PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Lorenz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinji Koshizuka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lorenz comes into the arena with Face the Pain blaring out of the sound system. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Lorenz
vs
Koshizuka

170 cm
18
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Thomas Lorenz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Shinji Koshizuka!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Nard Betker and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koshizuka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lorenz tries to avoid it but Koshizuka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lorenz to the ground. Lorenz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Lorenz shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Koshizuka's guard.
Lorenz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Koshizuka swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Koshizuka is looking for a triangle here but Lorenz uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Koshizuka tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Lorenz presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Lorenz sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Lorenz avoids the attempt from Koshizuka to control.
Lorenz looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lorenz wants to control the pace but Koshizuka is squirming around nicely.
Koshizuka is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koshizuka is looking to improve his position but Lorenz isn't that keen on the idea.

Lorenz is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Koshizuka fails with the takedown

and Lorenz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Koshizuka is looking for a triangle but Lorenz pushes his legs off easily.
Koshizuka looks gassed!
Lorenz slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koshizuka keeping moving, preventing Lorenz from controlling successfully.
Koshizuka 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.
Koshizuka keeping moving, preventing Lorenz from controlling successfully.
Koshizuka working a defensive guard but Lorenz passes into half guard.

Koshizuka looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lorenz trying to control the action but Koshizuka is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A combination from Lorenz does no damage.
Thomas Lorenz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lorenz with a lazy takedown attempt

and Koshizuka counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Lorenz!
Lorenz is trying desperately to improve position.
Lorenz wants to control but Koshizuka is having none of it.
Koshizuka looking to control but Lorenz is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Koshizuka jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Lorenz is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Lorenz and Koshizuka has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Lorenz wants to control but Koshizuka postures up.
Lorenz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Koshizuka on the ground.
Koshizuka controls the position.
Lorenz tries to buck Koshizuka off but Koshizuka is having none of it.
Lorenz struggling a bit here.
Koshizuka taking a break here but Lorenz is having none of it and regains half guard.

Koshizuka wants to work for an arm triangle but Lorenz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Lorenz dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lorenz with a poor takedown

and Koshizuka counters with a takedown into side control.

Koshizuka stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Koshizuka closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Koshizuka lands in his opponent's guard.
Koshizuka looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lorenz pulls Koshizuka in close to prevent any damage.
Koshizuka postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lorenz wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Koshizuka is now in half guard.
Koshizuka is controlling the pace.
Koshizuka is thwarting Lorenz's attempts to control the position.
Koshizuka trying to control from half guard but Lorenz is working away.
Koshizuka prevents Lorenz from improving his position.

That's two 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.
Lorenz trying to control here.
Lorenz tries to get to full guard but Koshizuka has control of the leg.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Koshizuka tries a head kick but it misses.

Koshizuka decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Koshizuka sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lorenz defending well though.

Koshizuka is trying to work for a kimura but Lorenz is defending well.
Lorenz on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koshizuka seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lorenz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Koshizuka is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Lorenz is refusing to be controlled, as Koshizuka sits in half guard.
Koshizuka might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Lorenz kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Koshizuka prevents Lorenz from improving his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Lorenz doesn't succeed with the takedown

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koshizuka keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Koshizuka is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Koshizuka is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Lorenz can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Koshizuka looking to control but Lorenz is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Koshizuka working the ground and pound effectively.
Lorenz is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Koshizuka landing punches.
Lorenz tries to hold on but Koshizuka pushes him away.

Koshizuka stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinji Koshizuka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lorenz fails with the takedown

and Koshizuka counters with a takedown into side control.
Koshizuka trying to control the action but Lorenz is working from the bottom.

Koshizuka working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Lorenz is trying to get back to half guard.
Koshizuka trying to control the action but Lorenz is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Koshizuka tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Koshizuka has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Koshizuka laying and praying for a moment but Lorenz takes advantage and regains half guard.
Koshizuka is thwarting Lorenz's attempts to control the position.

That's two 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.
Lorenz wants to control the action here but instead Koshizuka manages to pass to full mount!
Koshizuka wants to control the pace but Lorenz is squirming around nicely.

Koshizuka goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Lorenz turns into him and now he's in Koshizuka's guard.
Lorenz preventing the sweep.
Lorenz sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Lorenz postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koshizuka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Koshizuka escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lorenz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Lorenz wants to pass the guard but Koshizuka is keeping the position.

Koshizuka is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lorenz is aware though and is defending well.
Lorenz stopping the sweep attempt from Koshizuka.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Lorenz rushes Koshizuka and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Koshizuka tries to break the clinch but Lorenz is controlling the position.
Lorenz fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Koshizuka jumps guard but Lorenz stands there with Koshizuka around his waist. Koshizuka gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Koshizuka drops down looking for an ankle pick but Lorenz pulls his leg out and moves away.
Koshizuka dodges the punch combination from Lorenz.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lorenz has his takedown stuffed

and Koshizuka moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Lorenz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lorenz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Koshizuka gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shinji Koshizuka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Koshizuka has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shinji Koshizuka!