely.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Shimabukuro connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Shimabukuro misses with a jab, cross combination.
Shimabukuro lands a two punch combo.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses.
Shimabukuro's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Thomas swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Masaru Shimabukuro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thomas throws a head kick but Shimabukuro moves out of range.
Thomas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thomas takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A jab lands there for Shimabukuro.
Shimabukuro lands with a thumping leg kick.
Thomas scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shimabukuro blocks a head kick by Thomas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shimabukuro throws a lazy right hand but Thomas sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Thomas finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Shimabukuro checks the leg kick.
Shimabukuro takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Thomas misses with a kick to the body.
Shimabukuro avoids the head kick by Thomas.
Shimabukuro scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Thomas has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Shimabukuro throws a head kick that misses.
A nice leg kick lands there from Shimabukuro.
Shimabukuro looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Shimabukuro misses with the combination.
Shimabukuro tries to bum rush Thomas with a series of wild strikes but Thomas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thomas throws a sloppy head kick and Shimabukuro moves out of range easily.
Thomas goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Dean Thomas is winning the standup battle so far.
Shimabukuro scores with a kick to the body.
Thomas pivots, looking for a leg kick but Shimabukuro is out of range and Thomas settles back down.
A nice leg kick lands there from Thomas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throws a push kick but Shimabukuro slaps the foot to one side.
Thomas ducks under a wild hook from Shimabukuro.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shimabukuro throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Thomas walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Shimabukuro checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A combination from Shimabukuro does no damage.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Shimabukuro.
Shimabukuro has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Thomas.
Thomas feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Shimabukuro's calf.
Thomas tries to land a front kick but Shimabukuro steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
An inside leg kick lands from Thomas.
Shimabukuro moves out of range of the leg kick from Thomas.
Shimabukuro tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thomas was well out of range. Poor timing from Shimabukuro.
Thomas throws a head kick but Shimabukuro moves out of range.
Thomas tries to clinch up but Shimabukuro circles away and keeps his distance.
Thomas buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Shimabukuro misses with a two punch combination.
Shimabukuro looks to land a body kick but Thomas moved away.
Shimabukuro throws a sloppy head kick and Thomas moves out of range easily.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch but Shimabukuro swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Shimabukuro is out of range.
Thomas 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.
Thomas misses with a head kick.
Shimabukuro throws a series of punches but Thomas avoids them all with ease.
Shimabukuro blocks a head kick by Thomas.
A left lands for Shimabukuro.
Shimabukuro throws a one two combo.
Shimabukuro checks the leg kick.
Shimabukuro lands a nice hook to Thomas's body. Thomas takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Thomas scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Thomas is looking to land body kicks.
Shimabukuro digs a good hook to Thomas's body.
A nice combination there by Shimabukuro.
Shimabukuro looks to land a combination but Thomas avoids it well.
Shimabukuro finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Thomas goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A good leg kick by Thomas.
Shimabukuro is working the combinations to good effect here.
Thomas scores with a head kick. Shimabukuro tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
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!
Shimabukuro on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Thomas. Thomas obviously looking to wear him down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas scores with a nice body kick.
Thomas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thomas tries to work over Shimabukuro's front leg with a kick but Shimabukuro checks it.
Shimabukuro avoids the head kick by Thomas.
Thomas throws a low kick but Shimabukuro moves out of range easily.
Shimabukuro throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A nice combination there by Shimabukuro.
Thomas takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Thomas moves out of range as Shimabukuro throws a body kick.
Thomas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thomas throws a sloppy head kick and Shimabukuro moves out of range easily.
Shimabukuro avoids the head kick by Thomas.
Thomas moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Thomas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nice body punch from Shimabukuro.
Thomas throws a push kick but Shimabukuro slaps the foot to one side.
Shimabukuro has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Thomas.
Shimabukuro feints and then cracks Thomas's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Thomas down.
Thomas throws a low kick but Shimabukuro moves out of range easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Shimabukuro.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Masaru Shimabukuro will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Thomas wants to slow Shimabukuro down by chopping away at his legs.

Thomas rushes Shimabukuro and presses him up against the cage.
Thomas with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Shimabukuro wants to get back to striking at distance but Thomas won't allow it.
Thomas prevents Shimabukuro from breaking the clinch.

Shimabukuro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thomas dodges the punch combination from Shimabukuro.
Thomas throws a leg kick but Shimabukuro checks it.
Thomas throws a low kick, looking for Shimabukuro's leg but Shimabukuro calmly moves out of range.
Thomas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shimabukuro lands a nice looking kick to the body. Thomas takes a step back to recover.
Shimabukuro misses with a two punch combination.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Shimabukuro.
Thomas scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Thomas throws a head kick but Shimabukuro moves out of range.
Thomas swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Shimabukuro throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shimabukuro moves out of range of the body kick from Thomas.
Thomas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Shimabukuro misses with a wild combination.
Shimabukuro looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Thomas throws out a leg kick but Shimabukuro moves out of range and Thomas only half commits.
Thomas walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Shimabukuro looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Thomas throws a push kick but Shimabukuro slaps the foot to one side.
Thomas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Shimabukuro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thomas chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Shimabukuro can pounce on him.
Thomas throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
A punch combination from Shimabukuro misses.
Thomas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thomas misses with a body kick.
Thomas thumps Shimabukuro with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Shimabukuro. That did some damage!
Thomas throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Shimabukuro's head.
Shimabukuro looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Thomas.
Shimabukuro misses with a head kick.
Thomas goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
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!
Thomas fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Shimabukuro.
Thomas fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Shimabukuro has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Thomas throws a leg kick which misses Shimabukuro's front leg but catches the back leg as Shimabukuro tries to avoid it.
Shimabukuro throws a series of punches but Thomas avoids them all with ease.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Thomas, right into the meat.
A solid body kick from Thomas.
Thomas attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Thomas takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Shimabukuro will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thomas lands a nice looking kick to the body. Shimabukuro takes a step back to recover.
Shimabukuro throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas fails with an attempt to clinch.
An inside leg kick from Thomas misses.
Thomas buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Thomas wants to clinch.
Shimabukuro misses with a body kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Thomas, right into the meat.
Shimabukuro lets loose with a powerful body kick. Thomas will feel that in the morning.
Shimabukuro misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses.
Shimabukuro tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Shimabukuro changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Thomas takes a kick to the side of the head.
Thomas throws a low kick but Shimabukuro avoids it.
Thomas bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Thomas lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Thomas misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Thomas.
Shimabukuro tried to score with a low kick but Thomas checks it.
Thomas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thomas misses with a low kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas misses with a low kick.
Thomas takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Shimabukuro misses with a wild combination.
Shimabukuro checks the leg kick.
Thomas throws a wild body kick that Shimabukuro sees coming a mile off.
Thomas throws a sloppy head kick and Shimabukuro moves out of range easily.
Thomas moves out of range of the body kick from Shimabukuro.

Thomas rushes Shimabukuro and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Shimabukuro is trying to break free.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Shimabukuro breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shimabukuro tries a head kick but it misses.
Thomas misses with a head kick.
Thomas checks a leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dean Thomas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Thomas has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dean Thomas!
A very excited looking Dean Thomas made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.