PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tanuki Shinra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Piotr Gawelek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Shinra
vs
Gawelek

185 cm
27
220 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

184 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tanuki Shinra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Piotr Gawelek!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gawelek forces Shinra back against the cage and clinches.

Gawelek manages to break the clinch.
Shinra doesn't manage to clinch there - Gawelek circles away.
Gawelek slips a jab and a cross from Shinra.
Gawelek tries for a takedown but Shinra sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Shinra appears to be looking for a big counter.
A combination from Shinra does no damage.
Gawelek fails with the takedown.
Shinra tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gawelek unleashes a big counter combination but Shinra bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Shinra is looking to clinch.

Gawelek bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Gawelek looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Shinra is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gawelek is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Shinra has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gawelek has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Gawelek throws a head kick but Shinra moves out of range.
Shinra tests Gawelek's chin there with a solid looking shot.

It looks like Piotr Gawelek has been cut.
Gawelek avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Shinra has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gawelek is trying to drag Shinra to the mat but Shinra just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Tanuki Shinra has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Piotr Gawelek.

Gawelek decides to pull guard.
Gawelek manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Shinra manages to get himself to full guard.

Gawelek is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Shinra knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gawelek on the ground.
Gawelek stops Shinra from standing up.
Gawelek pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shinra is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gawelek controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Shinra is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gawelek connects with a couple of short punches.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gawelek gets to his feet - Shinra follows without any prompting.
Shinra tries to clinch up but Gawelek circles away and keeps his distance.
Gawelek keeps the fight on the outside.

Gawelek clinches up with Shinra and pushes him back against the cage.
Shinra tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shinra throws a knee to the head but misses.

Gawelek jumps guard.
Gawelek seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Shinra wants to stand and escape but instead Gawelek has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gawelek won't allow Shinra to get back to his feet.
Gawelek stands and throws Shinra's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Shinra is letting Gawelek control him for a moment.
The strikes coming from Gawelek are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Shinra is trying to buck Gawelek off.
Shinra is looking to get back to his feet here but Gawelek is keeping cool and he's managed to take Shinra's back.
Gawelek biding his time, looking for the opening.
Shinra is trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinra covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Gawelek biding his time, looking for the opening.
Shinra is trying to stand back up.

Shinra defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Gawelek's arms.
Gawelek slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

Gawelek has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Shinra has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Gawelek working for a choke but Shinra is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Piotr Gawelek dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Piotr Gawelek's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Shinra lands with a thumping leg kick.
Shinra fails with an attempt to clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gawelek.
Shinra tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gawelek swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A countering left hand to the body from Gawelek misses.
Shinra tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gawelek paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shinra fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gawelek on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Shinra tests Gawelek's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gawelek walks straight into a right hand from Shinra - that's dropped him! Shinra jumps into mount and starts pounding away - can he finish?! More strikes go undefended and the referee has to dive in to save Gawelek from any more punishment! Gawelek complains about the stoppage but falls over as he tries to stand back up, so it was clearly a good stoppage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Tanuki Shinra!