PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cheik Imbula (ranked 42 p4p, 5 weight class) and Lao Shin (ranked 67 p4p, 10 weight class). Imbula's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, ~Apache~. Shin has chosen Shaolin Chamber of Death as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Imbula
vs
Shin

185 cm
30
180 lbs
22 - 11 - 1

182 cm
36
176 lbs
38 - 14 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cheik Imbula!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 38 - 14 - 1, fighting out of London, Lao Shin!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Imbula, right into the meat.
Shin throws a lazy uppercut
and Imbula counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A shot to the body from Imbula misses
and Shin counters with a low kick, right behind Imbula 's knee.
Imbula misses with an uppercut. Shin saw that one coming.
Imbula misses with a hook
and Shin counters with a leg kick.
Imbula is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A big right from Shin misses.
Imbula has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Shin thows a leg kick but Imbula checks it
and Imbula counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shin throws a big shot that misses.
Imbula dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shin checks a leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Imbula, right into the meat.
A good leg kick by Shin.
Imbula uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Shin.
Nice uppercut there from Imbula.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Shin - that will leave a mark!
Shin throws a looping overhand right but Imbula ducks down to avoid it.
Imbula throws a front kick aimed at Shin's knee but Shin avoids it well.
Imbula scores with the left hand. Shin knows he should have avoided that one.
A slow jab from Shin misses its intended target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Imbula manages to avoid it.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Imbula.
Imbula tried to score with a low kick but Shin checks it.
Imbula throws a chopping leg kick but Shin manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Shin crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Imbula - the referee stops the clock and Shin gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Imbula. Shin manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
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!
Shin blocks the body kick.
The fighters circling - Shin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Imbula tries to score with a low kick but Shin moves his leg out of the way.
Shin pivots, looking for a leg kick but Imbula is out of range and Shin settles back down.
Shin tries to score with a low kick but Imbula moves his leg out of the way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Shin.
Imbula throws a jab when Shin was well out of range.
Imbula takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Imbula lands a nice looking body shot.
Imbula misses with an uppercut
and Shin counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Imbula thinking.
Shin misses with a left hand
and Imbula counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Shin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Imbula checks a leg kick.
Imbula tried to counter with a leg kick but Shin avoided it.
Imbula tries to work over Shin's front leg with a kick but Shin checks it.
Imbula blocks a low kick nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Imbula, pushing him back against the cage.
Imbula lands a body punch in the clinch.
Imbula throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Shins head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Imbula lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Imbula swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Imbula misses with the head strike.
Imbula lands a body shot in the clinch.
Shin lands a right hand.
A body shot lands from Imbula.
Shin lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Shin prevents a body shot from Imbula.
A short left from Shin.
Imbula working aggressively here.
Shin is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A short right from Imbula on the inside.
Imbula lands with a light punch inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cheik Imbula dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Imbula throws a head kick that half lands.
Shin throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Shin scores with a jab to the body.
Imbula throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Imbula walks into a jab.
Imbula doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A bone on bone clash there as Imbula blocks the leg kick.
As Shin backs away, Imbula returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Imbula gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Shin counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A jab from Shin misses.
Shin connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Imbula's hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imbula lands with a shot to the body.
Imbula looks to land a body kick but Shin moved away.
Lao Shin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Imbula slips a jab from Shin.
It looked like Imbula wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Shin throws a looping overhand right but Imbula ducks down to avoid it.

Imbula moves into the clinch.
Shin lands a damaging elbow.
Shin looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Shin misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shin.
Shin misses with a body punch.
Shin lands with a right to the head.
Imbula lands with a short shot to the head.
Shin swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Shin has a couple of punches blocked by Imbula.
A nice left hand lands by Imbula.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Imbula.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shin blocking some punches.
Shin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Shin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Imbula is working Shin over against the cage.
Imbula misses with a body punch.
Nice body punch from Imbula - that landed with a thud.
Imbula doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Imbula gets through Shin's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Imbula throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A right handed body shot lands from Imbula.
Shin is breathing heavily.
A body shot lands from Imbula.
A nice right hand lands inside from Imbula.
A short left from Imbula.
Imbula pushes Shin back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Imbula.
Imbula misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Imbula.
Imbula lands a shoulder strike.
Imbula tries a body shot but Shin blocks it.
Shin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Imbula throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Imbula lands with a right to the head.
A bit of stalling here from Imbula.
Imbula misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A right hand to the body from Imbula.
Imbula struggles to land a body shot inside as Shin controls his hands.
Imbula tries to work over Shin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A nice left hand lands by Imbula.
Shin misses with a punch on the inside.
Shin struggles to land a body shot inside as Imbula controls his hands.
Nice body punch from Imbula - that landed with a thud.
Shin has a couple of punches blocked by Imbula.
Imbula blocks an uppercut.
Imbula tries a body shot but Shin blocks it.
Imbula misses with a short punch on the inside.
Shin lands an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shin takes a shot to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Imbula misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A body shot lands from Imbula.
A nice left hand lands by Imbula.
Imbula tries a body shot but Shin blocks it.
Imbula makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Imbula is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shin can do to turn this around?
Imbula tries a body shot but Shin blocks it.
Imbula avoids a wild elbow strike from Shin.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Shin just misses with a elbow thrown towards Imbula's brow.
Imbula has Shin pushed against the cage.
Imbula tries a body shot but Shin blocks it.
Imbula cracks Shin with a nice body shot.
Shin blocking some punches.
Imbula is leaning against Shin and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Imbula swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shin lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Imbula backwards.
Shin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Imbula blocks an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cheik Imbula dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Imbula loads up on a big right hand but Shin slips the punch.
Shin follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Shin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Imbula throws out the jab.
A jab from Imbula does it's job there.
Imbula finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Shin takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Imbula avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Shin listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shin lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Imbula misses the jab.
Imbula throws out a loose jab but Shin uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shin throws a body shot but no joy.
Shin scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Imbula uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Shin.
Shin lands a jab to the nose.
Imbula lands with a straight right. Shin didn't see that one coming.
Imbula throws a leg kick but Shin moved away.
Imbula ducks under a wild hook from Shin.
Shin on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Imbula bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shin jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A jab from Shin misses.
Shin looks to throw the jab but Imbula is out of range.
Imbula misses with an uppercut. Shin saw that one coming.
Shin misses the body punch
and Imbula counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Shin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shin throws a lazy right hand but Imbula sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Shin walks forward, straight into a front kick from Imbula.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shin swings widly with a right hand
and Imbula counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Shin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Imbula swats him away and circles back towards the center.
An attempted straight right counter from Imbula misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shin looks to throw the jab but Imbula is out of range.
Imbula keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Shin is rocked!
Imbula fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Shin has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Shin is still on wobbly legs! Can Imbula finish him?
Imbula is looking to slow Shin down with leg kicks.
A shot to the body from Shin misses
and Imbula counters with a good low kick that Shin was not able to check.
Shin seems to have recovered his senses.
Imbula lands with a kick to the ribs.

Imbula has Shin up against the cage in a clinch.
Shin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Shin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nice body punch from Shin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imbula struggles to land a body shot inside as Shin controls his hands.
Imbula content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Imbula misses with a punch to the body.
Imbula softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Imbula lands an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shin tries to work over Imbula's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Imbula breaks from the clinch.
Imbula swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Shin throws a front kick that sends Imbula stumbling back into the cage.
Imbula checks the leg kick.
Shin walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Imbula scoring well with a low kick there.
Imbula misses with a looping right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cheik Imbula clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Shin takes one to the side of the head.
Imbula fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Shin has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Shin works the jab nicely.
Imbula throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Imbula walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Shin checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Shin looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Imbula blocks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Imbula.
Shin now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Shin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Imbula blocks a head kick by Shin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imbula defending well as Shin loads up on a big left hand.
Shin takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Imbula keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Imbula swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Shin clobbers Imbula with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A jab from Imbula does it's job there.
Shin misses with a hook
and Imbula counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Imbula connects with a single shot there.
A left lands for Shin.
Shin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shin lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Imbula tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shin was well out of range. Poor timing from Imbula.
Shin throws a hook but Imbula blocks it.
Shin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Imbula.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Imbula takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A shot to the liver by Imbula. Beautiful body shot.
Some bone on bone action there as Imbula checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Shin throws a lazy right hand but Imbula sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Imbula is looking to counter punch.
Imbula lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imbula swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Shin counters with a nice uppercut.
Shin turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Shin misses with a hook. Imbula ducked under it nicely.
Shin has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Shin there as he acknowledges the shot.
A good leg kick by Shin.
Imbula misses with a hook. Shin ducked under it nicely.
Shin throws out a counter right but Imbula avoids it with no problem.
A low kick from Shin is predictable there

and Imbula counters with a nice double leg into side control. Shin won't be happy with that.
Shin wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

Imbula is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Shin has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shin is trying to control Imbula's posture but Imbula avoids it.

Imbula looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Imbula tries to advance to mount but can't.

Imbula working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Shin holding on.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cheik Imbula had his way with Lao Shin in that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Shin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shin takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Imbula misses with a body shot.
Imbula scores with a hook to the body. Shin takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Shin.
Imbula bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shin throws a body kick that misses.
Shin looks to land a left hand but Imbula moved out of range nicely.
Imbula throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Shin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shin fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Imbula is out of range.
Shin throws a jab but it's blocked by Imbula.
Imbula fires out a quick counter leg kick but Shin just manages to avoid it.
Shin throws a leg kick that is checked
and Imbula counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Imbula, as that shot connected.
Shin throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Imbula counters with a body kick that stops Shin in his tracks momentarily.
Imbula misses with a low kick.
Shin only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Imbula throws a leg kick but Shin checks it.
Imbula misses with a shot to the body
and Imbula takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Imbula throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Shin sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shin lands a nice leg kick that just misses Imbula's sensitive parts.
Imbula throws a leg kick that is checked
and Shin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Shin scores with a nice head shot.
Shin lands a nice looking body shot.
Shin has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
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!
Imbula moves out of range of the strikes.
Imbula misses with a kick to the body
and Shin counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Shin's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Shin looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Imbula moves out of range as Shin throws a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imbula is looking to score with low kicks.
Shin pivots, looking for a leg kick but Imbula is out of range and Shin settles back down.
Shin connects with a crisp jab.
Shin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Imbula jabs Shin right on the nose. Shin blinks but takes it well.
A looping hook to the body misses from Imbula. Shin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shin swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Imbula is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shin scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Imbula displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Shin throws out the jab.
Imbula is looking to counter punch.
Imbula throws a shot to the body.
Shin slips under a jab from Imbula.
Lao Shin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shin with a hook.

Imbula is rocked!
Shin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Imbula.
Oh Imbula is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Shin goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cheik Imbula is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Imbula seems to have got his legs back now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shin looking to land some kicks to the body here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lao Shin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Imbula 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 49:46
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 49:46
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cheik Imbula!
Cheik Imbula retains his welterweight title!
A relieved looking Cheik Imbula thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.