PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stan Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shanji Bikram (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stan Smith had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Smith
vs
Bikram

188 cm
30
220 lbs
18 - 7 - 1

192 cm
31
212 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Museum of Monsters & Madmen

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 18 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Stan Smith !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shanji Bikram!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Hirohito Nitta and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Smith is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Bikram ducks under a wild hook from Smith .
Bikram looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Smith listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Smith throws a poor cross that misses
and Bikram counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Bikram is just out of range.
Bikram jabs Smith right on the nose. Smith blinks but takes it well.
Bikram walks into a straight right hand from Smith .
Smith misses with a double jab
and Bikram counters with a leg kick.
Bikram uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Smith .
Smith swinging wildly here.
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!
Smith lands with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bikram connects with a body shot.
Smith avoids the head kick by Bikram.
Bikram has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Smith throws a shot from downtown. Bikram moves away and avoids it.
It seemed like Bikram was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A punch combination from Bikram misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Smith misses the target.
Bikram lands a jab.
Bikram throws a head kick that misses.
Bikram throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Smith has been working on his boxing with his coaches at LOD: Xtreme MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Bikram lands a nice shot to the body.
Bikram throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Bikram with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bikram circles away.
Smith takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Bikram lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Smith fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Smith throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bikram.
Bikram flicks out a counter leg kick but Smith steps away.
Smith uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bikram.
Bikram looks to throw the jab but Smith is out of range.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Bikram is just out of range.
Bikram looks for the body kick but Smith saw that one coming.
Bikram looks to throw the jab but Smith is out of range.
Bikram throws an off balance right hand
and Smith counters with a stiff right hand.
Bikram throws a jab but it's blocked by Smith .
An attempted straight right counter from Smith misses the target.
Bikram looks to land a body kick but Smith moved away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a really nice looking cross but Bikram seems unphased.
Bikram scores with a sloppy right hand. Smith should have avoided that one.
Bikram waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Smith .
Smith throws out a loose jab but Bikram uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bikram feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Smith s jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Smith drops his hands momentarily and Bikram takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Smith throws out a loose jab but Bikram uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bikram keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Smith paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Bikram scores with a hook to the body. Smith takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bikram lands a jab to the nose.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bikram misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith dives in and grabs Bikram's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bikram pushes down on Smith 's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stan Smith . That's going to take a lot out of him.
A solid leg kick lands there for Bikram.
A slapping body kick lands there for Bikram.
Smith is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
A solid body kick from Bikram.
Smith blocks the body kick.
Smith was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Bikram is just out of range.
Bikram lands a nice looking body kick.
Shanji Bikram is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith misses with an uppercut.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith .
Bikram is looking for the big counter here.
No joy there for Smith , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
As Smith backs off Bikram throws a huge counter combo but Smith manages to avoid it all.
Smith avoids the body shot from Bikram.
Smith swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Smith waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bikram.
Bikram misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shanji Bikram will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bikram misses the shot to the body.
Smith throws a nice looking combination but Bikram bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Smith misses with a right hand
and Bikram counters with a nice body kick.
Bikram comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Smith moves out of range of the strikes.
It looked like Smith wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Bikram swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bikram defending well as Smith loads up on a big left hand.
A big left from Bikram misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bikram swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
Bikram throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A little feinted left hand from Smith on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Smith throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bikram.

Smith decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bikram is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith trying to mount his opponent but Bikram defends it.
Smith drops an elbow to the side of Bikram's head.
Bikram is controlling Smith 's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Bikram pushes Smith off and gets back to his feet.
Bikram keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Smith .
Bikram misses the shot to the body.
Smith has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Smith there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith scores with a takedown into Bikram's guard.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Bikram is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bikram is adopting a defensive guard.
Bikram is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bikram is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Smith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bikram is wriggling around but Smith manages to pass to half guard.

Bikram kicks off Smith and gets to his feet.
Bikram misses with a low kick.
Bikram moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Smith swings widly with a right hand
and Bikram counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Smith misses with a wild body shot.
Smith swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bikram tries a quick counter leg kick but Smith is wise to it.
Bikram catches Smith with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Smith throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Smith takes a kick to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bikram changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bikram works over Smith 's head and body with a nice combination.
Bikram throws a head kick that Smith semi-blocks.
Smith misses the jab.
Bikram feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Smith s jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Bikram scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Smith doesn't seem bothered though.
Stan Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Smith closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Smith working away.
Bikram is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Smith off and has taken his back!
Bikram controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Bikram controlling the position well here. Smith rolled but Bikram kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shanji Bikram showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Bikram tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Smith is able to avoid easily.
Left hook, right uppercut from Smith .
Bikram blocks a jab.
Smith works Bikram's body with a nice hook.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown but Bikram manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Smith 's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bikram throws a nice outside leg kick.
Donk. Smith catches Bikram right on the button with a cross.
A slow jab from Smith misses its intended target.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bikram sprawls well. Bikram wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith misses with an uppercut.
Smith is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Bikram takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith fails with the takedown
and Smith takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stan Smith . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bikram slips under a jab from Smith .
Bikram pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bikram manages to avoid it.
Smith defending well as Bikram loads up on a big left hand.
Smith misses with a few strikes there.
Bikram has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Smith lands a jab.
Bikram chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Smith takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Bikram jabs at Smith 's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bikram with a hook.
Shanji Bikram seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bikram moves away from the strike by Smith .
Smith missing with a left hand there. Bikram was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bikram uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Smith .
No joy there for Smith , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bikram fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bikram with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Stan Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith thuds his right hand into Bikram's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Bikram jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

Smith shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bikram's guard.

Bikram manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Bikram fails to land.
Bikram lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Smith .

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Smith lands with a short shot to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Smith .
Bikram misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bikram throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Bikram lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Bikram tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Smith avoids it.
Smith lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Smith controlling the action here for a moment.
Bikram misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bikram prevents a body shot from Smith .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bikram is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Bikram throws a punch but it's blocked by Smith .
Bikram blocking some punches.
Smith is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Bikram lands a left hand.
Smith leaning against his opponent.
Smith tries to throw a body punch but Bikram avoids it by throwing Smith back against the cage.
A hook to the body from Bikram.
Smith slows down the pace here.
Bikram misses with an elbow strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Bikram just misses with a elbow thrown towards Smith 's brow.
Bikram swings wildly with an uppercut but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bikram blocking some punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Shanji Bikram.
Well Bikram has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shanji Bikram!
Our winner, Shanji Bikram, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.