PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yusuke Hurameshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshihiro Shoji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hurameshi comes to the cage accompanied by What's Up People!!!. Yusuke Hurameshi looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Hurameshi
vs
Shoji

168 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

178 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yusuke Hurameshi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshihiro Shoji!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yukihiro Shimada and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shoji misses with a wild combination.
Shoji throws a one two combo.

Hurameshi has Shoji up against the cage in a clinch.

Hurameshi has hold of one of Shoji's legs. Shoji is fighting the takedown attempt but Hurameshi gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Shoji controls Hurameshi momentarily but Hurameshi frees himself.
Hurameshi passes Shoji's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Shoji tries to get to full guard but Hurameshi has control of the leg.
Hurameshi passes into side control, despite Shoji's attempt to control the position.

Hurameshi has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Shoji looks for a takedown but Hurameshi sprawls well.
Hurameshi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shoji will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Yusuke Hurameshi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoshihiro Shoji.
Shoji shoots in and drives through. Hurameshi sprawls well.
Good standup being displayed there by Shoji as he connects with a hook.

Hurameshi gets a takedown into half guard.
Shoji trying to control here.
Hurameshi wants to pass the guard but Shoji is defending well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hurameshi is keen to just control but Shoji is a slippery customer.
Hurameshi is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shoji is pressing down on Hurameshi's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Shoji is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Shoji working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hurameshi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hurameshi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hurameshi is working Shoji over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hurameshi is working Shoji over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hurameshi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shoji is keeping the position for now.
Shoji is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hurameshi trying to control the position from guard on top but Shoji is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Shoji has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hurameshi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hurameshi tries to free his leg and advance position but Shoji is retaining full guard.
Hurameshi with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Shoji keeping full guard, as Hurameshi tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shoji shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Hurameshi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Shoji trying to keep a closed guard but Hurameshi is proving a slippery customer.

Shoji looking for a guillotine here but Hurameshi defends easily.
Shoji will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shoji is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Hurameshi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hurameshi trying to control but Shoji is working from the bottom.
Hurameshi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Shoji is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hurameshi is controlling him.
Hurameshi wants to control from the top but Shoji keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Shoji throws a right hand that Hurameshi ducks under and follows up with a left that Hurameshi also avoids with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yusuke Hurameshi dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Shoji looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Shoji shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hurameshi pinned against the cage. Hurameshi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Shoji fails with the takedown

so Hurameshi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Hurameshi wants to control from the top but Shoji keeps moving.

Shoji looking for a guillotine here but Hurameshi defends easily.
Hurameshi sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Shoji's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shoji trying to control from the bottom.
Hurameshi wants to pass the guard but Shoji is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hurameshi stands up and beckons Shoji to join him on the feet.

Hurameshi fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Shoji sprawls well initially but Hurameshi persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hurameshi is trying to control the action in half guard but Shoji is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hurameshi is really struggling to control Shoji but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Shoji wants to control but Hurameshi is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Shoji looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hurameshi prevents Shoji from improving his position.

Shoji looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hurameshi seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Hurameshi wants to pass to mount but Shoji is defending the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hurameshi closes the distance and clinches up with Shoji, looking for a takedown. Hurameshi pushes Shoji against the cage but Shoji circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Shoji looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Shoji tries to free his leg and advance position but Hurameshi is retaining full guard.

Hurameshi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hurameshi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Shoji wants to control from the top but Hurameshi keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shoji forces his way into half guard.
Hurameshi manages to get to full guard.
Shoji passes Hurameshi's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Hurameshi is looking to control Shoji's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hurameshi avoid being mounted?
Shoji throwing shots but Hurameshi is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hurameshi wants to get back to full guard.
Shoji throwing shots but Hurameshi is blocking nicely.

Hurameshi is defending against the submission attempts here by Shoji.
Shoji is looking to take a break and control but Hurameshi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hurameshi manages to get to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shoji trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hurameshi trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yusuke Hurameshi dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Hurameshi shoots in but Shoji avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Shoji!
Shoji throws a series of strikes that have Hurameshi backpedaling.
Shoji with a poor takedown
and Hurameshi counters with a solid body kick.
Shoji throws a leg kick but Hurameshi sees it coming and moves out of range.

Hurameshi closes the distance and clinches.
Shoji has had enough of the clinch but Hurameshi keeps him there for the moment.
Shoji jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hurameshi walks away with a smile on his face. Shoji gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Shoji looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Hurameshi!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Poor strikes thrown by Shoji there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shoji is trying to take his opponent's back.
Shoji prevents Hurameshi from getting the reversal.
Poor strikes thrown by Shoji there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Hurameshi avoids a strike by Shoji and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Shoji's guard! Fantastic escape!
Hurameshi wants to control from the top but Shoji keeps moving.

Shoji is looking for a triangle but Hurameshi pushes his legs off easily.
Hurameshi trying to control the position from guard on top but Shoji is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shoji controls Hurameshi momentarily but Hurameshi frees himself.

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.
Hurameshi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shoji is keeping the position for now.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hurameshi's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Hurameshi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Shoji has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hurameshi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Shoji trying to keep a closed guard but Hurameshi is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hurameshi wants to control from the top but Shoji keeps moving.
Hurameshi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shoji swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hurameshi trying to control the position from guard on top but Shoji is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yoshihiro Shoji has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Shoji throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Shoji working for a triangle but Hurameshi defends it easily.
Hurameshi trying to control but Shoji is working from the bottom.
Yusuke Hurameshi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shoji looking for a guillotine here but Hurameshi defends easily.
Hurameshi passes Shoji's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Shoji trying to control here.
Yusuke Hurameshi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Still in half guard, Hurameshi seems content to control.
Hurameshi tries to pass the half guard into mount. Shoji knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hurameshi sitting and controlling from the half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoshihiro Shoji comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hurameshi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yusuke Hurameshi!