PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kyosuke Shibaraki (ranked 24941 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Wangler (ranked 5914 p4p, 0 weight class). Shibaraki comes to the cage accompanied by SAVAGE 101. Wangler has chosen The Offspring- Blackball as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. This should be a great matchup!

Shibaraki
vs
Wangler

188 cm
21
190 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

186 cm
18
191 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kyosuke Shibaraki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Luke Wangler!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Wangler closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Wangler is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Shibaraki looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Wangler seems to be looking for submissions.
Wangler is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shibaraki wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wangler passes to full mount!
Wangler controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shibaraki can't escape the position.
Wangler sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
It looks like Wangler might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wangler is working for a guillotine from mount but Shibaraki frees his head quite easily.
Wangler controlling the position easily from mount.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wangler working for a submission but Shibaraki is keeping him at bay.
Shibaraki tries to hold on but Wangler postures up.
Wangler controlling his opponent.
Shibaraki wants to control but Wangler is having none of it.
Wangler controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shibaraki tries to hold on but Wangler pushes him away.
Wangler sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Shibaraki tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Wangler controlling the pace for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Wangler jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Shibaraki is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Shibaraki and Wangler has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Wangler controlling from side mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Wangler dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nice shot lands for Shibaraki.
Wangler thows a left - swing and a miss!
Wangler throws a jab when Shibaraki was well out of range.
Shibaraki throws a head kick that half lands.
Wangler has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Shibaraki is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Wangler moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shibaraki tries to clinch but Wangler is having none of it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shibaraki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wangler takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Shibaraki!
Wangler stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Wangler wants it to stay on the feet.
Wangler takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Wangler swats away the attempt to clinch by Shibaraki.
Shibaraki cracks Wangler with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kyosuke Shibaraki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Shibaraki gets caught flat footed, as Wangler shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Wangler is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Luke Wangler has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wangler's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Wangler must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shibaraki shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Wangler sprawls well. Wangler wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Shibaraki gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kyosuke Shibaraki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shibaraki closes this distance looking for a takedown but Wangler circles away.
Shibaraki lands a slapping body shot.
Wangler waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shibaraki.
A big left from Wangler misses.
Kyosuke Shibaraki is winning the standup battle so far.
Shibaraki lands with an overhand left.
Shibaraki connects with a solid leg kick.
Wangler circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wangler is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Shibaraki checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Wangler feints and as Shibaraki raises his hands in defense, Wangler changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Wangler stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shibaraki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wangler slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Wangler is continuing to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyosuke Shibaraki dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Shibaraki throws a series of punches but Wangler avoids them all with ease.
And Wangler tries to counter it with a takedown but Shibaraki pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Wangler moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Some wild striking there from Shibaraki.
Wangler with the counter takedown but Shibaraki avoids it easily.

Wangler gets a double leg takedown into Shibaraki's guard.
Wangler engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Shibaraki pushes Wangler off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Shibaraki goes for a double leg but Wangler avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Wangler continues to drive forward.
Shibaraki misses with a jab, cross combination.
Wangler takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wangler dodges the punch combination from Shibaraki.
Wangler feints the counter takedown.
Shibaraki scores with a kick to the midsection.
No luck for Shibaraki with that takedown attempt.
Wangler changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shibaraki fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Wangler has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Wangler dodges the punch combination from Shibaraki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wangler closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Shibaraki did well to prevent Wangler getting side control.
Still in half guard, Wangler seems content to control.
More stalling from Wangler.
Wangler is thwarting Shibaraki's attempts to control the position.
Wangler keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Wangler is looking to advance position but Shibaraki won't allow it.
Wangler content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
The adventures of Wangler the control monster continue. Boring.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Shibaraki misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Shibaraki throws a series of strikes that have Wangler backpedaling.
Wangler misses with a left hand
enabling Shibaraki to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shibaraki slips under a jab from Wangler.
Shibaraki throws a good cross that connects.
Shibaraki lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Wangler closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Wangler lands in his opponent's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wangler is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Shibaraki is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shibaraki being controlled here, momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kyosuke Shibaraki showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shibaraki 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyosuke Shibaraki!
Kyosuke Shibaraki decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.