PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pete Cherry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinya Imanari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Imanari's choice of entrance music: Era - Ameno. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Cherry
vs
Imanari

194 cm
23
265 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

175 cm
23
245 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

TFP Graphics
Crippler's Corner

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pete Cherry!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shinya Imanari!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Cecil Peabody and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Imanari tries for a takedown but Cherry sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cherry scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Shinya Imanari has been cut.
Imanari takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Imanari tries for a takedown but Cherry sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Cherry. No joy for Imanari on that attempt.
Pete Cherry has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinya Imanari.
Cherry misses with the combination.
Cherry keeps the fight on the outside.
Cherry works over Imanari's head and body with a nice combination.
Cherry punishes Imanari's body with a nice straight punch.
Cherry lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Cherry throws out a powerful jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imanari slips under a jab from Cherry.
Cherry dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Imanari tries to clinch up.
Imanari is looking to clinch but Cherry is avoiding it.
Nice shot lands for Cherry.
Cherry scores with a jab to the head.
A lazy left from Cherry finds it's target.
Cherry lands a slapping body shot.
No luck for Imanari with that takedown attempt.
Cherry tries to bum rush Imanari with a series of wild strikes but Imanari uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cherry keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cherry lands with an overhand left.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Imanari takes one on the button.
Cherry is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Cherry lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Cherry.
Jab, jab by Cherry - just one landing.
Horrible takedown by Imanari or perhaps it was just good defense by Cherry which made him look bad.
Cherry scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That has opened up Shinya Imanari's cut even more.
The fight stays on the outside here - Imanari looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cherry connects with a good right hand that stumbles Imanari. Imanari circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Imanari tries to clinch but Cherry is having none of it.
Imanari throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cherry's waist but Cherry gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Imanari off to one side.
Cherry jabs Imanari right on the nose. Imanari blinks but takes it well.
Imanari is trying desperately to land a takedown but Cherry is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Imanari.
Cherry lands with a straight right. Imanari didn't see that one coming.
Cherry works over Imanari's head and body with a nice combination.
Cherry smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A slow jab from Cherry misses its intended target.

Cherry shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cherry showed some decent athleticism there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cherry content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Cherry is trying to control the action in half guard but Imanari is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Imanari keeping hold of Cherry's head, controlling as best he can.
Imanari trying to hold on to Cherry's head to control him but Cherry postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pete Cherry dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shinya Imanari's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cherry closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Cherry will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Imanari trying to control but Cherry postures up.
Imanari is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cherry controlling the pace.
Cherry not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Imanari tries to roll over but Cherry keeps him under control.
Cherry landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imanari is not content to let Cherry control the position.
It looks like Cherry is going to stand back up.
Cherry wants to stand up but Imanari manages to regain full guard.
Imanari is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Imanari is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Imanari will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cherry shoots for a double leg takedown but Imanari sprawls well. He's pushed Cherry's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Imanari has his takedown stuffed
and Cherry counters with a one-two to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cherry misses with a few strikes there.
Cherry misses with a two punch combination.
Imanari misses with a takedown attempt
and Cherry makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Imanari defending well as Cherry loads up on a big left hand.
Pete Cherry is winning the standup battle so far.
Imanari gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Cherry counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cherry.
Pete Cherry has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinya Imanari.
Cherry wants to control from the top but Imanari keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imanari has control of Cherry's left arm, preventing Cherry from doing any damage.
Cherry sitting in guard here, content to control.
Cherry won't allow Imanari to sweep him here.
Cherry forces his way into half guard.
Imanari is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pete Cherry dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Shinya Imanari's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Cherry misses with a two punch combination.

Cherry shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cherry trying to control but Imanari is working from the bottom.
Imanari is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cherry trying to control the position from guard on top but Imanari is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Imanari looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cherry wants to control from the top but Imanari keeps moving.

Imanari looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cherry passes into half guard.
Imanari has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cherry is working away from the top position though.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Imanari walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Imanari closes the distance but Cherry moves to the side
and Cherry counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Imanari has his takedown stuffed
and Cherry counters with a straight right hand.
Imanari with a poor takedown
and Cherry counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Imanari thinking.
Cherry scores with a jab to the jaw.
Cherry comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Imanari gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Cherry counter with a right hand.
Pete Cherry has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinya Imanari.
Imanari takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imanari doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Cherry lands a body shot.
Cherry lands an overhand right.
Cherry tests Imanari's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cherry throws a series of strikes that have Imanari backpedaling.
Cherry ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Cherry is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Imanari can do to turn this around?

Imanari gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Cherry trying to stand up but can't free himself from Imanari's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imanari pulls Cherry in close to his closed guard and prevents Cherry from doing any damage or advancing position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cherry trying to control but Imanari is working from the bottom.
Shinya Imanari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pete Cherry is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Imanari is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pete Cherry showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cherry 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight for Pete Cherry!
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight for Pete Cherry!
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight for Pete Cherry!

Pete Cherry wins by unanimous decision!