PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Shiina (ranked 1223 p4p, 70 weight class) and Branimir Simeon (ranked 877 p4p, 47 weight class). Shiina comes into the arena with Gurren Lagaan OST - To Hell With Gattai! blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shiina
vs
Simeon

167 cm
22
140 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

163 cm
28
130 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Conviction

Urban Fighter
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Anthony Shiina!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Branimir Simeon!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shiina keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Simeon.
Simeon gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Shiina.

Simeon gets caught flat footed, as Shiina shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Simeon keeping full guard, as Shiina tries to pass.
Simeon is pulling down on Shiina's head to control his posture.
Shiina trying to control but Simeon is working from the bottom.
Simeon is pulling down on Shiina's head to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shiina is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shiina is stalling in the full guard.
Shiina trying to control the position from guard on top but Simeon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Shiina trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Simeon misses with a straight left.
Shiina uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Simeon.
Shiina misses with a takedown attempt
and Simeon counters with a left to the body.
Good shot there by Simeon.
A punch combination from Shiina misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simeon misses the shot to the body.
Anthony Shiina seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shiina keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Simeon.
Shiina misses with a takedown attempt
and Simeon counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Shiina seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Shiina smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Shiina looks for a takedown but Simeon sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Shiina. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Simeon closes the distance and clinches.
Shiina fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Simeon misses with a hook from the clinch.
Shiina tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Simeon lands a hook that snaps the head of Shiina backwards.
Shiina tries to pull guard but Simeon won't allow it.
Shiina jumps guard but Simeon turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Simeon cracks Shiina with a nice body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shiina tries to pull guard but Simeon forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Shiina fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Simeon misses with a punch to the body.
Shiina fails to pull guard.

Shiina jumps into guard, dragging Simeon to the mat.
Simeon is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Shiina wants to control the position but Simeon says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Simeon perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shiina has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Simeon escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Simeon!
Simeon controls the position.

Simeon decides to stand back up. Simeon steps back and let's Shiina get back to his feet.
Branimir Simeon is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shiina takes one on the button.
Shiina tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Simeon swivels and escapes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shiina shoots in looking for a takedown but Simeon manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Shiina's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Shiina misses with an uppercut. Simeon saw that one coming.
Shiina shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Simeon defends it nicely.
A little jabbing left from Simeon on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Simeon takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Shiina gets the takedown into side control.

Simeon throws Shiina to one side and escapes!
Simeon has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Shiina shoots and misses
and Simeon counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A slow jab from Simeon misses its intended target.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Simeon is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Simeon circles away from the clinch attempt.
Shiina shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Simeon defends it nicely.
Shiina tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Simeon defends well and Shiina ends up having to push Simeon into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Simeon! But no joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Shiina. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shiina smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Simeon swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Shiina misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simeon scores with a shot to the body.
Simeon ducks right into an uppercut from Shiina.
Simeon scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Shiina darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Shiina scores with a jab to the body.
Simeon fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shiina manages to avoid it.
Shiina attempts a counter takedown but Simeon avoids it well and moves away.
Shiina ducks under a wild hook from Simeon.
Shiina misses with a lunging right hand
and Simeon counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Shiina fails with the takedown.
Simeon doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Shiina shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Simeon pinned against the cage. Simeon gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Shiina doesn't manage to clinch there - Simeon circles away.
Simeon uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Shiina.
A countering left hand to the body from Simeon misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shiina looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Simeon looks to score with a jab to the body but Shiina is just out of range.
Shiina with a poor takedown
and Simeon connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shiina moves to clinch but Simeon breaks away
and Simeon counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Shiina avoids a punch combination nicely.
Shiina slips a jab from Simeon.
Shiina misses with an uppercut. Simeon saw that one coming.
Shiina with a poor takedown
and Simeon counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Simeon lands a really nice looking cross but Shiina seems unphased.
Shiina misses with a hook.
Simeon bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Shiina's head backwards.
Simeon dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shiina scores with a sloppy right hand. Simeon should have avoided that one.
Shiina scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Shiina uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Simeon.
Shiina swings widly with a right hand
and Simeon counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Shiina closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Simeon's guard.
Shiina controlling from the top position.
Simeon pulls Shiina in close to his closed guard and prevents Shiina from doing any damage or advancing position.
Simeon keeping moving, preventing Shiina from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shiina passes Simeon's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Simeon works his way to full guard. Good work.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Simeon can do anything to dispel that myth.

Shiina postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Simeon is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Shiina, into his guard.

Shiina is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Shiina is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Simeon is just riding it out for now. Shiina eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Branimir Simeon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Shiina fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Simeon on the side of the head.
Shiina has his takedown stuffed
and Simeon cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Shiina keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shiina shoots for a double leg takedown but Simeon sprawls well. He's pushed Shiina's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Simeon throws an ugly left hook that misses

so Shiina counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Anthony Shiina overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Simeon seems keen to control Shiina's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shiina trying to control the position from guard on top but Simeon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shiina looking to sit in guard and control but Simeon gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simeon is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Shiina looking to hit a scissor sweep but Simeon is one step ahead there.
Shiina is trying to keep Simeon in close.

Shiina throws his legs up looking for a submission but Simeon uses it to pass to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Shiina tries to bench press Simeon off him but Simeon keeps the position.
Shiina wants to control but Simeon postures up.
Shiina manages to work his way to half guard, despite Simeon's best efforts.
Simeon prevents Shiina from improving his position.

Shiina looking for a kimura from the bottom but Simeon passes into side control!
Simeon is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Shiina's shoulder. That is not cool.
Shiina is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branimir Simeon is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A lull in the action here as Simeon stalls from top position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Shiina manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Shiina looking for submissions off his back.
Shiina slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Shiina working for submissions but it's allowed Simeon to get to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shiina wants to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Branimir Simeon.
Well Simeon has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Branimir Simeon!
During a confident post fight interview, Branimir Simeon thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.