PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sick Puppy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sho Shinjo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shinjo has chosen Theme of Sho as his entrance music. Sick Puppy had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Puppy
vs
Shinjo

173 cm
33
166 lbs
20 - 15 - 1

176 cm
34
171 lbs
26 - 21 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sick Puppy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 21 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sho Shinjo!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Shinjo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Puppy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shinjo.
Puppy stuffs the takedown.
Shinjo slaps away a takedown attempt from Puppy, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Shinjo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Puppy as he jumps to the side.
No joy there for Shinjo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Puppy throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Shinjo counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Puppy thinking.

Puppy moves into the clinch successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Puppy has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Shinjo clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Shinjo tries to escape but Puppy has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Shinjo is still trying to improve position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shinjo prevents Puppy from getting a body triangle.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puppy lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Shinjo tries to escape the position.
Puppy loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Shinjo hold on?
Puppy is landing with strikes. Shinjo can't take much more of this.
Shinjo covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Puppy throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Shinjo breaks Puppy's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Puppy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Puppy wants to improve his position but instead Shinjo has moved into half guard.

Shinjo is looking for a kimura here.
Shinjo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puppy wants to get back to full guard.
Shinjo winds up and cracks Puppy with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Puppy wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Puppy tries to roll over but Shinjo keeps him under control.

Puppy is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Shinjo pulls his head out easily.
Shinjo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Shinjo thows a huge punch but Puppy dodges it nicely.
Shinjo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Puppy 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.
Shinjo lands strikes from half guard.
Puppy won't allow Shinjo to pass to mount.
Puppy manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo won't allow Puppy to get back to his feet.
Puppy looking for a sweep. Not yet Puppy, not yet.

Puppy working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Shinjo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Shinjo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Puppy is pulling down on Shinjo's head to control his posture.

Puppy looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Puppy wants to stand but Shinjo is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Shinjo throwing strikes but missing.
Shinjo wants to control from the top but Puppy keeps moving.

Puppy looking for a guillotine here but Shinjo defends easily.

Puppy is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Shinjo passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Shinjo works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Puppy struggling a bit here.
Puppy taking a bit of punishment here - Shinjo scoring with strikes.
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 Sick Puppy will probably get the nod.
That's time! Puppy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Shinjo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Puppy tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shinjo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Puppy somewhat.
Shinjo checks a leg kick nicely.
Shinjo moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Puppy walks into a jab.
Shinjo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Puppy.
Shinjo gets off balance looking for a body kick
enabling Puppy to counter with a crisp jab.
Puppy connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Puppy misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Puppy misses with an uppercut

and Shinjo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Puppy working a defensive guard here.

Puppy working for submissions but it's allowed Shinjo to get to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shinjo thows a huge punch but Puppy dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puppy trying to control from the bottom.
Puppy wants to get back to his feet.

Shinjo is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Puppy has managed to free his arm - good work.
Puppy avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Shinjo.
Puppy is trying to stand.
Sho Shinjo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Puppy tries to roll over but Shinjo keeps him under control.

Shinjo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Puppy sees it coming and defends easily.
Puppy tries to kick Shinjo off but Shinjo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Shinjo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Puppy doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Shinjo.

Puppy has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Shinjo escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Shinjo!
Puppy wants to control but Shinjo postures up.

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

Shinjo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Puppy, who protects the arm well.
Puppy struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puppy is looking for a sweep.
Shinjo working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Shinjo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
I wouldn't like to be where Puppy is right now.
Puppy is looking for a sweep.
Shinjo lands a few punches from side control.
Puppy taking a bit of punishment here - Shinjo scoring with strikes.
Puppy wants to get back to his feet.
Puppy tries to buck Shinjo off but Shinjo is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Shinjo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Shinjo cracks Puppy with a big right hand but Puppy just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Shinjo working the head with strikes.

Shinjo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Puppy knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Shinjo creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Puppy sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shinjo content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Puppy takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sho Shinjo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Shinjo tries to land a front kick but Puppy steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Nice straight punches there by Puppy. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Puppy.
Shinjo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Shinjo avoids the body shot from Puppy.
Shinjo was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shinjo.
It looked like Puppy wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Shinjo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Puppy was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Puppy lands a two punch combo.
Puppy swings away with a leg kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shinjo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Puppy sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Puppy wants to get back to his feet.
Shinjo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinjo trying to pass the guard but Puppy defending well.
Shinjo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Puppy keeps working.

Puppy looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Puppy has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Shinjo is on him like a limpet, forcing Puppy back against the cage.
Puppy is looking for a takedown.
Puppy is working for takedown but Shinjo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Shinjo scores with a shoulder strike.
Puppy tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sick Puppy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shinjo misses with a punch to the body.

Puppy gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Puppy looking to sit in guard and control but Shinjo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Shinjo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Puppy has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Shinjo has managed to get both his arms back between Puppy's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo pushes down on Puppy's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shinjo is looking to take a break and control but Puppy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Puppy wants to control the action here but instead Shinjo manages to pass to full mount!
Puppy working to try and regain half guard.
Shinjo has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Puppy's face.
Puppy is trying to escape the mount.

Shinjo jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Puppy manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Shinjo grinds an elbow into Puppy's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puppy is trying to control Shinjo's posture but Shinjo avoids it.
Puppy wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Shinjo lands a decent elbow from side control.
Puppy is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Shinjo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Puppy is just riding it out for now. Shinjo eventually gives up the hold.
Shinjo lands strikes from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo is pressing down on Puppy's thigh, looking to free his foot. Puppy is holding on for now.

Shinjo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Shinjo wants to work for an arm triangle but Puppy is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Puppy is trying to stand up here but Shinjo is controlling him well.
Shinjo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Shinjo is thwarting Puppy's attempts to control the position.

Puppy looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Puppy is not content to let Shinjo control the position.
Puppy tries to get to full guard but Shinjo has control of the leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sho Shinjo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Shinjo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sho Shinjo!
During a confident post fight interview, Sho Shinjo thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.