PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shingo Takeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenichi Shirahama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Takeda
vs
Shirahama

170 cm
21
175 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

175 cm
21
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shingo Takeda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenichi Shirahama!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shirahama throws a head kick but Takeda moves out of range.
Takeda fails with an attempt to clinch.
Shirahama closes this distance looking for a takedown but Takeda circles away.
Shirahama tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shirahama shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Takeda but Takeda pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shirahama throws a good cross that connects.
Takeda moves out of range of the strikes.
Shirahama keeps the fight on the outside.
Shirahama has a takedown stuffed.
Shingo Takeda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenichi Shirahama.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shirahama fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shirahama misses with a head kick.
Shirahama fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Shirahama misses.
Takeda tries to close the distance and clinch but Shirahama swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shirahama lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Nice uppercut there from Shirahama.
Shirahama misses with a head kick.
Shingo Takeda is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shirahama shoots in and drives through. Takeda sprawls well.
Shirahama looks gassed!

Takeda closes the distance and pushes Shirahama back into the cage.
Shirahama tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Takeda smiles and moves away.
Kenichi Shirahama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shirahama shoots in but Takeda avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Shirahama misses with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shirahama shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Takeda gets full guard.
Takeda keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Takeda keeping full guard, as Shirahama tries to pass.
Takeda throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeda is trying to keep Shirahama in close.
Takeda lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Shirahama!
Shirahama is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Shirahama is desperately trying to improve his position but Takeda has a good base and remains in mount.
Shirahama wants to control but Takeda is having none of it.
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.
Shirahama is trying to escape the mount.
Takeda throwing strikes here but Shirahama is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Takeda lands a heavy elbow.
Shirahama tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Shirahama is squirming around, avoiding Takeda's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kenichi Shirahama will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Shirahama throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Takeda.
Takeda blocks a head kick by Shirahama.
Takeda defending well as Shirahama loads up on a big left hand.

Takeda closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Shirahama drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Takeda gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Takeda struggles to land a body shot inside as Shirahama controls his hands.
Shirahama fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Takeda landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Takeda lands a body punch in the clinch.
Shirahama is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Takeda gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Shingo Takeda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenichi Shirahama.
Takeda stops a takedown attempt from Shirahama.
Shirahama lands with a left to the head.
Shirahama blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shirahama is breathing heavily.

Shirahama jumps guard.

Shirahama throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takeda connects with a couple of short punches.
Takeda missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Shirahama working for a triangle but Takeda defends it easily.
Shirahama keeping moving, preventing Takeda from controlling successfully.

Shirahama looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

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.
Takeda postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shirahama looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Shirahama isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Takeda stacks Shirahama on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Takeda!
An elbow from Takeda crashes against the mat.
Takeda content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Shirahama manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeda is looking to control Shirahama's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Takeda avoid being mounted?
Shirahama tries to pass to full mount but Takeda defends it.
Shirahama prevents Takeda from improving his position.
Takeda punching from the bottom.

Shirahama is trying to work for a kimura but Takeda is defending well.

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.
Shirahama wants to pass to mount but Takeda is defending the position.
Shirahama with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Shirahama works his way into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Shirahama tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Shirahama has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Takeda is trying to buck Shirahama off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kenichi Shirahama will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Shirahama pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shirahama looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Takeda is fending him off so far but Shirahama persists. Nope, Takeda circles away and we're back to standing.
A good leg kick by Shirahama.
Shirahama throws a body punch but Takeda moves out of range.
Takeda tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Takeda stuffs the takedown attempt from Shirahama. Shirahama gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takeda is looking to clinch but Shirahama is avoiding it.
Shirahama takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shirahama shoots in for a double leg but Takeda sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Shingo Takeda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenichi Shirahama.
Shirahama throws a series of punches but Takeda moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takeda tries to clinch up.
Takeda is looking to clinch but Shirahama is avoiding it.
Shirahama closes this distance looking for a takedown but Takeda circles away.
Takeda tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Takeda wants to clinch up but Shirahama keeps it at a distance.
Shirahama lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Takeda tries to close the distance and clinch but Shirahama swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Takeda tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shirahama swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Takeda blocks a head kick by Shirahama.
Takeda tries to clinch up but Shirahama circles away and keeps his distance.

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.
Shirahama 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.
Takeda fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shingo Takeda is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Takeda wants to clinch.
Shirahama lands a head kick. Takeda smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Takeda staying out of range there.
Shirahama closes the distance and clinches up with Takeda, looking for a takedown. Shirahama pushes Takeda against the cage but Takeda circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Shirahama fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Takeda takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeda lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Takeda tries to throw a body punch but Shirahama avoids it by throwing Takeda back against the cage.
Takeda throws an elbow but it misses.
A right hook to the body lands for Takeda.
Takeda misses with a body punch.
Takeda misses with a punch to the body.
Shirahama tries to pull guard but Takeda holds him up against the cage and eventually Shirahama drops back down to his feet.

Shirahama successfully pulls guard.
Takeda trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Takeda postures up in Shirahama's guard and throws a big left but Shirahama blocks it.

Takeda avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Takeda postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shirahama wants to sweep but no luck.

Shirahama working for submissions but it's allowed Takeda to get to half guard.
Takeda is trying to control. Shirahama wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shirahama is trying to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Shingo Takeda.
I think Shirahama 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Shingo Takeda!
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Shingo Takeda!

Shingo Takeda wins by majority decision!