PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Keiji Mutou (ranked 1042 p4p, 153 weight class) and Adrian Shota (ranked 1039 p4p, 151 weight class). Shota is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Black Panther Theme by Stephen James Taylor . Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mutou
vs
Shota

188 cm
44
206 lbs
36 - 22 - 2

185 cm
41
202 lbs
32 - 17 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)
Aspire Clothing

Sin City Allstars

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 36 - 22 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Keiji Mutou!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 17 - 1, fighting out of London, Adrian Shota!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mutou shoots in and drives through. Shota sprawls well.
Mutou slips under a jab from Shota.
Mutou misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shota.
Mutou changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shota tries to avoid it but Mutou manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shota to the ground. Shota escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Mutou gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Mutou manages to pull guard.
Mutou pulls Shota in close to prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shota is looking to stand up but Mutou won't let him.
Shota preventing the sweep.
Shota must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shota trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mutou's guard.
Mutou seems keen to control Shota's posture.
Shota really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mutou. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mutou wants to sweep here but Shota controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shota stands up from Mutou's guard - Shota perhaps looking for a knockout.

Mutou shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Shota blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mutou.
Shota taking some punishment here, with Mutou in his half guard.
Mutou is trying to control the action in half guard but Shota is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ground and pound from Mutou.
Mutou throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Shota is trying to stand back up but Mutou is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mutou thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shota's head.
Mutou is trying to control the action in half guard but Shota is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Shota blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mutou.
Shota avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mutou.
Mutou missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ground and pound from Mutou.
Shota told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Mutou is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Shota wants to get back to his feet.
Shota is staying active underneath Mutou, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mutou missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mutou wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shota keeps working.
Shota wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Mutou displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Mutou has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Shota.
Mutou bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Mutou shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Mutou looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Mutou prevents Shota from getting back to his feet.
Mutou is working Shota over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Shota is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mutou is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mutou trying to control but Shota is working from the bottom.
Mutou pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shota is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mutou wants to control from the top but Shota keeps moving.
Mutou is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Holding Cell that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Mutou throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shota works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mutou throws a big right hand that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mutou stops Shota from standing up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Mutou connects with a crisp jab.
Shota comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Mutou darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Shota throws out a loose jab but Mutou uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shota lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Shota swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mutou feinted with a counter takedown.
Shota takes a swing at Mutou's ribcage but misses.
Shota tries to move into range but Mutou moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Mutou lands with a good body shot.
Shota takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Nice straight punches there by Shota. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Shota.
Mutou is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shota can do to turn this around?
Mutou shoots in but Shota avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Shota throws a low kick but Mutou moves out of range easily.
Shota looks to score with a jab to the body but Mutou is just out of range.

Shota gets tackled into the cage by Mutou. Mutou maintains the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shota.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shota prevents a body shot from Mutou.
Shota can't find room to land a body shot as Mutou controls the action.
Shota misses with a punch on the inside.
Mutou misses with some punches.
Shota lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Mutou backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good body shot from Shota.
Shota stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Mutou ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Mutou no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Shota stands up from Mutou's guard - Shota perhaps looking for a knockout.

Shota lands a big right hand that sends Mutou crashing to the mat! Shota stays standing though and waves Mutou back to his feet!

Mutou is rocked!
Mutou switches off momentarily and Shota cracks him with a monster right hand! Mutou topples backwards and makes a semi conscious attempt to cover up, as Shota dives in to land one more shot, before the referee has time to call the fight. What a finish by Shota!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Adrian Shota!
Adrian Shota really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that King of Fists logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.