PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yuya Shimizu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michal Kucharski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Shimizu might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Alright, let's do this.. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Shimizu
vs
Kucharski

168 cm
30
145 lbs
27 - 14 - 2

177 cm
32
144 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Fast

MayheM sportswear
V-Mask Clothing (10%)

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 27 - 14 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yuya Shimizu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michal Kucharski!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Steve Smith and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Shimizu.

Shimizu closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kucharski fails to pull guard.
Kucharski tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Shimizu smiles and moves away.
Shimizu goes for a double leg but Kucharski avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kucharski continues to drive forward.
Shimizu dives in and grabs Kucharski's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kucharski pushes down on Shimizu's head and hops out.
It seemed like Kucharski was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuya Shimizu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shimizu tries to bum rush Kucharski with a series of wild strikes but Kucharski uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kucharski stuffs the takedown attempt from Shimizu. Shimizu gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kucharski avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Shimizu fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kucharski, pushing him back against the cage.

Shimizu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shimizu shoots for a double leg takedown but Kucharski sprawls well. He's pushed Shimizu's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shimizu throws a head kick but Kucharski moves out of range.
Kucharski throws out a counter right but Shimizu avoids it with no problem.
Shimizu with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Kucharski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shimizu tries to clinch but Kucharski moves out of range.
Shimizu catches Kucharski with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shimizu has managed to clinch.
Kucharski is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Shimizu to keep the fight standing.

Shimizu manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Shimizu keeping moving, preventing Kucharski from controlling successfully.
Kucharski stops Shimizu from standing up.
Kucharski wants to control from the top but Shimizu keeps moving.
Kucharski throws a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kucharski accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kucharski trying to control the position from guard on top but Shimizu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kucharski tries to free his leg and advance position but Shimizu is retaining full guard.
Shimizu bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kucharski's guard.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shimizu sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kucharski keeping moving, preventing Shimizu from controlling successfully.
Kucharski controls Shimizu momentarily but Shimizu frees himself.
Kucharski tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Shimizu wants to pass the guard but Kucharski is keeping the position.
Kucharski managing to control the position.
Shimizu is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Shimizu stands up and waves to Kucharski to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
A swing and a miss from Shimizu.
Kucharski looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Nice sprawl there from Kucharski as Shimizu shoots in.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kucharski! But no joy.

Shimizu rushes Kucharski and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kucharski is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Shimizu to keep the fight standing.
Kucharski tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kucharski jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Shimizu walks away with a smile on his face. Kucharski gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Shimizu misses with a takedown attempt
and Kucharski connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Shimizu pushes Kucharski up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kucharski jumps guard but Shimizu turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Kucharski prevents a takedown attempt there.
Kucharski jumps guard but Shimizu turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Some wild striking there from Shimizu.
Kucharski looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Shimizu rushes Kucharski and presses him up against the cage.
Kucharski jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Shimizu walks away with a smile on his face. Kucharski gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Shimizu clinches up with Kucharski and pushes him back against the cage.

Kucharski jumps guard and drags Shimizu to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kucharski throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Kucharski has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Shimizu can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Shimizu working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shimizu content to stall in guard here.
Kucharski is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kucharski is trying to keep Shimizu in close.
Shimizu wants to pass the guard but Kucharski is keeping the position.
Kucharski has Shimizu pulled in close to control his posture.
Shimizu trying to control but Kucharski is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kucharski looking for a sweep. Not yet Kucharski, not yet.

Kucharski is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Shimizu defends well.
Shimizu looking to pass the guard.
Shimizu controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Shimizu stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Shimizu misses with the body kick
and Kucharski counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Shimizu tries to clinch but Kucharski is having none of it.
Kucharski throws out a counter right but Shimizu avoids it with no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Shimizu lands a takedown into guard.
Kucharski pulls Shimizu in close to his closed guard and prevents Shimizu from doing any damage or advancing position.
Shimizu controlling from the top position.
Shimizu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kucharski works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kucharski keeping moving, preventing Shimizu from controlling successfully.
Kucharski lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kucharski postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Shimizu is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Kucharski tries to pull guard but Shimizu holds him up against the cage and eventually Kucharski drops back down to his feet.
A nice left hand lands by Shimizu.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Shimizu manages to pull guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Shimizu holds on and takes a little breather.

Shimizu is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Shimizu controls Kucharski momentarily but Kucharski frees himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kucharski scoring with punches to the head and body.
Yuya Shimizu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Shimizu is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuya Shimizu dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Shimizu tries to clinch up.
Shimizu moves in looking to clinch but Kucharski pushes him off.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kucharski! But no joy.
Shimizu shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A little jabbing left from Kucharski on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Yuya Shimizu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shimizu throws a nice looking combination but Kucharski bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kucharski throws out a counter right but Shimizu avoids it with no problem.
Shimizu throws a head kick but Kucharski moves out of range.
Shimizu tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kucharski counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shimizu tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kucharski defends well and Shimizu ends up having to push Kucharski into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Shimizu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kucharski avoids it really well and circles away.
Kucharski looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuya Shimizu. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shimizu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kucharski keeps the fight on the outside.
A punch combination from Shimizu misses.
Kucharski stuffs the takedown attempt from Shimizu. Shimizu gets slowly back to his feet.
Kucharski looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Michal Kucharski is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shimizu is looking to clinch but Kucharski is avoiding it.
Kucharski swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Shimizu rushes Kucharski and presses him up against the cage.
Kucharski tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shimizu just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kucharski jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Shimizu walks away with a smile on his face. Kucharski gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Shimizu looks for the body kick but Kucharski saw that one coming.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kucharski! But no joy.
Kucharski circles away from the clinch attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kucharski! But no joy.
No luck for Shimizu with that takedown attempt.
Shimizu wants to clinch up but Kucharski keeps it at a distance.
Kucharski throws out a counter right but Shimizu avoids it with no problem.
Shimizu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kucharski was well out of range. Poor timing from Shimizu.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kucharski! But no joy.
A clash of legs there as Kucharski blocks the low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shimizu tries for a takedown but Kucharski circles away easily
and Kucharski counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Shimizu looks for a takedown but Kucharski sprawls well.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kucharski! But no joy.
Yuya Shimizu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shimizu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kucharski! But no joy.
Shimizu closes the distance and clinches up with Kucharski, looking for a takedown. Shimizu pushes Kucharski against the cage but Kucharski circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
It seemed like Kucharski was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Shimizu tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kucharski sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Shimizu somewhat.
Kucharski looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Michal Kucharski seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shimizu moves into the clinch.
Kucharski is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Shimizu to keep the fight standing.

Kucharski jumps into guard, dragging Shimizu to the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shimizu postures up.

Kucharski looking for a guillotine here but Shimizu defends easily.

Kucharski had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Shimizu defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michal Kucharski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Shimizu 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuya Shimizu!
Yuya Shimizu decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.