PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yuki Shojo (ranked 2783 p4p, 252 weight class) and Tony Garcia (ranked 2911 p4p, 262 weight class). Garcia has chosen Future–Last Breath as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shojo
vs
Garcia

165 cm
26
155 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

172 cm
30
155 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

RAGS of a RONIN
Dauntless

Red Light Coffeeshop

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yuki Shojo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tony Garcia!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, David Schapiro and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shojo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Garcia is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Shojo ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Shojo misses with a two punch combination.
Shojo tries to land a leg kick but Garcia saw it coming and moves away.

Garcia gets tackled into the cage by Shojo. Shojo maintains the clinch.
Shojo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Garcia tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Shojo tries to work over Garcia's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch on the inside from Shojo fails to land.
Garcia misses with a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Shojo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shojo lands a good knee to the midsection. Garcia won't want to take too many of those.
Garcia with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Garcia tries to land knees in the clinch but Shojo avoids the damage to the body.
Garcia using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shojo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Shojo tries to throw a body punch but Garcia avoids it by throwing Shojo back against the cage.
Shojo tries to work over Garcia's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia avoiding damage as Shojo throws knees to the body.
Shojo has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Garcia avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A hook to the body from Shojo.
Shojo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Garcia backwards.
Garcia blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A right hand to the body from Shojo.
Shojo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Garcia is defending well for now.
Shojo lands a left hand.
Shojo goes for a takedown attempt but Garcia pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Shojo scoring well with a low kick there.
Tony Garcia is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Garcia throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Shojo ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Shojo throws a right and a left that Garcia avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Shojo.
Garcia checks a leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Garcia checks a leg kick.
Shojo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Garcia.
Shojo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Garcia swats him away and circles back towards the center.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shojo throws a right and a left that Garcia avoids nicely.
Garcia looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Shojo walks into a left hand.
Shojo misses with a shot to the body
and Garcia counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Shojo misses with a body shot
and Garcia counters with a three punch combo that has Shojo backing up. Shojo nods at Garcia to acknowledge the strikes.
Shojo misses with a takedown attempt
and Garcia counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuki Shojo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shojo scores with a leg kick.
A head kick misses from Shojo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shojo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Yuki Shojo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Garcia checks the leg kick nicely there.
A head kick misses from Shojo.
Garcia keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shojo misses with a wild body shot.
Shojo misses with a head kick.
Shojo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Garcia paws at him with a jab and circles away.
As Shojo backs off Garcia throws a huge counter combo but Shojo manages to avoid it all.
Shojo tries to clinch but Garcia moves out of range.
Garcia is looking for the big counter here.
Shojo throws a leg kick but Garcia moved away.
Some wild striking there from Garcia.
Shojo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Garcia throws a counter combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shojo takes a swing at Garcia's ribcage but misses.
Despite the aggression on Garcia's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Shojo tries a head kick but it misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shojo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Garcia throws a sloppy head kick and Shojo moves out of range easily.
Shojo cracks a nice hook into Garcia's ribs.
Shojo dives in and grabs Garcia's left leg, looking for a takedown. Garcia pushes down on Shojo's head and hops out.
Garcia uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shojo.
Despite the aggression on Garcia's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Shojo tries to clinch up.
Despite the aggression on Garcia's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Shojo misses with a takedown attempt
and Garcia counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Shojo misses with a wild body shot.
Despite the aggression on Garcia's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Garcia throws out a loose jab but Shojo uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuki Shojo dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Shojo cracks a nice hook into Garcia's ribs.

Shojo moves into the clinch successfully.
Shojo lands a good knee to the midsection. Garcia won't want to take too many of those.
Garcia takes a knee right on the jaw!
Shojo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Shojo pushes Garcia back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Garcia avoiding damage as Shojo throws knees to the body.

Shojo works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shojo stays in close to Garcia's body and controls the position.
We've been hearing that Shojo has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Garcia wants to get back to his feet but Shojo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Shojo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Garcia is looking to stand up but Shojo isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia keeping moving, preventing Shojo from controlling successfully.
Shojo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Garcia is looking to stand up but Shojo isn't so interested in that idea.
Shojo content to stall in guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Garcia misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Garcia throws a head kick that misses
and Shojo counters with a one-two to the body.
No luck for Shojo with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shojo throws a leg kick which misses Garcia's front leg but catches the back leg as Garcia tries to avoid it.

Shojo drives through and clinches with Garcia against the cage.
Shojo missing with knees to the body.
Shojo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Garcia is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Garcia tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Garcia scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Yuki Shojo has been cut.
Shojo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Garcia tries a knee to the head but Shojo blocks it.
Shojo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Garcia blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shojo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Garcia tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Shojo managing to block the knees to the body from Garcia.
Shojo tries a body shot but Garcia blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia throws a knee to the head but misses.
Garcia has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Shojo seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Garcia can turn it around.
Shojo pushes Garcia back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Garcia scores with a knee to the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Shojo putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Garcia in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Garcia is breathing heavily.
The referee is keeping an eye on Garcia - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Garcia looking to throw knees to the head but Shojo is blocking nicely.
Shojo lands a left hand.
Garcia swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Yuki Shojo has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Shojo lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Shojo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Garcia's efforts to push away.
Shojo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuki Shojo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Garcia with a knee to the head.
Shojo can't get the takedown.
Shojo tries to score a body lock takedown but Garcia shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shojo works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Shojo changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Garcia fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Shojo misses with a double jab
enabling Garcia to counter with a crisp jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A punch combination from Garcia misses.
Shojo tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Garcia manages to circle out of the way.
Shojo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Garcia was well out of range. Poor timing from Shojo.
As Shojo backs off Garcia throws a huge counter combo but Shojo manages to avoid it all.
Shojo has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Shojo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Garcia pinned against the cage. Garcia gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Garcia blocks a head kick by Shojo.
Garcia swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Shojo motions for Garcia to come forward. Shojo throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Garcia is looking for the big counter here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuki Shojo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Yuki Shojo's cut.
That's time! Shojo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. 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.

Garcia tries a head kick but it misses.
Shojo comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Garcia fails to land with a series of punches.
Shojo scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Garcia uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shojo.
Garcia throws a big counter head kick but Shojo avoids it with no problem.
Garcia stalks Shojo and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Shojo's face. Shojo staggers backwards, shaken.
Shojo throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Shojo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Garcia lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shojo feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Garcia's calf.
Shojo looks to score with a jab to the body but Garcia is just out of range.
Garcia avoids the body shot from Shojo.
Garcia lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Shojo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Garcia.

Shojo fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Garcia to the ground. Shojo is now in Garcia's guard.
Shojo tries to free his leg and advance position but Garcia is retaining full guard.

Garcia has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Shojo off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Shojo throws a body punch but Garcia moves out of range.
Shojo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
As Shojo backs off Garcia throws a huge counter combo but Shojo manages to avoid it all.
Shojo throws a body punch but Garcia moves out of range.
Garcia throws a big shot that misses.
Yuki Shojo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A big left from Shojo misses.
Shojo swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Garcia takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Garcia connects with a right hand. Shojo shakes it off.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Garcia throws a sloppy head kick and Shojo moves out of range easily.
Shojo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Garcia but Garcia pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shojo throws a low kick but it's checked well by Garcia.
Yuki Shojo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Yuki Shojo is winning the standup battle so far.
Shojo lands with a slapping head kick.
Shojo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Garcia throws a series of punches but Shojo moves out of range.
Shojo misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia leaves Shojo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Garcia unleashes a big counter combination but Shojo bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Garcia scores with a jab.

Shojo closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Garcia did well to prevent Shojo getting side control.
Garcia is trying to stand.

Garcia kicks off Shojo and gets to his feet.
Garcia pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shojo jabs at Garcia's body.
Shojo avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shojo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Garcia circles away.
Garcia unleashes a big counter combination but Shojo bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuki Shojo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shojo lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Garcia defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Shojo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A punch lands to the side of Shojo 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Shojo throws a body shot but no joy.
Garcia swats away the attempt to clinch by Shojo.
Garcia is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Some wild striking there from Garcia.
Shojo throws a body punch but Garcia moves out of range.
Tony Garcia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Shojo clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tony Garcia.
I think Shojo 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuki Shojo!
Yuki Shojo took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Lion Fightwear for their support in the buildup to the fight.