PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Saint Pete (ranked 4873 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taki Shitatake (ranked 4742 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Pete
vs
Shitatake

203 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
208 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Saint Pete!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Taki Shitatake!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Ivan Kurochkin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pete misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shitatake.
As Pete backs off Shitatake throws a huge counter combo but Pete manages to avoid it all.

Shitatake throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Pete was covering up waiting for the punch and Shitatake finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Shitatake throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pete works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shitatake sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Shitatake postures up in Pete's guard and throws a big left but Pete blocks it.
Pete will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shitatake trying to control but Pete is working from the bottom.
Pete looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shitatake is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pete working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Shitatake doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Shitatake manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pete wants to stand up but Shitatake is controlling him.

Pete is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Shitatake defends well.
Shitatake trying to control the position from guard on top but Pete is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Pete wants to sweep here but Shitatake controlling him for the moment.

Pete is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Shitatake stays in close to Pete's body and controls the position.
Shitatake trying to control the position from guard on top but Pete is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Shitatake must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pete looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shitatake fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Shitatake looks to land a combination but Pete avoids it well.

Shitatake throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Pete was covering up waiting for the punch and Shitatake finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Pete is trying to keep Shitatake in close.
Shitatake not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shitatake lands a couple of elbows.
Pete keeping full guard, as Shitatake tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shitatake preventing the sweep.
Pete being controlled here, momentarily.

Pete looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Shitatake makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pete is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shitatake wants to stand and escape but instead Pete has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taki Shitatake dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Shitatake drives through with a takedown into guard.

Pete wriggles free and stands up.
Pete shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Shitatake sprawls well. Shitatake wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Pete gets slowly back to his feet.
As Pete backs off Shitatake throws a huge counter combo but Pete manages to avoid it all.
Pete waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shitatake.
A countering left hand to the body from Shitatake misses.
Shitatake blocks a head kick by Pete.
Shitatake shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Pete has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pete wants to break free but Shitatake has control.
Pete fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Shitatake pulls Pete into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pete wanted to stand there but Shitatake had control of the position.
Taki Shitatake has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pete trying to control the position from guard on top but Shitatake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pete is pushing down on Shitatake's leg trying to pass to half guard. Shitatake is fighting to maintain full guard but Pete has managed to sneak the leg through.
Shitatake is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Shitatake trying to hold on to Pete's head to control him but Pete postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Pete is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Shitatake has managed to free his arm - good work.
Shitatake is trying to stand back up but Pete is controlling him
Pete trying to control the pace.

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

Shitatake bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Shitatake is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pete knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Shitatake is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shitatake is looking to take a break and control but Pete is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pete is trying to buck Shitatake off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Shitatake is looking to take a break and control but Pete is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pete isn't going anywhere.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Shitatake is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Shitatake moves into range and clinches up with Pete.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Saint Pete will probably get the nod.
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!

Shitatake is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Pete's half guard.
Pete trying to control from the bottom.
Shitatake looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Shitatake is thwarting Pete's attempts to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pete tries to kick Shitatake off but Shitatake keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Shitatake looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Shitatake wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pete keeps working.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pete fails with an attempt to clinch.

Shitatake gets caught flat footed, as Pete shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Shitatake is wriggling around but Pete manages to pass to half guard.

Shitatake manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pete looking to pass the guard.
Pete slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Shitatake sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Pete not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Pete tries to stand and escape but Shitatake is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pete is looking to stall here but Shitatake recovers full guard.
Shitatake keeping moving, preventing Pete from controlling successfully.
Pete sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Shitatake's guard.

Pete is looking for a kimura here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pete wants to control but Shitatake is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Shitatake trying to control but Pete postures up.
Shitatake regains full guard. Nicely done.
Shitatake working a defensive guard here.
Pete wants to control from the top but Shitatake keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shitatake looking for a sweep. Not yet Shitatake, not yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Taki Shitatake.
Well Shitatake 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight for Taki Shitatake!
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight for Taki Shitatake!
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight for Taki Shitatake!

Taki Shitatake wins by unanimous decision!