PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Takahiro Shirai (ranked 2407 p4p, 102 weight class) and Spinning Fire (ranked 3418 p4p, 124 weight class). Takahiro Shirai could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Spinning Fire's chin.

Shirai
vs
Fire

198 cm
20
280 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

209 cm
18
290 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

HGH Nutrients Q160 Tycoons Best Quality supps

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Takahiro Shirai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Spinning Fire!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Gregory Folan and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Shirai throws an off balance right hand

and Fire counters with a shoot takedown. Shirai fights it but they end up in guard.
Fire is looking to work some ground and pound but Shirai has wrist control.
Fire cracks Shirai with a solid left hand.
Shirai preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Fire engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Fire scoring with some ground and pound.
Shirai might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shirai is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Fire stays in close to Shirai's body and controls the position.
Fire prevents Shirai from getting back to his feet.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fire chips away with some ground and pound.
Fire trying to control the position from guard on top but Shirai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Fire slips a straight right by Shirai.
Fire drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Shirai defends it well.
Shirai seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Shirai misses with a straight right.
Fire changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Shirai lands a big uppercut and Fire crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Fire looks OK. Shirai waves Fire back to his feet!

It looks like Spinning Fire has been cut.
No joy there for Shirai, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Fire is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Shirai throws a poor cross that misses

and Fire counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Shirai!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fire is working Shirai over with some ground and pound from side control.
Fire prevents Shirai from escaping the position.
Fire throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Fire trying to control the position but Shirai is working away.
Fire is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Fire working the ground and pound but Shirai is defending the strikes.
Shirai is working to avoid the ground and pound but Fire connects with a decent elbow.
Fire throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fire taking a breather here.
Fire wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shirai keeps working.
Shirai takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Shirai regains half guard there - taking advantage of Fire's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Fire seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Shirai looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Fire not landing any meaningful shots this time.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Shirai misses with a hook.
Shirai throws a right hand that misses

and Fire counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Shirai tries to kick Fire off but Fire keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Shirai is refusing to be controlled, as Fire sits in half guard.
Fire slips a nice elbow through Shirai's hands, connecting with Shirai's forehead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Takahiro Shirai will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Spinning Fire's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Fire circles away from the clinch attempt

and Fire counters with a takedown into side control.
Fire is looking to take a break and control but Shirai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shirai wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fire trying to control the position but Shirai is working away.
Fire connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Shirai some visible discomfort.
Fire has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fire prevents Shirai from escaping the position.
Shirai is trying to escape the position but Fire is controlling the position.
Shirai is trying to buck Fire off.
Fire is looking to take a break and control but Shirai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shirai is trying to buck Fire off.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Fire trying to control the action but Shirai is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Shirai misses with a right hand

and Fire counters with a takedown into side control.
Fire working the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shirai is pushing Fire's head away, looking to escape. Fire manages to hold on to the position though.
Fire throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Shirai works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Fire throwing shots but Shirai is blocking nicely.
Fire content to control rather than advance.
Fire is continuing to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fire throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Shirai is looking to escape.
Fire lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Shirai keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Fire controlling the action here.
Shirai wants to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Takahiro Shirai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A lazy body kick from Shirai

and Fire decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Shirai's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fire trying to control the position from guard on top but Shirai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fire prevents Shirai from getting back to his feet.
Fire wants to control from the top but Shirai keeps moving.
Fire throws an elbow that misses. Shirai uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Fire's guard. Nice move by Shirai!

Shirai wanted to stand there but Fire had control of the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Spinning Fire showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Spinning Fire's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Fire avoids the body shot from Shirai.
Fire takes one to the side of the head.
A lazy body kick from Shirai

and Fire counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Fire throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shirai works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shirai wants to stand and escape but Fire is having none of it.
Fire seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shirai has momentary wrist control but Fire slips an elbow through the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fire stops Shirai from standing up.
Fire wants to control from the top but Shirai keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Shirai with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Shirai tries to clinch

so Fire counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fire is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Shirai keeping moving, preventing Fire from controlling successfully.
Shirai is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Fire dives into side control.
Fire wants to control but Shirai is keeping him busy.
Fire scoring with punches from side control.
Shirai is trying to buck Fire off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fire lands a few punches from side control.
Fire lands a few punches from side control.
Fire misses with the ground and pound.
Fire working the head with strikes.
Shirai takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Spinning Fire has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fire scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Shirai to see if he's OK.
Fire in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Shirai is trying to buck Fire off.
Fire is staying tight to Shirai's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fire wants to control but Shirai is keeping him busy.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Fire fails to land a wild elbow strike.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Shirai throws a right hand that misses

and Fire counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fire trying to control the action but Shirai is working from the bottom.
Shirai wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Spinning Fire comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Fire has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Spinning Fire!
Spinning Fire seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.