PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Houston Russell (ranked 25296 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nobunaga Shimazaki (ranked 5786 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Russell
vs
Shimazaki

209 cm
19
151 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

175 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Houston Russell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nobunaga Shimazaki!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russell lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Shimazaki closes the distance and clinches.

Shimazaki turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Shimazaki manages to end up in side control.
Shimazaki staying calm.

Shimazaki is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Russell knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Shimazaki working away.
Russell is looking for a sweep.
Russell is trying to control Shimazaki's posture but Shimazaki avoids it.
The ground and pound from Shimazaki seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Shimazaki tries for a kimura but Russell is defending well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Russell tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Shimazaki wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shimazaki is looking to take a break and control but Russell is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Russell wants to control but Shimazaki postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shimazaki wants to stand but Russell is controlling his arm.
Russell is trying to control Shimazaki's posture but Shimazaki avoids it.
Russell is looking for a sweep.
Russell struggling a bit here.
Shimazaki lands a few punches from side control.
Shimazaki advances to full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shimazaki controlling the position easily from mount.
Shimazaki looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Russell wants to control but Shimazaki is having none of it.
Russell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Shimazaki looking to secure an arm triangle but Russell defends it well.
Shimazaki breaks from Russell's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Shimazaki is landing with some decent strikes but Russell is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Russell is rocked!
Shimazaki landing punches.
Oh Russell is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shimazaki cracks Russell with a big head shot that has him covering up instantly! He's rolled onto his side and the referee has seen enough - this one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nobunaga Shimazaki!