PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Israel Hands (ranked 428 p4p, 1126 weight class) and Shen Po (ranked 50 p4p, 128 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Hands might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to A Collection of Sea Shanties. Po comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Ei-tetsu Hayashi & 木下伸市 kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Hands
vs
Po

175 cm
26
160
9 - 4 - 0

177 cm
23
169
7 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Altitude Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Israel Hands!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shen Po!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paul Aken and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Po, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Po scores with a takedown into Hands's guard.
Po looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Hands pulls Po in to control the position.
Hands 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.
Po trying to control the position from guard on top but Hands is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Po tries to free his leg and advance position but Hands is retaining full guard.
Hands keeping moving, preventing Po from controlling successfully.
Po looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Po postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Po chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hands can pounce on him.
Hands bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Po's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hands moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Hands tries to score with a low kick but Po moves his leg out of the way.
Po misses with a takedown attempt - Hands sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hands on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Hands misses with a kick to the body
and Po counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hands misses with an uppercut
and Po cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Po avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Po is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hands.
Hands connects with a single shot there.
Po throws a looping overhand right but Hands ducks down to avoid it.
Po throws a good cross that connects.
Po checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Hands takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Po throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
It looked like Hands was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Po.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hands waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Po.
And Po tries to counter it with a takedown but Hands pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Po moves into range and clinches up with Hands.
Po tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hands's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hands misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hands lands a shoulder strike.
Hands has a couple of punches blocked by Po.
A short right from Hands.
Po works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Hands can't break the clinch.
Po misses with the head strike.
Hands blocks an uppercut.
Hands blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Po.
Hands blocks a body shot from Po.
Po has a couple of punches blocked by Hands.
Hands lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Po has a couple of punches blocked by Hands.
Hands prevents a body shot from Po.
A short right from Po.
Hands lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Po lands with a short shot to the head.
Hands blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hands lands a body punch in the clinch.
Hands prevents a body shot from Po.
Po tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hands blocking some punches.
Hands blocks a body shot from Po.
Hands misses with a short punch on the inside.

Hands breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
That kick from Hands tenderised Po's leg. Po is trying to keep his angry face on.
Israel Hands is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Po swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hands getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Po gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hands looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Po has clasped his hands together around Hands's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Hands regains half guard.
Po trying to control the action but Hands is working from the bottom.
Po is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Po wants to free his trapped foot but Hands is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hands wants to get back to full guard.
Hands won't allow Po to pass to mount.
Po is keen to just control but Hands is a slippery customer.
Hands is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hands is trying to control but can't.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Po wants to work for an arm triangle but Hands is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hands is holding on to half guard well.
Po with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shen Po 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.

A looping hook to the body misses from Po. Hands does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hands misses with a body punch
and Po counters with a straight right hand.
Hands is looking to land body kicks.
Po misses with an uppercut. Hands saw that one coming.
Hands pivots, looking for a leg kick but Po is out of range and Hands settles back down.
Po uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hands.
Hands uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Po.
Po cracks Hands with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Po misses with a looping right.
Hands misses with an uppercut. Po saw that one coming.
A big right from Po misses.
Hands throws a push kick but Po slaps the foot to one side.
Po steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Hands.
Hands throws the left hand but Po avoids the punch easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hands throws a jab but it's blocked by Po.
Hands steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Po.
Hands keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Po has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hands attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Shen Po seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A big right from Po misses.
Po avoids the body shot from Hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hands looks for the body kick but Po saw that one coming.
Hands connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Po fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hands to the ground. Po is now in Hands's guard.
Hands keeping moving, preventing Po from controlling successfully.
Po advances to half guard.
Po wants to take a breather but Hands is having none of it.
Po tries to pass to full mount but Hands defends it.

Po is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hands sees it coming and defends easily.
Hands wants to control but Po is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hands desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Po is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hands has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Po is working away from the top position though.

Hands looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hands wants to control but Po is keeping busy.

Po is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hands doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Po.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hands has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Po is working away from the top position though.
Po is taking a breather. Hands says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hands throws out a leg kick but Po moves out of range and Hands only half commits.
Po takes a jab right on the kisser.
Po moves out of range of the body kick.
Good leg kick by Hands.
Hands throws a quick inside leg kick.
Good exchange - Hands coming out on top.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Po throws a hook but Hands avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hands throws a leg kick but Po checks it.
Hands finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Hands takes a swing at Po's ribcage but misses.
Po steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Hands.
Hands tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Po jabs Hands to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Po takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hands just misses with a punch to the body.
Po jabs at Hands's body.
Hands throws a wild body kick that Po sees coming a mile off.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hands. Po does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hands ducks under a wild hook from Po.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Po moves out of range as Hands strikes.
Po misses with a few strikes there.
Hands thinks about countering with a body kick.
Po takes a swing at Hands's ribcage but misses.
Hands slips a straight right by Po.
Po throws a left and a right that both miss
and Po takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hands throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hands scores with a hook.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Shen Po will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Hands's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hands misses with a body shot.
Po lands an overhand right.
Po blocks a leg kick.
Po scores with a hook to the body. Hands takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Hands lands a jab.
Po cracks a nice hook into Hands's ribs.
Hands throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hands ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Po moves away.
Po swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Hands.
Hands throws a jab when Po was well out of range.
Po tries to counter with a clinch but Hands shakes him off and moves away.
Po throws an overhand right that lands on Hands's shoulder, as Hands tries to avoid the shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Hands misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hands looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Po fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hands manages to avoid it.
A jab lands there for Hands.
Hands does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Hands misses the shot to the body.
Po checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hands with a hook.
Hands throws a leg kick but Po sees it coming and moves out of range.
Hands avoids the body shot from Po.
Hands blocks a jab.
Po checks the leg kick nicely there.
Hands moves out of range of the strikes.
Po takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Po is looking to clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Hands.

Po looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Po trying to control the action but Hands is working from the bottom.
Hands wants to control but Po is keeping busy.
Hands is not content to let Po control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hands works his way to full guard. Good work.
Po passes easily into side control. Nice work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Po tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Po working the ground and pound but Hands is defending the strikes.

Po tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Po has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hands is being controlled here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Po trying to control the position but Hands is working away.
Hands being controlled for a moment.
Hands can't do much from the bottom here.
Po laying and praying for a moment but Hands takes advantage and regains half guard.
Hands desperately trying to maintain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Po not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Po throwing shots but Hands is blocking nicely.
Israel Hands has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Po is looking to advance position but Hands won't allow it.
Hands is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hands wants to control but Po is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Po is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hands throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Po connects with the punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shen Po comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Po winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shen Po!
After the fight, Shen Po was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.