PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shojo Shoujou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Staples (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shoujou
vs
Staples

165 cm
20
131 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Determined

Sun-Tzu

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shojo Shoujou!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leo Staples!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shoujou scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Staples tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Shoujou manages to move to mount!
Shoujou thowing shots but they're missing.
Shoujou controlling the pace for now.

Shoujou is working for a guillotine from mount but Staples frees his head quite easily.
Shoujou takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shoujou is working for a guillotine from mount but Staples frees his head quite easily.
Shoujou controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shoujou looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Shoujou jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Staples manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Staples tries to escape but Shoujou is in control.
Shoujou throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Staples wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Staples throws Shoujou to one side and escapes!
Shoujou looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Staples avoids a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shoujou is looking to slow Staples down with leg kicks.
Staples misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Staples misses with a hook. Shoujou ducked under it nicely.
Shoujou changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Staples avoids a punch combination nicely.

Shoujou shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Staples manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Shoujou is standing up over Staples. Staples looks to escape but Shoujou dives into side control.

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!
Staples tries to escape but Shoujou is in control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Staples being controlled for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staples tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Shoujou wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Shoujou passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Staples!
Shoujou trying to control but Staples is having none of it.
Shoujou misses with a head shot.

Shoujou jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Staples manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Staples wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The strikes coming from Shoujou are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shoujou is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Staples knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Shoujou advances nicely into full mount.
Shoujou has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Staples's face.
Staples is squirming around, avoiding Shoujou's attempts to control the action.
Shoujou misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Shoujou throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Staples keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Shoujou wants to finish this one by submission but Staples is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Shoujou.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nice cross by Shoujou.
Staples misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Staples throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Shoujou.
Shoujou misses with a few strikes there.
Shoujou connects with a good right hand that stumbles Staples. Staples circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Shoujou walks forward, straight into a front kick from Staples.
Shoujou scoring well with a low kick there.
Staples defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Shoujou.
Staples stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Staples wants it to stay on the feet.
Shoujou connects with a good right hand that stumbles Staples. Staples circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Staples's coach down at The Iron Palace was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Staples's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Staples looks for the body kick but Shoujou saw that one coming.
Shoujou fails with the takedown.
Staples tries to counter by closing the distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shojo Shoujou. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Staples throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Leo Staples seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Staples throws a head kick but Shoujou moves out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Staples blocks the body kick.
Shoujou misses with the combination.
Staples looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shoujou swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Shoujou misses with a kick to the body.
Shoujou misses with an uppercut. Staples saw that one coming.
Staples slips a jab and a cross from Shoujou.
Shoujou misses with a two punch combination.
And Staples responds with a good body kick, but Shoujou manages to step out the way in time.
A good leg kick by Staples.
Shoujou throws a big shot that misses.
Shoujou throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Staples takes a kick to the side of the head.
Staples looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Shojo Shoujou is winning the standup battle so far.
Staples wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Staples avoids a punch combination nicely.
Staples rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Shoujou moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Shoujou looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shoujou is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Staples is refusing to be controlled, as Shoujou sits in half guard.

Shoujou is looking for a kimura but Staples is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Shoujou to get the leverage.
Shoujou uses his free foot to push down on Staples's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Staples.

Shoujou working for a submission but Staples is keeping him at bay.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Staples trying desperately to get to his feet.
Shoujou is in the full mount, landing strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Shoujou cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Staples is squirming around, avoiding Shoujou's attempts to control the action.
Shoujou sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staples is squirming around, avoiding Shoujou's attempts to control the action.
Shoujou throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Shoujou trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Staples reaches up to try and control the position but Shoujou seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Staples rolls and tries to escape and now Shoujou has his back!

Staples fending off the submission attempt from Shoujou.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shoujou throwing sloppy strikes.
Shojo Shoujou overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Shoujou working for a choke but Staples is defending well.
Shoujou tries to keep control of the position but Staples is staying busy.
Shoujou trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Staples doesn't escape.
Staples is taking damage to the body and head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shojo Shoujou dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Staples displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Shoujou throws out the jab.
Shoujou fails with the takedown.
Staples throws a head kick but Shoujou moves out of range.
Shoujou throws a lazy right hand but Staples sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Shoujou fails to land the takedown.
Staples with the counter takedown but Shoujou avoids it easily.
Shoujou throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Staples misses with a kick to the body.
Shoujou connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Shoujou shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Staples as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shojo Shoujou. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shoujou walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shoujou will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Staples throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shoujou attempts a counter takedown but Staples avoids it well and moves away.
Nice sprawl there from Staples as Shoujou shoots in.
Shoujou tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Staples swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shoujou fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Shoujou fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Staples throws a half hearted mid kick.
Shoujou moves into range and connects with a jab.
Shoujou fails with a takedown attempt.
Shojo Shoujou is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Staples avoids a punch combination nicely.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Staples.
Staples lands a nice looking body kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Staples, right into the meat.
Staples keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Shoujou.
Shoujou shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Staples as he avoids it easily.
Shoujou tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Staples defends well and Shoujou ends up having to push Staples into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Staples throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Shoujou sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Shoujou moves out of range as Staples strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Staples throws the kick towards the body but Shoujou avoids it.
Shoujou shoots in for a takedown but Staples shows good takedown defense.
Staples pivots, looking for a leg kick but Shoujou is out of range and Staples settles back down.
Staples throws a hook but Shoujou avoids it easily.
Staples misses with a head kick.
Staples is looking to land body kicks.
Shoujou fails with a takedown attempt.
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!
Staples lands with a good body shot.
Staples looks to throw a body kick

and Shoujou counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Shoujou.
Shoujou trying to control the position from guard on top but Staples is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Staples can do anything to dispel that myth.
Shoujou sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Staples's guard.
Shoujou sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Staples defending well though.
Shoujou sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staples is looking to control Shoujou's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Staples avoid being mounted?
Shoujou wants to lay and pray for a moment but Staples keeps working.
Shoujou uses his free foot to push down on Staples's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Staples.
Staples is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Staples is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Shoujou can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Staples is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Staples tries to buck Shoujou off but he can't manage it.
Shoujou controlling from mount.
Leo Staples has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Staples is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Shoujou tries to control but Staples wriggling away.
You get the feeling that Staples really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Staples really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shoujou. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Shoujou can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Staples is looking to escape.
Shoujou looking to ground and pound but Staples is blocking nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Leo Staples.
I think Shoujou 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shojo Shoujou!