PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Machado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Makoto Shibasaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Machado might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Katatonia - Saw You Drown (Vocal Cover). Shibasaki has chosen Genki Sudo - 'Mind Shift' as his entrance music. Makoto Shibasaki has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Machado
vs
Shibasaki

185 cm
20
159 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
26
164 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $140

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rodrigo Machado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Makoto Shibasaki!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shibasaki moves into the clinch.
Machado wants to break the clinch but can't.
Shibasaki pushes Machado back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shibasaki is struggling to control the position.
Shibasaki tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Machado avoids it.
Shibasaki is stalling here.

Machado is fighting off a takedown attempt but Shibasaki is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Machado to the mat. Machado regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Shibasaki wants to pass the guard but Machado is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Shibasaki is stalling in the full guard.

Makoto Shibasaki has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Shibasaki shoots for a takedown but Machado saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shibasaki scores with a head kick.
Shibasaki throws a low kick but Machado moves out of range easily.
Shibasaki takes a swing at Machado's ribcage but misses.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Machado checks a leg kick.
Shibasaki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A slapping leg kick lands for Shibasaki.
A low kick from Shibasaki is predictable there
and Machado counters with a body kick.
Shibasaki misses with a looping left.
Shibasaki wants to slow Machado down by chopping away at his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shibasaki throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Shibasaki lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Machado has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Machado and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Shibasaki shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Shibasaki delivers a nice body kick.
Shibasaki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Machado swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shibasaki goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Shibasaki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Shibasaki fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Machado to the ground. Shibasaki is now in Machado's guard.
Shibasaki trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shibasaki controls from within his opponent's guard.
Machado wants to stand but Shibasaki is controlling the position.
Shibasaki slips nicely into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shibasaki is taking a breather. Machado 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Makoto Shibasaki dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Shibasaki pivots, looking for a leg kick but Machado is out of range and Shibasaki settles back down.

Shibasaki closes the distance and clinches.
Shibasaki keeps control of Machado as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Shibasaki has Machado pressed against the cage, preventing Machado from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Shibasaki tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Shibasaki tries to score a body lock takedown but Machado shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Shibasaki will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Machado up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shibasaki is looking to take this one to the mat.
Shibasaki tries to land a knee to the head but Machado blocks with his arms.
Machado wants to break the clinch but can't.
Machado is trying to break free.
Machado really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Shibasaki presses Machado against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Shibasaki misses with a knee strike.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Shibasaki.
Machado takes a knee right on the jaw!
Shibasaki slowing the pace effectively.

Shibasaki turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Machado knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shibasaki on the ground.
Shibasaki working the ground and pound but Machado is defending the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machado is not content to let Shibasaki control the position.

Shibasaki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Machado, who protects the arm well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shibasaki grinds an elbow into Machado's temple.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Machado prevents Shibasaki from moving into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shibasaki controlling the position from side mount.
The ground and pound from Shibasaki seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Machado avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Shibasaki.
Machado trying to remain calm as Shibasaki controls from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Shibasaki misses with the ground and pound.
Shibasaki controls the position.
Shibasaki has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Shibasaki lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Machado down.
Machado takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Shibasaki tries to move into full mount but can't pass Machado's legs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shibasaki scoring with punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Makoto Shibasaki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Shibasaki throws a leg kick
and Machado counters with a low kick, right behind Shibasaki 's knee.
Makoto Shibasaki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Shibasaki gets the takedown into side control.
Machado is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Shibasaki asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Shibasaki tries for a kimura but Machado is defending well.
Shibasaki throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shibasaki is chipping away with strikes.
Shibasaki landing strikes.
Shibasaki throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Shibasaki looks up at the clock and then as Machado takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Shibasaki smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
An elbow from Shibasaki crashes against the mat.
Shibasaki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Machado keeps working.
Shibasaki advances to full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shibasaki lands a heavy elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shibasaki throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Machado because Shibasaki loaded up on that one.
Shibasaki controlling from the full mount.
Let's hope that Shibasaki has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shibasaki throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Machado is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Shibasaki with a couple of short strikes.
Shibasaki putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Machado is rocked!
Machado tries to buck Shibasaki off but he can't manage it.
Rodrigo Machado has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shibasaki controlling from the full mount.
Shibasaki's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Makoto Shibasaki is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Makoto Shibasaki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Shibasaki has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Makoto Shibasaki!
In his post fight interview, Makoto Shibasaki gave a big smile as he said 'We are all one!'.