PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aki Hiko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Shannon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Shannon will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hiko
vs
Shannon

225 cm
22
294 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

196 cm
29
282 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Rome Fight Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aki Hiko!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mike Shannon!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hiko throws an overhand right that lands on Shannon's shoulder, as Shannon tries to avoid the shot.
Shannon stuns Hiko with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Shannon has taken the fight to the clinch.
Shannon lands with a right to the head.

It looks like Aki Hiko has been cut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hiko.
Shannon misses with a hook from the clinch.
Shannon tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hiko's elbow.
Hiko prevents a body shot from Shannon.
Shannon misses with the head strike.
Hiko is trying to drag Shannon to the mat but Shannon just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hiko is looking for a takedown.
Shannon working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short left from Shannon.
A right hand to the body from Shannon.
Shannon scores with an uppercut up the middle.
I was talking to Hiko's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Hiko lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Shannon backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shannon cracks Hiko with a nice body shot.
Shannon will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Hiko up against the cage.
A short uppercut from Shannon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hiko tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Shannon lands a left hand.
Shannon lands a body punch in the clinch.
Hiko is breathing heavily.
Shannon softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Shannon.
Shannon lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Shannon lands with a short shot to the head.
Shannon cracks Hiko with a nice body shot.
Hiko prevents a body shot from Shannon.
Shannon lands a nice shot to the body.
Shannon lands a shoulder strike.
Shannon lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hiko backwards.
Shannon lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Hiko is rocked!
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!
Shannon throws a head punch that misses.
Oh Hiko is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Shannon has a couple of punches blocked by Hiko.
Shannon swings wildly with an uppercut but Hiko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shannon misses with some punches.
Shannon swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shannon misses with a short punch on the inside.
Shannon swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shannon has Hiko pressed against the cage.
Shannon misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hiko blocks an uppercut.
Hiko seems to have got his legs back now.
A right handed body shot lands from Shannon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hiko tries for a takedown but Shannon manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aki Hiko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shannon lands a body shot.
Shannon creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Hiko with a big uppercut! Hiko tries to clinch up but Shannon pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Hiko to the mat! Hiko covers up and Shannon unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:16 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Mike Shannon!
Mike Shannon is the new super heavyweight champion!
During a confident post fight interview, Mike Shannon thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.