PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Arai Shuji (ranked 3394 p4p, 3676 weight class) and Magomedrasul Magomedov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Shuji
vs
Magomedov

175 cm
16
153
0 - 1 - 0

181 cm
25
155
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Arai Shuji!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Magomedrasul Magomedov!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shigeki Sano and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Magomedov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Magomedov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Shuji blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Shuji blocks a body shot from Magomedov.
Magomedov misses with a punch on the inside.
Magomedov tries to land a knee to the head but Shuji blocks with his arms.
Magomedov avoiding damage as Shuji throws knees to the body.
Magomedov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Magomedov misses with a punch to the body.
Magomedov with a knee to the head.
Magomedov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Magomedov swings wildly with an uppercut but Shuji uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch on the inside from Magomedov fails to land.
Shuji is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Magomedov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Shuji's efforts to push away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Shuji backwards.
Shuji missing with knees to the body.
Magomedov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Shuji blocks an uppercut.
Magomedov misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Magomedov.
Shuji is trying to push Magomedov away but Magomedov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Magomedov throws a punch but it's blocked by Shuji.
Shuji blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Magomedov misses with a knee to the head.
Magomedov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Magomedov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Magomedov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Magomedov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Shuji blocks an uppercut.
Magomedov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Magomedov working aggressively here.
Magomedov lands a nice knee to the body.
Shuji is trying to force a seperation but Magomedov has the dominant position.
Shuji slowing the pace effectively.
Magomedov throws a punch but it's blocked by Shuji.
Shuji is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Magomedov is defending well for now.
Shuji can't get the takedown.
Magomedov tries to work over Shuji's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Knees in the clinch landing for Magomedov.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shuji takes a knee to the side of the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Shuji can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arai Shuji. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Magomedov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Magomedov misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Shuji.
Magomedov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Shuji backwards.
Shuji has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Magomedov misses with a punch on the inside.
Magomedov misses with some punches.
Magomedov lands a nice uppercut.
Magomedov connects with a knee to the head.
Magomedov misses with a punch on the inside.
Magomedov landing knees to the head.
Magomedov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Magomedov working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shuji is trying to stall.
Magomedov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Magomedov has Shuji pressed against the cage, preventing Shuji from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Magomedov scores with a shot to the side of Shuji's head.
Magomedov misses with a body punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Magomedov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Shuji trying to control the position but instead, Magomedov has worked for underhooks and has pushed Shuji into the cage.
Shuji trying to land knees to the body.
Magomedov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Magomedov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Magomedov managing to block the knees to the body from Shuji.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Magomedrasul Magomedov dominated that round.
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.

Magomedov digs a good hook to Shuji's body.
A head kick misses from Shuji.
Shuji throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Good shot there by Magomedov.
Magomedov lands with a hook. Shuji tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Magomedov closes the distance and clinches.
Nice body punch from Magomedov - that landed with a thud.
Shuji is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Magomedov is defending well for now.
Magomedov throws a head punch that misses.
Magomedov misses with the head strike.
Magomedrasul Magomedov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Magomedov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magomedov tries to throw a body punch but Shuji avoids it by throwing Magomedov back against the cage.
Shuji blocks an uppercut.
Magomedov misses with a knee strike.
Magomedov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Magomedov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Shuji blocks it with crossed arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov connects with a knee to the head.
Magomedov lands a knee to the body.
Shuji blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Magomedov makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Magomedov working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Magomedov fails to land.
Magomedov misses with a knee strike.
Shuji misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Magomedov.
A bit of stalling here from Shuji.
Shuji blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Magomedov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Magomedov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Magomedov managing to block the knees to the body from Shuji.
Magomedov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Shuji pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Magomedrasul Magomedov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Shuji.
Shuji walks into a left hand.
Shuji takes one to the chin there.
Shuji misses with a right hand

and Magomedov counters by moving into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shuji trying to control the position but instead, Magomedov has worked for underhooks and has pushed Shuji into the cage.
Shuji prevents a body shot from Magomedov.
Shuji has Magomedov pressed against the cage.
Magomedov lands a left hand.
Magomedov with a knee to the head.
Magomedov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shuji is looking to break free of the clinch but Magomedov has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Magomedov tries to land a knee to the head but Shuji blocks with his arms.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Shuji.
Magomedov pushes Shuji back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shuji on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Shuji breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Magomedov lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Shuji shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Magomedov pinned against the cage. Magomedov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Shuji throws a leg kick but Magomedov checks it.
Shuji sets himself, and Magomedov steps forward looking for the clinch! Shuji avoids it this time.
Magomedov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Magomedov shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Shuji eats them both and turns towards Magomedov to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Shuji gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Shuji drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shuji fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Shuji decides to stand back up. Shuji steps back and let's Magomedov get back to his feet.

Magomedov moves into the clinch successfully.
Magomedov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Shuji backwards.

Shuji pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shuji misses with a hook. Magomedov ducked under it nicely.
Magomedov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Magomedov drives through and clinches with Shuji against the cage.
Shuji wants to break the clinch but can't.
Magomedov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Magomedov lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Magomedov misses with a body punch.
Magomedov misses with some punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Magomedrasul Magomedov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Shuji misses with a takedown attempt - Magomedov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Magomedov tries to counter with a clinch but Shuji shakes him off and moves away.

Magomedov closes the distance and clinches.
Magomedov crunches a lovely knee into Shuji's ribcage.
Shuji is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Magomedov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Magomedov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Shuji's face.
Shuji blocks an uppercut.
Shuji blocks an uppercut.
Magomedov tries to land a knee to the head but Shuji blocks with his arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magomedov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Magomedov looking to throw knees to the head but Shuji is blocking nicely.
Magomedov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Magomedov.
Magomedov with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shuji takes a shot to the head.
Shuji is trying to drag Magomedov to the mat but Magomedov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arai Shuji. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shuji missing with knees to the body.
Magomedov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Magomedov misses with some punches.
Shuji drops down looking for an ankle pick but Magomedov pulls his leg out and moves away.
Shuji takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Magomedov closes the distance and clinches.
Magomedov is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Magomedov lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shuji tries to land knees in the clinch but Magomedov avoids the damage to the body.
Magomedov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Shuji is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Shuji on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Magomedov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Shuji blocks a body shot from Magomedov.
Magomedov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Shuji's elbow.
Magomedov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Magomedov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Magomedov misses with a body punch.
Shuji is looking to control Magomedov's arms but Magomedov gets an underhook and turns him. Now Shuji has his back to the cage.
Magomedov misses with a knee strike.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shuji blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Magomedov.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Magomedov obliges.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Shuji takes a knee right on the jaw!
Magomedov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Magomedrasul Magomedov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Magomedov managing to block the knees to the body from Shuji.
Magomedov tries to land a knee to the head but Shuji blocks with his arms.
Magomedov misses with a knee to the head.
Shuji blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Shuji is trying to pull guard but Magomedov has him pressed against the cage.
Magomedov throws a head punch that misses.
Shuji looking to slow down the pace here.
Magomedov working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Magomedov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

And that's the end of the fight!
Magomedrasul Magomedov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Magomedov 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 26:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 26:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Magomedrasul Magomedov!