PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rob Koch (ranked 4384 p4p, 4303 weight class) and Kure Shinigami (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.

Koch
vs
Shinigami

190 cm
18
185
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
20
195
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 New York, Rob Koch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kure Shinigami!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Jonathan Paton and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shinigami tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Koch defends well and Shinigami ends up having to push Koch into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
As Shinigami tries to get set, Koch tries to push him back and clinch up but Shinigami manages to avoid the attempt.
Shinigami shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Koch defends it nicely.
No luck for Koch with that takedown attempt.

Koch closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Shinigami tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Shinigami has a hand on Koch's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Koch takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koch looking to land elbow strikes but Shinigami uses the position to regain half guard.
Koch trying to pass the guard but Shinigami defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koch is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Koch throws a strike but Shinigami avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Shinigami not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Koch is stalling in the full guard.

Shinigami looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

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.
Koch is looking to stand up but Shinigami won't let him.
Shinigami can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Koch controls the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koch trying to control the position from guard on top but Shinigami is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Koch got a little sloppy there for a moment and Shinigami has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Koch has managed to get both his arms back between Shinigami's legs - danger averted.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Shinigami has Koch pulled in close to control his posture.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Koch shoots in but no luck this time.
Horrible takedown attempt by Shinigami or perhaps it was just good defense by Koch, which made it look bad.
Rob Koch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kure Shinigami.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinigami fails to land the takedown.
Koch stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Koch wants it to stay on the feet.
No luck for Shinigami with that takedown attempt.
Shinigami looks winded!

Koch closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Shinigami breaks the clinch.
Shinigami shoots in for a takedown but Koch shows good takedown defense.
Shinigami fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A nice leg kick from Shinigami, right into the meat of the thigh.
A head kick misses from Koch.
Shinigami throws a counter combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Koch rushes Shinigami and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Koch escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shinigami shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Koch pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A nice side step and Shinigami releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Koch lands a two punch combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Koch tries to clinch there but Shinigami circles away.
A slapping leg kick lands for Koch.

Koch moves into the clinch.
A knee to the head by Koch.

It looks like Kure Shinigami has been cut.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Koch putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Shinigami in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Koch escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Koch throws a head kick but Shinigami moves out of range.
And Shinigami tries to counter it with a takedown but Koch pushes his down on his head and steps out.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Koch dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kure Shinigami's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Shinigami tries to clinch up but Koch circles away and keeps his distance.
Shinigami shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Koch defends it nicely.
Koch appears to be looking for a big counter.

Koch clinches up against the cage.
Shinigami is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Koch to keep the fight standing.

Shinigami breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koch dives in for a single leg takedown but Shinigami sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Shinigami is looking for a takedown.
Rob Koch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kure Shinigami.

Shinigami breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Koch throws a sloppy head kick and Shinigami moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koch throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Shinigami's waist but Shinigami gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Koch off to one side.
Shinigami shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Koch fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Koch fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Koch fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shinigami steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Koch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Koch gets tackled into the cage by Shinigami. Shinigami maintains the clinch.
Shinigami looking for a takedown.
Shinigami is looking for a takedown.

Shinigami breaks the clinch.
Koch shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Shinigami pinned against the cage. Shinigami gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crunch! Shinigami slams his shin into Koch's torso.
Koch is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shinigami can do to turn this around?

Shinigami clinches with his opponent.
Shinigami has Koch pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Koch manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Shinigami breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Koch lands a high kick!
Shinigami tries to clinch up but Koch circles away and keeps his distance.
Rob Koch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shinigami has a takedown stuffed.
A counter left hand to the body from Koch misses its target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koch shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shinigami but Shinigami pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Koch tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shinigami swivels and escapes.

Shinigami moves into the clinch.

Shinigami manages to break the clinch.
Koch is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shinigami shoots in for a double leg but Koch sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Koch shoots in but no luck this time.
Koch shoots in for a double leg but Shinigami sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinigami fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Shinigami fails to land the takedown.

Koch closes the distance and clinches.
Shinigami tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Koch avoids it.
Shinigami drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Koch gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Koch tries to pull guard but Shinigami won't allow it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kure Shinigami showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kure Shinigami's cut.
That's time! Koch's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Koch tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shinigami shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Koch as he avoids it easily.
Rob Koch is winning the standup battle so far.
Koch wants to clinch

and Shinigami counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Koch manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Shinigami changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Koch tries to avoid it but Shinigami manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Koch to the ground. Koch escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Koch throws a right and a left that Shinigami avoids nicely.
Koch fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Shinigami avoids it really well and circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Koch is defended easily by Shinigami.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Shinigami has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Koch is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rob Koch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kure Shinigami.

Shinigami manages to break the clinch.
Shinigami wants to clinch.
Shinigami works over Koch's head and body with a nice combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koch looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Shinigami throws a head kick that misses.
Koch wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Shinigami shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Koch sprawls well. Koch wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Shinigami gets slowly back to his feet.
Shinigami tries to clinch but Koch is having none of it.
Shinigami misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Koch fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koch doesn't manage to clinch there - Shinigami circles away.
Shinigami wants to counter the offense by Koch and move into the clinch position.
Koch keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Koch tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Shinigami defends well and Koch ends up having to push Shinigami into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Koch escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Koch fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Koch closes the distance and clinches.
Shinigami fails to pull guard.

Koch has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Shinigami uses from the top position.

Koch looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinigami engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Shinigami slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Koch defending against the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Shinigami tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rob Koch.
Well Koch 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight for Rob Koch!
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight for Rob Koch!
Judge John Roberts scores the fight for Rob Koch!

Rob Koch wins by unanimous decision!