PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ahti Kaleva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tenko Shinata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kaleva comes to the cage accompanied by Jääkärimarssi. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kaleva
vs
Shinata

180 cm
26
255 lbs
3 - 2 - 1

190 cm
26
225 lbs
3 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Ahti Kaleva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Tenko Shinata!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Hirohito Nitta and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shinata shoots in and drives through. Kaleva sprawls well.

Shinata drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Kaleva is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Shinata is aware though and is defending well.

Shinata is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Kaleva is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Kaleva has escaped and now he's on top!

Kaleva is looking to work some ground and pound but Shinata has wrist control.
Kaleva keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Shinata's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaleva scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kaleva throwing strikes from guard but Shinata blocks nicely.
Shinata looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaleva looking to pass the guard.
Kaleva throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shinata utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shinata working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kaleva.
Shinata controls Kaleva momentarily but Kaleva frees himself.
Shinata is pulling down on Kaleva's head to control his posture.
Kaleva makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kaleva has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Kaleva has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kaleva accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kaleva sitting in guard here, content to control.
Shinata looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Shinata wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Kaleva looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Shinata!
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Shinata is trying to control Kaleva's posture but Kaleva avoids it.
Shinata is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinata is still trying to improve position.
Shinata struggling a bit here.
Kaleva lands a few punches from side control.
Kaleva trying to control the position but Shinata is working away.
Kaleva throws a strike aimed at the side of Shinata's head but Shinata avoids it well.
Shinata trying to control but Kaleva flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaleva lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Kaleva.
Kaleva is hanging on to Shinata's back as he tries to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kaleva lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Kaleva is hanging on to Shinata's back as he tries to escape.
Kaleva throws a series of strikes and Shinata wriggles onto his back, so he's now mounted. He's in real trouble here.
Shinata tries to lock up and control but Kaleva gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kaleva raining down hammerfists from mount.
Shinata is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kaleva has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Shinata's face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahti Kaleva dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Shinata looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kaleva is fending him off so far but Shinata persists. Nope, Kaleva circles away and we're back to standing.
Shinata looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kaleva stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kaleva wants it to stay on the feet.
Ahti Kaleva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tenko Shinata.
Shinata shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kaleva sprawls well. Kaleva wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Shinata gets slowly back to his feet.
Kaleva feinted with a counter takedown.
Shinata shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kaleva but Kaleva pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Kaleva scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kaleva is looking to take a break and control but Shinata is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shinata managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kaleva.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ground and pound from Kaleva seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaleva looks up at the clock and then as Shinata takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Kaleva smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Shinata on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Kaleva throws an elbow but Shinata slips to the side and avoids it well.
An elbow from Kaleva crashes against the mat.
Kaleva throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Shinata is looking to reverse the position.
Ahti Kaleva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shinata is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kaleva off and has taken his back!

Kaleva showing good submission defense here.

Kaleva is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Well, with Shinata on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Kaleva is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shinata is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Kaleva knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Kaleva for a finish.

Shinata has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Kaleva has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Kaleva tries to roll but Shinata sticks to his back.

Shinata tightening his grip on Kaleva, looking for the choke.
Kaleva is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shinata can do to turn this around?
Kaleva tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinata is trying to stick to Kaleva's back but Kaleva is turning into Shinata. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Shinata's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Kaleva.
Kaleva loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Shinata seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Shinata looking for a sweep. Not yet Shinata, not yet.
Kaleva wants to control from the top but Shinata keeps moving.
Shinata has momentary wrist control but Kaleva slips an elbow through the middle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinata pulls Kaleva in to control the position.
Kaleva missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kaleva throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kaleva postures up.
Kaleva postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kaleva throws an elbow that misses. Shinata uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kaleva's guard. Nice move by Shinata!

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Shinata drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kaleva dives on top into guard.

Shinata is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahti Kaleva dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kaleva shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Shinata's guard.
Shinata keeping moving, preventing Kaleva from controlling successfully.
Kaleva throws a strike but Shinata rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Shinata wants to control from the top but Kaleva keeps moving.

Shinata got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kaleva has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Shinata has managed to get both his arms back between Kaleva's legs - danger averted.
Kaleva is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shinata drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kaleva looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kaleva looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kaleva!

Shinata wants to control but Kaleva postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinata is trying to improve his position.
Kaleva in side control lands a decent elbow.
Shinata tries to bench press Kaleva off him but Kaleva keeps the position.
Kaleva trying to control the action but Shinata is working from the bottom.
Shinata is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kaleva's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

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.
Kaleva looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kaleva throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kaleva throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kaleva lands a nice short elbow.
Shinata is looking to improve his position.
Ground and pound from Kaleva.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinata wants to get back to full guard.

Kaleva seems to be working for a kimura but Shinata defends the submission attempt.
Kaleva lands strikes from half guard.
Shinata is refusing to be controlled, as Kaleva sits in half guard.
Kaleva not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kaleva not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Kaleva gets a double leg takedown into Shinata's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaleva is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kaleva trying to control the position from guard on top but Shinata is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kaleva loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Shinata is trying to control the position but Kaleva postures up.
Kaleva won't allow Shinata to sweep him here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shinata utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kaleva controls from within his opponent's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ahti Kaleva showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kaleva 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ahti Kaleva!
A victorious Ahti Kaleva thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.