PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Blind Shaman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Skreba Reijonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shaman's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Shaman's Dream. Blind Shaman had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Shaman
vs
Reijonen

182 cm
22
168 lbs
7 - 2 - 1

172 cm
24
161 lbs
8 - 5 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 7 - 2 - 1, fighting out of New York, Blind Shaman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Skreba Reijonen!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shaman is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Reijonen.
As Shaman backs off Reijonen throws a huge counter combo but Shaman manages to avoid it all.
We've been hearing reports that Shaman has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Shaman on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Reijonen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
It looked like Shaman wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Blind Shaman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shaman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Reijonen.
Shaman fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nice shot lands for Shaman.
Shaman tests Reijonen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A thudding body kick lands there by Shaman!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reijonen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Reijonen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Shaman moves out of range of the body kick from Reijonen.
Shaman stuns Reijonen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reijonen cracks the inside of Shaman's front leg.
Reijonen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Shaman misses with an uppercut.
As Shaman backs off Reijonen throws a huge counter combo but Shaman manages to avoid it all.
Shaman scoring well with a low kick there.

Shaman gets tackled into the cage by Reijonen. Reijonen maintains the clinch.
Reijonen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Reijonen has a couple of punches blocked by Shaman.
A short body shot lands from Shaman as the two fighters clinch.
Reijonen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Reijonen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Shaman lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Reijonen misses with some punches.
Reijonen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Reijonen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Reijonen has a couple of punches blocked by Shaman.
Shaman tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Reijonen's elbow.
Shaman fails to pull guard.
Reijonen misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaman pushes Reijonen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shaman displaying some good clinch control by pressing Reijonen up against the cage.
Reijonen misses with the head strike.

Shaman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shaman lands the left hand.
Shaman connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Reijonen bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Shaman sizes up Reijonen with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Reijonen lands a lovely overhand right.

It looks like Blind Shaman has been cut.
Shaman moves out of range of the body kick.
Reijonen moves out of range as Shaman throws a body kick.
Shaman thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Reijonen if he has to take too many more of those.
Shaman scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reijonen just misses with a punch to the body.
Shaman throws a solid leg kick but Reijonen takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Shaman.
Reijonen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shaman bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Reijonen's head.
Shaman takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Reijonen clinches.
Shaman tries to land knees in the clinch but Reijonen avoids the damage to the body.
Reijonen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Shaman tries to land knees in the clinch but Reijonen avoids the damage to the body.
Shaman taking a breather.
Reijonen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Shaman wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A short right from Shaman.
Shaman is looking to break free of the clinch but Reijonen has double underhooks.
Reijonen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Reijonen swings wildly with an uppercut but Shaman uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Shaman.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shaman lands a left hand.
Shaman's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Shaman pushes Reijonen back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Shaman scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Reijonen has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Shaman seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Reijonen can turn it around.

Shaman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Reijonen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shaman was well out of range. Poor timing from Reijonen.
Shaman throws a body punch but Reijonen moves out of range.
Reijonen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Shaman is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Reijonen.
Reijonen looks for the body kick but Shaman saw that one coming.
Reijonen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shaman manages to avoid it.
Shaman moves into range and connects with a jab.
Reijonen takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
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 Blind Shaman will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Blind Shaman's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shaman takes a swing at Reijonen's ribcage but misses.
Shaman misses with a body kick.
Reijonen tries to land a leg kick but Shaman saw it coming and moves away.
Shaman jabs Reijonen right on the nose. Reijonen blinks but takes it well.
Shaman stuns Reijonen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Shaman uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Shaman, right into the meat.
Reijonen explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Shaman misses with a left hand
and Reijonen counters with a slapping leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shaman looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Reijonen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Shaman.
Shaman closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Reijonen tries a low kick but Shaman avoids it.
Shaman throws the left hand but Reijonen avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaman scores with a nice strike.
Good leg kick by Reijonen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Shaman connects with a right hand. Reijonen shakes it off.
Shaman looks to score with a jab to the body but Reijonen is just out of range.
Reijonen is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Shaman rather than just go for the knockout.
Shaman fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Reijonen.
Shaman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Reijonen circles away quickly and effectively.
Shaman misses with a body kick.
Reijonen takes a swing at Shaman's ribcage but misses.
Shaman displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Shaman with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Reijonen to score with a decent uppercut.
Shaman scores with a sloppy right hand. Reijonen should have avoided that one.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Reijonen missing with a left hand there. Shaman was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Blind Shaman is winning the standup battle so far.
Reijonen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reijonen cracks Shaman with a good jab.
Shaman is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Reijonen.
Shaman slips a jab and a cross from Reijonen.
Shaman misses the shot to the body.
Reijonen is looking to clinch.
Reijonen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A counter left hand to the body from Shaman misses its target.
Shaman throws a body punch but Reijonen moves out of range.
Reijonen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shaman.
Reijonen takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Shaman moves into range and connects with a jab.
Shaman takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Reijonen misses with a lunging right hand
and Reijonen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Reijonen digs a good body shot into Shaman's ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shaman shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Shaman takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Shaman thows a huge punch but Reijonen dodges it nicely.
Shaman is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Reijonen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shaman is one step ahead there.
Reijonen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shaman.
Shaman throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaman wants to control from the top but Reijonen keeps moving.
Reijonen pulls Shaman in close to prevent any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shaman blocks a head kick by Reijonen.
Reijonen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Reijonen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Reijonen was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Shaman slips a jab from Reijonen.
Shaman scores with a jab to the body.
Shaman moves out of range as Reijonen throws a body kick.
Reijonen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Reijonen avoids the body shot from Shaman.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blind Shaman dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Blind Shaman's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Reijonen will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A telegraphed right hand from Shaman misses the target.
Reijonen cracks the inside of Shaman's front leg.
Shaman throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Reijonen on the side of the head.
Shaman lands a nice shot to the body.
Shaman throws an overhand right that lands on Reijonen's shoulder, as Reijonen tries to avoid the shot.
Shaman looks to score with a jab to the body but Reijonen is just out of range.
Shaman misses with a hook. Reijonen ducked under it nicely.
Reijonen connects with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shaman lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Reijonen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Reijonen stuns Shaman with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Reijonen lands the left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Reijonen.
Shaman misses the shot to the body.
Reijonen delivers a nice body kick.
Reijonen misses with a kick to the body.
Shaman seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Shaman drops his hands momentarily and Reijonen takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Reijonen moves out of range as Shaman strikes.
A big left from Shaman misses.
Shaman lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Shaman.
Reijonen scores with a jab to the body.
Reijonen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shaman manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Shaman throwing a counter right hand but Reijonen manages to avoid it.
Reijonen is looking to land body kicks.
Reijonen tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Shaman is able to avoid easily.
Shaman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Reijonen moves away.
Skreba Reijonen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shaman is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaman throws a low kick but it's checked well by Reijonen.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shaman. Reijonen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shaman buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Reijonen fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Shaman looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Reijonen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Shaman throws out the jab.
Reijonen tries to clinch but Shaman moves out of range.
Reijonen swings away with a body shot that misses
and Shaman counters with a series of strikes. Reijonen will be more careful next time no doubt.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Shaman.
Reijonen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A big right from Shaman misses.
Reijonen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shaman throws a hook but Reijonen avoids it easily.
A nice side step and Reijonen releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Reijonen misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shaman throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Reijonen tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Shaman is in Reijonen's guard.
Shaman won't allow Reijonen to sweep him here.
Shaman is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Shaman trying to control but Reijonen is working from the bottom.
Shaman postures up in Reijonen's guard and throws a big left but Reijonen blocks it.
Shaman won't allow Reijonen to sweep him here.
Shaman stays in close to Reijonen's body and controls the position.
Reijonen is pulling down on Shaman's head. It's preventing any offense from Shaman, at least for the moment.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaman wants to pass the guard but Reijonen is keeping the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Reijonen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Shaman feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Reijonen's calf.
Shaman avoids the head kick by Reijonen.
Reijonen is looking to clinch but Shaman is avoiding it.
Shaman is looking to counter punch.
Reijonen slips a straight right by Shaman.
Shaman misses with a body shot.
Reijonen misses with a low kick.
Reijonen misses with a straight right.
Reijonen swings for the body but Shaman moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Blind Shaman.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shaman, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blind Shaman!
A relieved looking Blind Shaman thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.