PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yoshi Kabala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arthur Shawcross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kabala
vs
Shawcross

179 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Dissolution Fight Wear
KAISER Nutrition (160!/220$)

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yoshi Kabala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arthur Shawcross!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kabala drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kabala slows the pace down.
Shawcross is looking to regain half guard here but Kabala keeps moving and retains side control.
Kabala wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shawcross keeps working.
You can see the frustration on Shawcross's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Shawcross is trying to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kabala is looking to take a break and control but Shawcross is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shawcross is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Kabala stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Shawcross misses with a takedown attempt

and Kabala counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kabala.

Shawcross has his foot on Kabala's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kabala works his way back into a safe position though.
Kabala in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kabala has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shawcross wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Kabala is now in half guard.

Kabala stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Kabala shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kabala showed some decent athleticism there.
Shawcross is looking to improve his position.

Shawcross is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kabala pulls his head out easily.

Shawcross looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kabala looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Kabala is controlling the pace.

Shawcross is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kabala pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Shawcross looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kabala is keen to just control but Shawcross is a slippery customer.

Shawcross looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kabala not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kabala sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shawcross defending well though.
Kabala prevents Shawcross from improving his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kabala throwing shots but Shawcross is blocking nicely.
Kabala not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Kabala moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Shawcross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshi Kabala dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kabala looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Shawcross is looking for a triangle but Kabala pushes his legs off easily.
Shawcross is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Shawcross is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kabala is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shawcross throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kabala wants to stand but Shawcross has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kabala won't allow Shawcross to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shawcross keeping moving, preventing Kabala from controlling successfully.
Kabala is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Shawcross is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Shawcross throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Kabala escapes and throws Shawcross's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Kabala trying to control the position but Shawcross is working away.
Shawcross defending against the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Shawcross is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Kabala is trying to control the action in half guard but Shawcross is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kabala throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Shawcross is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kabala pulls his head out easily.
Shawcross wants to control but Kabala is keeping busy.
Kabala controlling the action here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kabala trying to pass the guard but Shawcross defending well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kabala tries to clinch but Shawcross is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kabala throws a hook but Shawcross avoids it easily.

Kabala drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kabala controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Shawcross isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Kabala stacks Shawcross on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Kabala!
Kabala wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shawcross keeps working.
Shawcross avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Kabala.
Kabala wants to control but Shawcross is keeping him busy.
Kabala happy to just control the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kabala tries to advance to mount but Shawcross denies him.
Shawcross is trying to control Kabala's posture but Kabala avoids it.
Kabala throwing strikes but Shawcross manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

Shawcross tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kabala is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshi Kabala dominated that second round.
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!

Shawcross tries for a takedown but Kabala circles away easily

and Kabala counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kabala wants to control but Shawcross is keeping him busy.

Shawcross looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Shawcross wants to sweep but Kabala has passed to side control!
Kabala in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kabala tries to advance to mount but Shawcross denies him.
Shawcross tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Kabala presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Shawcross is desperately trying to improve his position but Kabala has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kabala avoids the attempt from Shawcross to control.
Kabala looking to control but Shawcross is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Kabala moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Shawcross has worked his arm free - good work by Shawcross!
Shawcross gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Kabala wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shawcross keeps working.
Arthur Shawcross has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Shawcross works his way to full guard. Good work.
Yoshi Kabala overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kabala slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Shawcross has his foot on Kabala's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kabala works his way back into a safe position though.

Kabala avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Shawcross looking for subs off his back but Kabala has passed one foot through into half guard.
Shawcross takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kabala is trying to work for a kimura but Shawcross is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shawcross looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kabala is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shawcross can do to turn this around?
Kabala passes the guard and advances to mount!
Kabala wants to control the pace but Shawcross is squirming around nicely.
Kabala controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kabala throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Shawcross because Kabala loaded up on that one.
Kabala trying to control but Shawcross is having none of it.
Shawcross is trying desperately to improve position.
Kabala takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kabala thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Yoshi Kabala is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shawcross is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoshi Kabala showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kabala has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Yoshi Kabala!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight for Yoshi Kabala!
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Yoshi Kabala!

Yoshi Kabala wins by unanimous decision!
Yoshi Kabala decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.