PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Takeda Shida (ranked 727 p4p, 708 weight class) and Ricky Thompson (ranked 41 p4p, 39 weight class). Takeda Shida has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Shida
vs
Thompson

220 cm
22
291
5 - 0 - 0

190 cm
34
280
28 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Takeda Shida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 17 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ricky Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Sano and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shida cracks Thompson with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

It looks like Ricky Thompson has been cut.
Thompson throws an off balance right hand
and Shida cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thompson misses with a lunging right hand
and Shida makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Ricky Thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shida misses with a looping left.
Shida moves out of range of the strikes.
Shida avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thompson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Shida counters with a nice body shot.
Thompson misses with a wild body shot.
Shida scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Thompson doesn't seem bothered though.
Thompson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Thompson looks to land a combination. Shida sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thompson has his takedown stuffed
and Shida counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Thompson looks winded!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Thompson throws a right hand that misses
and Shida counters with a right hand to the body.
Shida throws a body punch but Thompson moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shida. Thompson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shida has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Shida punishes Thompson's body with a nice straight punch.
Takeda Shida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thompson shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A jab from Shida finds it's way through Thompson's defenses.

Thompson gets the takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thompson working away.
Shida tries to buck Thompson off but Thompson is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shida struggling a bit here.
Thompson looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Shida is avoiding damage well.
Thompson trying to control the action but Shida is working from the bottom.
Thompson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Thompson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Shida takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Thompson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Thompson controlling from side mount.
Thompson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Shida sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson wants to control but Shida is keeping him busy.
Thompson throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Shida works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Shida works his way to full guard. Good work.
Shida on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Shida tries to get out of the position.
Thompson throws a big elbow that misses.
Shida is controlling Thompson's posture.
Thompson throwing strikes but missing.
Shida knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Thompson on the ground.
Shida preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

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.
Thompson trying to control the position from guard on top but Shida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shida working a defensive guard here.
Thompson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thompson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Thompson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thompson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Shida keeps moving.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thompson sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Takeda Shida dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ricky Thompson's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Some wild striking there from Thompson.
Shida looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Shida works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Thompson defending well as Shida loads up on a big left hand.
Thompson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shida is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Shida swings for the body but Thompson moves out of range.
Thompson drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Shida defends it well.
Thompson misses with a takedown
and Shida counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ricky Thompson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shida swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thompson tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Shida is able to avoid easily.
Shida moves out of range of the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thompson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Shida!

Shida explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Thompson shoots in for a takedown but Shida shows good takedown defense.
It looked like Shida wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Thompson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Shida throws out the jab.
Thompson lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Thompson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thompson throwing shots but Shida is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shida trying to control here.
Thompson controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shida keeps working.
Shida trying to control but Thompson postures up.
Thompson slips a nice elbow through Shida's hands, connecting with Shida's forehead.
Thompson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Shida wants to control but Thompson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Thompson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Shida is not content to let Thompson control the position.
Thompson is just content to waste time from the top position. Shida takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Thompson throwing strikes but missing.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Thompson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Thompson throwing strikes but missing.
Thompson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shida works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thompson trying to control but Shida is working from the bottom.
Thompson throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Shida wants to sweep but no luck.
Thompson with a nice head shot there.
Thompson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Thompson throws an elbow that misses. Shida uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Thompson's guard. Nice move by Shida!

Thompson 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.
Thompson is still trying to improve position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ricky Thompson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Ricky Thompson's cut.
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!

Thompson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A slow jab from Thompson misses its intended target.
Takeda Shida is winning the standup battle so far.
Shida throws a hook to the side of Thompson's head but Thompson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Thompson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Shida jabs Thompson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Shida lands with an uppercut that bounces Thompson off the cage and back into range.
Thompson fails to land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thompson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Thompson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thompson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Thompson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thompson misses with a combination
enabling Shida to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shida scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Thompson misses with a double jab
and Shida scores with a counter punch that sends Thompson to the canvas! Shida smells blood - he's punishing Thompson with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Thompson has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Takeda Shida!
An out of breath Takeda Shida thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.