PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Danny Shelby (ranked 6306 p4p, 534 weight class) and Hiroshi Kawanabe (ranked 6253 p4p, 532 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Shelby
vs
Kawanabe

171 cm
25
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

Taps On The Island

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Danny Shelby!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hiroshi Kawanabe!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Sandra Marshall and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shelby connects with a body shot that sends Kawanabe's belly button to the back.

Kawanabe clinches with his opponent.
Shelby throws a punch but it's blocked by Kawanabe.
A right hand to the body from Kawanabe.
Kawanabe swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kawanabe lands a hook that snaps the head of Shelby backwards.
Kawanabe throws a head punch that misses.
Kawanabe tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Shelby's elbow.
Kawanabe swings wildly with an uppercut but Shelby uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kawanabe doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kawanabe.
Kawanabe is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Shelby blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kawanabe has a couple of punches blocked by Shelby.
Kawanabe throws a punch but it's blocked by Shelby.
Shelby lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Shelby takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A left hand lands to the body for Kawanabe.
A right handed body shot lands from Shelby.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawanabe tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Shelby's elbow.
Shelby lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shelby lands with a left to the head.

Shelby's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hiroshi Kawanabe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kawanabe doesn't manage to clinch there - Shelby circles away.
Shelby connects with the punch.
Kawanabe needs to keep his hands up - Shelby had a free shot at his head there.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kawanabe content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Shelby lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Shelby lands a shoulder strike.
Shelby lands with a right to the head.
Kawanabe lands an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head punch on the inside from Kawanabe fails to land.
Kawanabe working aggressively here.
Shelby stalling the fight.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shelby.
Shelby pushes Kawanabe back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Shelby breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Shelby circles away from the clinch attempt
and Shelby counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawanabe doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Shelby lands a nice looking body shot.
Kawanabe uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Shelby.
Decent striking displayed by Shelby there.
Shelby throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kawanabe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Kawanabe moves into range and clinches up with Shelby.
Shelby taking a breather.
Kawanabe working aggressively here.
Kawanabe throws a head punch that misses.
Kawanabe is trying to stall.
Kawanabe doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kawanabe tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kawanabe will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Shelby up against the cage.
Kawanabe swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shelby's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kawanabe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
It looked like Shelby was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kawanabe.
Shelby throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kawanabe stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Shelby is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kawanabe.
Shelby misses with a looping right.
Kawanabe fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kawanabe tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shelby swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kawanabe tries to clinch there but Shelby circles away.
Kawanabe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kawanabe uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Shelby.

Kawanabe clinches up with Shelby and pushes him back against the cage.

Shelby escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kawanabe moves in looking to clinch but Shelby pushes him off.
Kawanabe fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kawanabe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A quick step to the side and Shelby tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shelby loads up on a big right hand but Kawanabe slips the punch.
Kawanabe tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shelby manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawanabe tries to clinch up but Shelby circles away and keeps his distance.
Shelby sizes up Kawanabe with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Shelby gets tackled into the cage by Kawanabe. Kawanabe maintains the clinch.
Kawanabe tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kawanabe lands with a light punch inside.
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!
Shelby makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Shelby is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Kawanabe struggles to land a body shot inside as Shelby controls his hands.
Kawanabe misses with a punch to the body.

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

Kawanabe rushes Shelby and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Shelby scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kawanabe takes a shot to the head.
A short uppercut from Shelby.
A shot in the inside from Shelby.

Shelby breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kawanabe tries to clinch but Shelby moves out of range.
Kawanabe tries to clinch there but Shelby circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Shelby dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Shelby just misses with a punch to the body.
Kawanabe tries to close the distance and clinch but Shelby swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Kawanabe tries to clinch but Shelby moves out of range.
Kawanabe tries to clinch up but Shelby circles away and keeps his distance.
Kawanabe tries to clinch up
and Shelby counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Danny Shelby is winning the standup battle so far.
Shelby scores with a nice right hand.

Kawanabe rushes Shelby and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kawanabe blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kawanabe swings wildly with an uppercut but Shelby uses good head movement to avoid it.
A right handed body shot lands from Kawanabe.
Shelby looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Shelby.
Kawanabe letting Shelby take a breather here.
Kawanabe scores with a shot to the side of Shelby's head.
Kawanabe lands a right hand.
Kawanabe misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawanabe fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kawanabe can't find room to land a body shot as Shelby controls the action.
A head punch on the inside from Kawanabe fails to land.
Kawanabe scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kawanabe lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Shelby's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kawanabe is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shelby connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Shelby tests Kawanabe's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Shelby misses with a hook.
Shelby slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kawanabe tries to clinch up but Shelby circles away and keeps his distance.

Kawanabe clinches up against the cage.
Kawanabe scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kawanabe lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shelby wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Shelby.
Kawanabe working aggressively here.
Kawanabe lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kawanabe misses with a punch to the body.
Shelby blocking some punches.
Shelby controlling the action here for a moment.
Kawanabe misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kawanabe has a couple of punches blocked by Shelby.
Kawanabe lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kawanabe lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kawanabe goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kawanabe is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Shelby is keeping busy.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kawanabe as Shelby tries to tie him up.
Kawanabe trying to control the position but instead, Shelby has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kawanabe into the cage.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shelby throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kawanabe on the side of the head.
Shelby keeps the fight on the outside.
Kawanabe tries to clinch but Shelby is having none of it.
It looked like Shelby wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kawanabe tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shelby swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shelby misses with a looping right.
Kawanabe tries to clinch up but Shelby circles away and keeps his distance.
Shelby scores with a jab to the head.
Shelby circles away from the clinch attempt.
Shelby lands with a cross.
Shelby is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kawanabe can do to turn this around?
Kawanabe fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kawanabe fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kawanabe is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Kawanabe forces Shelby back against the cage and clinches.
A short body shot lands from Shelby as the two fighters clinch.
Kawanabe misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawanabe has Shelby pressed against the cage, preventing Shelby from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Shelby lands a body punch.
Kawanabe is breathing heavily.
Shelby lands a hook to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Shelby scores with a nice short uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shelby blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Shelby blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kawanabe tries to work over Shelby's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Shelby lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kawanabe backwards.
Kawanabe misses with a body punch.
Kawanabe has a couple of punches blocked by Shelby.

Shelby breaks the clinch.
Shelby with a jab.
Shelby misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kawanabe.
Kawanabe tries to clinch up.
Shelby thuds a left hand into Kawanabe's body.
Shelby with a hook.

Kawanabe has closed the distance and engaged Shelby in a clinch.

Shelby's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Kawanabe clinches with his opponent.
Kawanabe swings away with an uppercut that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Danny Shelby will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Shelby lands a body shot.
Kawanabe uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Shelby.
Kawanabe tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shelby swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shelby lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Kawanabe is looking to clinch but Shelby is avoiding it.
Shelby scores with a jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kawanabe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shelby wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Kawanabe moves out of range as Shelby strikes.
Kawanabe moves in looking to clinch but Shelby pushes him off.
Shelby seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Shelby misses with a straight right.
Kawanabe wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shelby looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Shelby swings for the body but Kawanabe moves out of range.
Kawanabe is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kawanabe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left lands for Shelby.
Kawanabe tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shelby swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kawanabe moves in looking to clinch but Shelby pushes him off.
Shelby keeps the fight on the outside.
Shelby circles away from the clinch attempt
letting Shelby counter with a right hand.
Shelby avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kawanabe tries to close the distance and clinch but Shelby swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kawanabe on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Shelby avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kawanabe fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kawanabe wants to clinch up but Shelby keeps it at a distance.
Kawanabe keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Shelby.
Kawanabe tries to counter with a clinch but Shelby shakes him off and moves away.

Kawanabe has Shelby up against the cage in a clinch.
Kawanabe working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Shelby lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kawanabe or not.
Shelby lands a body punch.
Kawanabe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shelby blocks a body shot from Kawanabe.
Hiroshi Kawanabe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kawanabe stalling in the clinch but Shelby improves position.
Shelby lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kawanabe backwards.
Hiroshi Kawanabe seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Shelby takes a shot to the head.
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!
A short right from Kawanabe on the inside.
Kawanabe misses with a punch on the inside.

Shelby breaks the clinch.
Kawanabe tries to clinch but Shelby moves out of range.
Shelby avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shelby scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kawanabe tries to clinch but Shelby moves away
and Shelby counters with a stiff right hand.
Shelby throws a right hand that Kawanabe ducks under and follows up with a left that Kawanabe also avoids with ease.
Shelby misses with a looping left.
Kawanabe moves in looking to clinch but Shelby pushes him off.
Kawanabe wants to clinch up but Shelby keeps it at a distance.
Shelby wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Shelby throws a looping overhand right but Kawanabe ducks down to avoid it.
Shelby bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawanabe tries to clinch up.
Shelby scores with a three punch combo!

Shelby takes the fight into the clinch.
Kawanabe has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

Shelby's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shelby bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Shelby jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shelby dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Shelby fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Kawanabe rushes Shelby and presses him up against the cage.
Kawanabe tries to work over Shelby's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kawanabe misses with a punch on the inside.
Kawanabe scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Shelby swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kawanabe goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kawanabe doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawanabe tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Shelby's elbow.
Shelby throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kawanabes head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Shelby.
Kawanabe tries to throw a body punch but Shelby avoids it by throwing Kawanabe back against the cage.
Shelby working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kawanabe misses with a hook from the clinch.

Shelby breaks the clinch.
Shelby with a hook.
Kawanabe tries to clinch up but Shelby circles away and keeps his distance.

Kawanabe instigates a clinch.
Shelby lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kawanabe backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Shelby creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Shelby tries to circle away but Kawanabe has him pinned against the cage.
Shelby trying to stall but Kawanabe improves his position.
Kawanabe tries to throw a body punch but Shelby avoids it by throwing Kawanabe back against the cage.
Shelby stalling in the clinch but Kawanabe improves position.
Danny Shelby is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kawanabe tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Shelby's elbow.
Shelby wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kawanabe has him pressed against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Danny Shelby showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shelby, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danny Shelby!