PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shah Tiger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Levan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Tiger
vs
Levan

180 cm
20
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shah Tiger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Josh Levan!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Ren Mimura and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Levan lunges at Tiger with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Tiger's hand.
Tiger takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Tiger connects with a high kick.
Tiger takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tiger swats away the attempt to clinch by Levan.
Levan shoots in looking for a takedown but Tiger manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Levan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Levan lands a head shot.
Tiger wants to clinch
and Levan makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tiger tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Levan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tiger changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Tiger shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Levan as he avoids it easily.

Tiger forces Levan back against the cage and clinches.
Tiger tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Levan's elbow.
Tiger is trying to pull guard but Levan has him pressed against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Levan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Levan prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shah Tiger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Levan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tiger.
Tiger has Levan pressed against the cage, preventing Levan from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Levan can't get the takedown.
Levan is trying to break the clinch but Tiger is controlling him.
Levan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Levan.
Tiger trying to control the position but instead, Levan has worked for underhooks and has pushed Tiger into the cage.
Levan is looking to take this one to the mat.

Levan breaks from the clinch.
Josh Levan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Levan looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tiger is defended easily by Levan.
Tiger shoots in looking for a takedown but Levan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Tiger's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Levan lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Shah Tiger has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tiger looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Levan is fending him off so far but Tiger persists. Nope, Levan circles away and we're back to standing.
Tiger is breathing heavily.
Levan looks to land a combination but Tiger avoids it well.
Levan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tiger.
A punch combination from Levan misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tiger.
Tiger throws a nice looking combination but Levan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Levan throws a head kick that misses
and Tiger counters with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Levan is defended easily by Tiger.
Tiger throws a sloppy head kick and Levan moves out of range easily.
Levan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tiger swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Levan shoots in and bounces Tiger off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Tiger looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Levan connects with a couple of short punches.

Levan stands up from Tiger's guard - Levan perhaps looking for a knockout.
Tiger closes this distance looking for a takedown but Levan circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Levan lands a slapping body shot.
Tiger blocks a head kick by Levan.
Levan with a nice cross.
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!

Levan shoots in and gets a takedown into Tiger's guard.
Tiger wants to sweep but no luck.
Levan lands a couple of elbows.
Levan trying to control the position from guard on top but Tiger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Levan works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Levan winds up and cracks Tiger with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Levan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shah Tiger's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tiger has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Levan throws a head kick that misses
and Tiger counters with an outside leg kick.

Levan clinches with his opponent.

Levan has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Tiger clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Levan scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Tiger is trapped and Levan is scoring with shots to the head and body.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tiger is trying to get back to his feet but Levan has full control of the position and if anything, Tiger has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Tiger controlling Levan 's hands.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tiger manages to reverse the position and now he's in Levan's guard. Nice work there by Tiger.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Levan working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Tiger has passed into half guard!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Levan makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Levan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Levan throws a low kick but Tiger avoids it.
Levan misses with a two punch combination.
Levan shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Tiger eats them both and turns towards Levan to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Tiger avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Tiger has taken the fight to the clinch.
Tiger wants a takedown but no success here.
Tiger slows down the pace here.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Tiger. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tiger breaks the clinch.
Nice uppercut lands for Levan. That snapped Tiger's head back.
Tiger slaps away a takedown attempt from Levan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Tiger tries to clinch but Levan moves away

and Levan counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Levan won't allow Tiger to get back to his feet.
Levan has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Tiger is proving hard to escape from.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Levan's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Levan postures up in Tiger's guard and throws a big left but Tiger blocks it.
Tiger can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Levan controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Levan trying to control the position from guard on top but Tiger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Levan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Levan lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Levan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Levan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Levan scoring with punches to the head and body.
Tiger is trying to control the position but Levan postures up.
Levan won't allow Tiger to get back to his feet.
Levan wants to pass the guard but Tiger is keeping the position.
Levan looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tiger has momentary wrist control but Levan slips an elbow through the middle.
Levan sitting in guard here, content to control.

Levan drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Levan jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Levan is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Levan works over Tiger with some ground and pound from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Levan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Shah Tiger's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Levan stuffs the takedown.

Levan fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tiger, pushing him back against the cage.
Tiger scores a nice knee to the body.
Levan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Levan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tiger has him pressed against the cage.
Tiger tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Levan smiles and moves away.
Levan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Levan tries a head kick but it misses.
Levan throws out a leg kick but Tiger moves out of range and Levan only half commits.
Levan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Levan avoids the head kick by Tiger.
Levan misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Levan doesn't manage to clinch there - Tiger circles away.
Josh Levan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tiger is looking to clinch but Levan is avoiding it.
No joy there for Tiger, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Shah Tiger is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tiger tries to clinch but Levan is having none of it.
Tiger really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Levan takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Levan scores with a body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Tiger. No joy for Levan on that attempt.
Tiger avoids the head kick by Levan.
Tiger fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shah Tiger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Levan circles away from the clinch attempt.

Levan shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Tiger's guard.
Levan throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tiger trying to keep a closed guard but Levan is proving a slippery customer.

Tiger looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Levan controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Levan wants to pass the guard but Tiger is keeping the position.
Levan wants to control from the top but Tiger keeps moving.
Levan throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Levan landing some decent shots from guard.

Levan stands up and waves to Tiger to follow him.
Tiger shoots for a double leg takedown but Levan sprawls well. He's pushed Tiger's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Levan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Levan has managed to clinch.
Tiger wants to take the fight to the mat but Levan manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Tiger blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Levan drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Levan has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Tiger after a bit of a struggle.
Levan wants to break the clinch but can't.
Levan stops a takedown attempt from Tiger.
A head punch on the inside from Tiger fails to land.

Levan breaks from the clinch.

Levan closes the distance and pushes Tiger back into the cage.
Tiger is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Tiger is fighting off a takedown attempt but Levan is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Tiger to the mat. Tiger regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Levan passes into half guard.
Shah Tiger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Josh Levan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Josh Levan has got the better of the ground game so far.

Tiger looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Levan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Levan 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Josh Levan!
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Josh Levan!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Josh Levan!

Josh Levan wins by unanimous decision!