PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Custo Lombardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ikasami Shimada (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.

Lombardo
vs
Shimada

220 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

198 cm
25
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Custo Lombardo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ikasami Shimada!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Dirk Anderson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lombardo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lombardo misses with a takedown attempt - Shimada sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Shimada looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Lombardo!
Sloppy strikes there by Shimada.
Lombardo is not content to let Shimada control the position.

Shimada stands up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shimada fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shimada tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lombardo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Shimada shoots in but Lombardo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Lombardo misses the target.
Shimada is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Lombardo.
Shimada tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lombardo paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Shimada throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Lombardo was covering up waiting for the punch and Shimada finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Lombardo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shimada is one step ahead there.
Lombardo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Lombardo controls Shimada momentarily but Shimada frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lombardo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Shimada wants to control from the top but Lombardo keeps moving.
Shimada sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Lombardo's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shimada wants to control but Lombardo is keeping him busy.

Shimada stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Lombardo to get to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lombardo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Custo Lombardo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lombardo is looking to clinch but Shimada is avoiding it.
Shimada shoots in looking for a takedown. Lombardo tries to sprawl out of it but Shimada keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lombardo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Lombardo has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shimada has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Lombardo after a bit of a struggle.
Shimada fails to pull guard.

Lombardo breaks from the clinch.
Lombardo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Shimada.
Shimada shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lombardo as he jumps to the side.
Lombardo changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Lombardo lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Shimada at a distance.
Lombardo tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Shimada defends well and Lombardo ends up having to push Shimada into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Shimada changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Lombardo lands a head shot.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lombardo goes for a double leg but Shimada avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Shimada continues to drive forward.
Lombardo is breathing heavily.
Danga de danga de dang - Lombardo scores with a four punch combination!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lombardo slaps away a takedown attempt from Shimada, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Custo Lombardo dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Lombardo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Shimada circles away.
Lombardo throws a head kick that misses.

Shimada darts in and clinches Lombardo up against the cage.

Shimada manages to break the clinch.
Lombardo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shimada paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shimada tries to clinch there but Lombardo circles away.

Lombardo closes the distance and pushes Shimada back into the cage.
Shimada prevents a takedown attempt there.

Lombardo is fighting off a takedown attempt but Shimada is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Lombardo to the mat. Lombardo regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Lombardo is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shimada tries to pull guard but Lombardo holds him up against the cage and eventually Shimada drops back down to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shimada can't get the takedown.
Lombardo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Shimada pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Custo Lombardo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lombardo.
Shimada tries to counter by closing the distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shimada throws a nice outside leg kick.
Custo Lombardo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lombardo tries to close the distance and clinch but Shimada swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shimada changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lombardo tries to avoid it but Shimada manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lombardo to the ground. Lombardo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Shimada shoots in for a double leg but Lombardo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Lombardo moves into the clinch successfully.
Lombardo prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lombardo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Shimada smiles and moves away.
Lombardo looks for a takedown but Shimada sprawls well.
Nice sprawl there from Lombardo as Shimada shoots in.
Lombardo shoots for a takedown but Shimada saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Shimada is defended easily by Lombardo.

Shimada changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lombardo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
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!
Lombardo wants to control but Shimada postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shimada working the ground and pound but Lombardo is defending the strikes.
Lombardo is trying to control Shimada's posture but Shimada avoids it.
Lombardo tries to improve position but can't.
Shimada takes a little break here. Lombardo wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Lombardo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Shimada wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Lombardo parries the strikes from Shimada easily there. Shimada is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Lombardo to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lombardo is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Shimada is controlling him well.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Shimada scores with a takedown into Lombardo's guard.
Ikasami Shimada has got the better of the ground game so far.

Lombardo throws his legs up looking for a submission but Shimada uses it to pass to side control.
Lombardo is looking to reverse the position.
Shimada controlling from side mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ikasami Shimada will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Shimada fails with the takedown
and Lombardo counters with a left to the body.
Shimada throws a right hand that Lombardo ducks under and follows up with a left that Lombardo also avoids with ease.
Lombardo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Shimada keeps the fight on the outside.
Donk. Lombardo catches Shimada right on the button with a cross.

Lombardo rushes Shimada and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Shimada fails to land.
Shimada wants to take the fight to the mat but Lombardo manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shimada has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Lombardo after a bit of a struggle.
Custo Lombardo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ikasami Shimada.
Shimada takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shimada is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Shimada has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Lombardo after a bit of a struggle.
Lombardo fails to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shimada tries for a takedown. No joy.
Shimada is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Lombardo to keep the fight standing.

Lombardo gets control of Shimada's arms and successfully pulls guard. Lombardo will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Shimada throws a strike but Lombardo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Lombardo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Shimada's guard.
Lombardo controlling the action here.

Lombardo seems to be working for a kimura but Shimada defends the submission attempt.

Lombardo decides to stand and escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lombardo throws a low kick but it's checked well by Shimada.
Shimada lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Shimada misses with a hook.
No luck for Shimada with that takedown attempt.
Shimada takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Lombardo instigates a clinch.
Lombardo is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Shimada is defending well.
Shimada tries to pull guard but Lombardo forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lombardo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Lombardo lands a body punch in the clinch.
Lombardo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Lombardo is looking to break free of the clinch but Shimada has double underhooks.
Lombardo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Shimada is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A frustrated look appears on Lombardo's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Shimada tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Shimada wants a takedown but no success here.
A frustrated look appears on Lombardo's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Lombardo is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Shimada to keep the fight standing.
Shimada trying to stall but Lombardo improves his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Lombardo manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Lombardo is looking for a triangle here but Shimada uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Lombardo is not content to let Shimada control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
You can see the frustration on Lombardo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Custo Lombardo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lombardo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Custo Lombardo!