PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between LaVern Shirley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and KoKo Beware (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). KoKo Beware has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with LaVern Shirley's chin.

Shirley
vs
Beware

170 cm
20
160 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
163 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Bad Newz Kennelz Supplementz

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, LaVern Shirley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, KoKo Beware!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shirley tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shirley tries to close the distance and clinch up but Beware swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shirley shoots for a double leg takedown but Beware sprawls well. He's pushed Shirley's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shirley moves in looking to clinch but Beware pushes him off.
Good shot there by Shirley.
Beware avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shirley lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like KoKo Beware has been cut.
Beware has a takedown stuffed.
Shirley throws a body punch but Beware moves out of range.
Shirley is looking to clinch.
Shirley shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Beware tries for a takedown but Shirley circles away easily

and Shirley counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Shirley thows a big elbow that misses.
Beware manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shirley is squirming around, avoiding Beware's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shirley is wriggling around trying to escape.
Beware scoring with strikes but Shirley is staying in there.
Shirley gets back to half guard.

Beware is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Shirley is just riding it out for now. Beware eventually gives up the hold.
Shirley blocking the ground and pound attempt from Beware.
Shirley trying to control here.
Shirley regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Beware.
Beware working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shirley thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Shirley striking off his back but it's not causing Beware any problems.

Shirley looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Beware throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shirley works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Shirley looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Shirley scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Beware avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Shirley.
Shirley blocks the strikes from Beware.
Shirley has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Shirley missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Beware actively working from the bottom here.
Beware looks gassed!
Shirley is pressing down on Beware's thigh, looking to free his foot. Beware is holding on for now.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Beware keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beware tries to get to full guard but Shirley has control of the leg.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shirley is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shirley tries to clinch but Beware is having none of it.
Shirley fails in his attempt to clinch.
LaVern Shirley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shirley tries to clinch but Beware is having none of it.
Beware closes the distance and clinches up with Shirley, looking for a takedown. Beware pushes Shirley against the ropes but Shirley circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
LaVern Shirley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of KoKo Beware.
Shirley tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Beware paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Beware circles away from the clinch attempt.
Shirley fails in his attempt to clinch.
Beware misses with an uppercut. Shirley saw that one coming.
Beware swats away the attempt to clinch by Shirley.
Nice shot lands for Shirley.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Beware.
Shirley with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Beware fails with the takedown

and Shirley counters with a single leg into guard. Beware didn't expect that.
Shirley postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Shirley chips away with some ground and pound.
Shirley working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Shirley trying to control but Beware is working from the bottom.
Shirley cracks Beware with a solid left hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shirley postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Shirley landing with the ground and pound.
Shirley wants to control from the top but Beware keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

LaVern Shirley dominated that round.
The cut man is working on KoKo Beware's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Beware gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Beware throws a right and a left that both miss.

Shirley shoots in and bounces Beware off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Shirley trying to control but Beware is working from the bottom.
Shirley stands and throws Beware's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Shirley lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Shirley trying to control the action but Beware is working from the bottom.
Shirley lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Beware down.
Beware is breathing heavily.
Beware is working to avoid the ground and pound but Shirley connects with a decent elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shirley wants to lay and pray for a moment but Beware keeps working.
Beware is trying to get back to his feet.
Beware is looking to reverse the position.
Shirley working away.
Beware prevents Shirley from improving position.
Shirley lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Beware down.
Shirley is putting a hurting on Beware here, landing some big shots from side control.
Beware is trying to improve his position.
Shirley scores with a couple of short elbows.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Beware on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Shirley lands a nice forearm strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beware takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Shirley cracks Beware with a big right hand but Beware just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Shirley working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Shirley wants to lay and pray for a moment but Beware keeps working.
Shirley connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Beware some visible discomfort.
Beware is working to avoid the ground and pound but Shirley connects with a decent elbow.
Shirley lands a few punches from side control.
Beware sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Shirley takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Beware misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Beware has hold of Shirley's hands but Shirley slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Beware wants to control but Shirley is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Shirley wants to take a breather but Beware is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shirley is nestled in close to Beware, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Shirley connects with a nice short shot to Beware's temple.
Shirley is trying to control the action in half guard but Beware is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Shirley looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Shirley blocks the strikes from Beware.
Shirley moves nicely into side control.
Shirley wants to lay and pray for a moment but Beware keeps working.

Shirley stands up.
Shirley connects with a right hand. Beware shakes it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shirley clinches.
Beware blocks an uppercut.
Shirley misses with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Shirley fails to land.

Shirley breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Shirley drives through with a takedown into guard.
Shirley slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Shirley passes Beware's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Beware looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shirley sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Beware flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

LaVern Shirley dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on KoKo Beware's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Shirley tries to clinch up.
Shirley tries to clinch up but Beware circles away and keeps his distance.
Shirley tries to clinch but Beware moves out of range.
Shirley is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Beware keeps the fight on the outside.
Shirley lands a nice leg kick that just misses Beware's sensitive parts.
Beware shoots and misses

and Shirley counters with a nice double leg into side control. Beware won't be happy with that.
Beware is not content to let Shirley control the position.

Shirley decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Beware wants to clinch.
Beware takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shirley scores with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by Shirley.

Shirley forces Beware back against the ropes and clinches.
Beware is pressed up against the ropes. Shirley has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Beware down to the mat. Beware avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Shirley cracks Beware with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Shirley fails in his attempt to clinch.
Beware circles away from the clinch attempt
and Beware counters with a three punch combo that has Shirley backing up. Shirley nods at Beware to acknowledge the strikes.
Shirley wants to clinch up but Beware keeps it at a distance.
Beware doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Shirley cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Both fighters circling a little - Shirley finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shirley moves into the clinch.
Shirley lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Shirley is trying to drag Beware to the mat but Beware just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.

Shirley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Shirley has Beware up against the ropes in a clinch.
Shirley has a couple of punches blocked by Beware.
Shirley pushes Beware back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Beware blocks a body shot from Shirley.

Shirley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shirley tries to clinch up

so Beware counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shirley keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Shirley is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Beware can do to turn this around?
Beware throwing strikes but missing.
Shirley tries to strike from the bottom.
LaVern Shirley overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Beware preventing the sweep.
KoKo Beware has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Beware trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Shirley throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Shirley is striking but Beware is not phased and passes to half guard.
Beware throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Shirley dodges the punch combination from Beware.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Shirley tries to clinch up
and Beware counters with a left and a right that stings Shirley.
Shirley moves in looking to clinch but Beware pushes him off.
Beware avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shirley lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Beware keeps the fight on the outside.
Shirley tries to clinch up.
Shirley is looking to clinch but Beware is avoiding it.

Shirley rushes Beware and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shirley lands an uppercut.
Shirley blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
LaVern Shirley is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shirley leaning against his opponent.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Beware.

And that's the end of the fight!
LaVern Shirley showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Shirley has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:26
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:26
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... LaVern Shirley!