PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paul Maphingr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tsuyoshi Shibasaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Maphingr
vs
Shibasaki

175 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
18
168 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

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, Paul Maphingr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tsuyoshi Shibasaki!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maphingr throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Shibasaki was covering up waiting for the punch and Maphingr finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Maphingr wants to pass the guard but Shibasaki is keeping the position.
Maphingr is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Shibasaki is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Maphingr is aware though and is defending well.
Shibasaki looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Maphingr trying to control but Shibasaki is working from the bottom.
Maphingr trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Shibasaki is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Maphingr is aware though and is defending well.
Maphingr stands and throws Shibasaki's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Shibasaki is not content to let Maphingr control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shibasaki tries to buck Maphingr off but Maphingr is having none of it.
Maphingr looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Shibasaki is avoiding damage well.
Shibasaki is trying to control Maphingr's posture but Maphingr avoids it.
Maphingr trying to control the position but Shibasaki is working away.
Shibasaki is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Maphingr off and has taken his back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maphingr looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Shibasaki is looking to control Maphingr but Maphingr is wriggling around and keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shibasaki has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Maphingr tries to escape the position.
Maphingr breaks Shibasaki's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Shibasaki has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Maphingr has passed into side control.

Maphingr thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Shibasaki tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Maphingr wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shibasaki is trying to work for a sweep but Maphingr has mounted him!
Shibasaki tries to reverse the position but Maphingr maintains control.
Shibasaki keeps trying to improve his position.
Maphingr wants to stand but Shibasaki is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Shibasaki is trying desperately to improve position.
Maphingr looking to finish Shibasaki with some ground and pound. This is bad for Shibasaki!
Shibasaki looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Maphingr struggling to keep hold of the position.
Shibasaki tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shibasaki showing good submission defense here.
Shibasaki is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shibasaki breaks Maphingr's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Maphingr throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Shibasaki wants to pass the guard but Maphingr is keeping the position.
Maphingr not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shibasaki won't allow Maphingr to get back to his feet.
Maphingr keeping moving, preventing Shibasaki from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Maphingr dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Maphingr shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Shibasaki counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Shibasaki is looking to take a break and control but Maphingr is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Paul Maphingr overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shibasaki tries to pass to full mount but Maphingr defends it.
Maphingr wants to get back to his feet.

Maphingr looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Shibasaki is trying to control the action in half guard but Maphingr is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shibasaki thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Maphingr's head.
Maphingr wants to get back to his feet.

Shibasaki is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Maphingr doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Shibasaki.
Maphingr tries to get to full guard but Shibasaki has control of the leg.
Shibasaki trying to control from half guard but Maphingr is working away.
Shibasaki really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Maphingr. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Shibasaki slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shibasaki trying to control the action but Maphingr is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Shibasaki takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Tsuyoshi Shibasaki wasn't active enough on the ground.
Maphingr with a lazy takedown attempt

and Shibasaki counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Maphingr!

Shibasaki is trying to get an arm triangle but Maphingr is defending well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maphingr is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Shibasaki is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shibasaki is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Maphingr is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Shibasaki trying to control the action but Maphingr is working from the bottom.
Maphingr stops Shibasaki from passing to mount.
Shibasaki wants to control for a moment but Maphingr uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shibasaki wants to take a breather but Maphingr is having none of it.
Maphingr moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Shibasaki forces his way into half guard.
Maphingr won't allow Shibasaki to pass to mount.
Shibasaki with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shibasaki frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Shibasaki looking to control but Maphingr is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tsuyoshi Shibasaki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Maphingr with a poor takedown

so Shibasaki counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Shibasaki sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Shibasaki won't allow Maphingr to get back to his feet.
Shibasaki tries to free his leg and advance position but Maphingr is retaining full guard.
Maphingr manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Shibasaki manages to get himself to full guard.

Shibasaki has an active guard here but Maphingr has managed to pass into half guard.
Shibasaki trying to control but Maphingr postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shibasaki wants to get back to full guard.
Maphingr works his way into full mount!
Shibasaki tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Shibasaki is just holding on here. Maphingr manages to take his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maphingr tries to get the hooks in deep but Shibasaki pushed the leg off.
Shibasaki wants to escape the position.
Maphingr is not going to allow Shibasaki to sit and survive in this position.
You can see the frustration on Shibasaki's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Maphingr working for the choke.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Shibasaki is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Maphingr gets his way!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shibasaki can't escape the position.
Shibasaki is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Shibasaki is keeping busy.
Maphingr keeps control of the position as Shibasaki tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shibasaki trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Shibasaki rolls, trying to escape but Maphingr keeps control of the position.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Maphingr's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Maphingr is persistently looking for the submission but Shibasaki is defending it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shibasaki is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tsuyoshi Shibasaki.
I think Shibasaki 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Tsuyoshi Shibasaki!