PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yoshiro Chida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Borislav Shopov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Borislav Shopov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Chida
vs
Shopov

183 cm
27
209 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

195 cm
25
213 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

Knox Energy

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yoshiro Chida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Borislav Shopov!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Russell Pearce and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chida lands a leg kick that knocks Shopov off balance momentarily.
Chida lands with a kick to the temple. Shopov shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Chida moves out of range of the strikes.
Chida scores with a nice body kick.

Shopov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Shopov won't allow Chida to sweep him here.
Shopov advances to half guard.
Shopov trying to control the action but Chida is working from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Shopov in particular looking to stall.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shopov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Chida keeps working.
Shopov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shopov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Shopov tries to pass to full mount but Chida defends it.
Chida wants to get back to his feet.

Shopov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Chida sees it coming and defends easily.
Chida is not content to let Shopov control the position.
Shopov prevents Chida from standing back up.

Shopov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Chida defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shopov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Chida tries to get to full guard but Shopov has control of the leg.
Shopov is controlling the pace.

Shopov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Shopov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Chida doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Shopov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chida wants to control but Shopov is keeping busy.

Shopov is looking for a kimura but Chida is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Shopov to get the leverage.
Chida is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Chida looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Shopov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Shopov is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chida is looking for a sweep. Shopov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Shopov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Chida doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Shopov.
Chida trying to control but Shopov postures up.

Shopov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Shopov is looking to take a break and control but Chida is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Chida wants to control but Shopov is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Borislav Shopov dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Chida scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Chida thumps Shopov with a low kick.
Chida with a nice cross.
Nice jab there from Chida.
Shopov's coach down at Morbid Conditioning School $150 was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Shopov's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Chida connects with an inside leg kick.
Chida bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Shopov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Shopov takes one on the button.
Chida throws a wild body kick that Shopov sees coming a mile off.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Chida connects with a leg kick. Shopov looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Chida fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Chida pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Chida moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Chida misses with a two punch combination.
Chida throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chida fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Shopov.
Yoshiro Chida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Chida cracks the inside of Shopov's front leg.
Chida throws a one two combo.
Shopov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shopov.
Chida lands a head kick. Shopov smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Chida lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A chopping leg kick lands by Chida.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Chida.
Shopov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Chida sees it coming and avoids it easily.
No luck for Shopov with that takedown attempt.
Shopov is breathing heavily.
Chida throws a sloppy head kick and Shopov moves out of range easily.
Chida throws out a powerful jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chida lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Chida chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Yoshiro Chida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shopov takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Chida connects with a solid leg kick.
Chida throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Chida lands a head kick. Shopov smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Chida bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Shopov's head backwards.
Chida throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Shopov's head.
Chida connects with a right hand. Shopov shakes it off.
Chida throws a sloppy head kick and Shopov moves out of range easily.
Chida throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Shopov.
Chida defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Shopov.
Yoshiro Chida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Borislav Shopov.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Shopov crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Chida - the referee stops the clock and Shopov gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Chida. Shopov manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Yoshiro Chida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick misses from Chida.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shopov moves forwards but Chida connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Chida looks to land a combination but Shopov avoids it well.
Shopov blocks a head kick by Chida.
It looks like Chida has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Shopov just misses with a punch to the body.
Shopov has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Chida.
Chida scores with a body shot.
Shopov takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Shopov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Chida is trying to control but can't.
Shopov prevents Chida from improving his position.

Shopov is trying to work for a kimura but Chida is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shopov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Chida sees it coming and defends easily.
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!
Chida is not content to let Shopov control the position.
Chida is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Shopov is trying to control the action in half guard but Chida is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Chida tries to roll over but Shopov keeps him under control.

Shopov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Chida defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshiro Chida dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

A head kick misses from Chida.
Chida will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Chida stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Chida scores with a kick to the body.
Chida swinging wildly here.
Shopov looks to throw the jab but Chida is out of range.
Chida staying out of range there.

Shopov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Chida looking for a sweep. Not yet Chida, not yet.
Chida might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Shopov trying to control the position from guard on top but Chida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chida is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shopov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Chida keeping moving, preventing Shopov from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Borislav Shopov was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Chida ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Shopov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Chida on his heels. He'll look to pass Chida's guard now, I'm sure.

Shopov drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Chida dives on top into guard.
Chida postures up.
Shopov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shopov has his foot on Chida's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Chida works his way back into a safe position though.
Chida is in close to Shopov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Chida looking to sit in guard and control but Shopov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shopov trying to control the position from guard on top but Chida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Chida is on top in guard.
Chida has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Shopov is proving hard to escape from.
Shopov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Borislav Shopov has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shopov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Chida doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Chida manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Chida is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Chida pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shopov is keeping the position for now.
Shopov has Chida pulled in close to control his posture.
Chida trying to control but Shopov is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Chida has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Shopov to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Chida is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Shopov pulls down on the head and he's put Chida to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Borislav Shopov!
Yoshiro Chida was interviewed post fight and said 'Battle Lost but the War continues Team Goroshi - Knox Energy'.