PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shibukawa Gouki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Ehrenholm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ehrenholm has chosen Pride FC Theme as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Gouki
vs
Ehrenholm

168 cm
24
140 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

172 cm
18
135 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shibukawa Gouki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marcus Ehrenholm!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gouki feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gouki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gouki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Gouki drops back looking for a leg! Ehrenholm is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ehrenholm manages to kick Gouki off! Gouki jumps back into Ehrenholm's guard.

Gouki thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ehrenholm has his hands on Gouki's head, controlling the position.
Gouki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ehrenholm swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ehrenholm looking to control.
Gouki won't allow Ehrenholm to sweep him here.
Ehrenholm keeping full guard, as Gouki tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ehrenholm shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Gouki counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ehrenholm's guard now.
Gouki prevents Ehrenholm from getting back to his feet.
Gouki passes Ehrenholm's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Gouki wants to work for an arm triangle but Ehrenholm is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gouki is breathing heavily.

Gouki looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Ehrenholm is trying to maintain the position but Gouki is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gouki wants to control but Ehrenholm is keeping him busy.
Gouki is thwarting Ehrenholm's attempts to control the position.
Ehrenholm is trying to stand up here but Gouki is controlling him well.
Ehrenholm trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ehrenholm is concentrating on defense, preventing Gouki from advancing position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ehrenholm with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gouki counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gouki content to control rather than advance.

Gouki is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ehrenholm sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ehrenholm has one foot on Gouki's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Ehrenholm closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gouki to the mat! Gouki manages to get full guard.

Gouki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gouki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ehrenholm tries to free his leg and advance position but Gouki is retaining full guard.

Ehrenholm gets to his feet - Gouki follows without any prompting.
Ehrenholm has his takedown stuffed

and Gouki counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ehrenholm's guard now.
Shibukawa Gouki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Ehrenholm.
Ehrenholm avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ehrenholm keeping full guard, as Gouki tries to pass.
Ehrenholm tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Gouki is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shibukawa Gouki 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.

Ehrenholm shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Gouki counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gouki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ehrenholm works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Gouki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gouki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gouki trying to control the position from guard on top but Ehrenholm is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gouki passes Ehrenholm's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gouki is looking to stall here but Ehrenholm recovers full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ehrenholm wants to sweep here but Gouki controlling him for the moment.
Shibukawa Gouki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gouki trying to move into half guard but instead Ehrenholm has managed to sweep!
Gouki keeping moving, preventing Ehrenholm from controlling successfully.
Ehrenholm wants to stand but Gouki has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ehrenholm tries to free his leg and advance position but Gouki is retaining full guard.
Ehrenholm wants to get up but he can't break Gouki's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ehrenholm has his takedown stuffed

and Gouki counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gouki wants to control from the top but Ehrenholm keeps moving.
Gouki passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ehrenholm is looking to improve his position.
Ehrenholm wants to get back to his feet.
Ehrenholm regains full guard. Nicely done.

Gouki thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ehrenholm is controlling Gouki's posture.
Gouki trying to control but Ehrenholm is working from the bottom.
Ehrenholm looking for a sweep. Not yet Ehrenholm, not yet.

That's four 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.
Gouki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ehrenholm swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ehrenholm not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gouki wants to control from the top but Ehrenholm keeps moving.

Gouki thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gouki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ehrenholm thows a leg kick but Gouki checks it

and Gouki counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gouki is thwarting Ehrenholm's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shibukawa Gouki dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ehrenholm closes the distance looking to clinch

and Gouki counters with a single leg into guard. Ehrenholm didn't expect that.
Gouki passes into half guard.

Gouki seems to be working for a kimura but Ehrenholm defends the submission attempt.
Ehrenholm misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ehrenholm is looking to control Gouki's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ehrenholm avoid being mounted?
Gouki not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ehrenholm wants to get back to full guard but Gouki has passed into side control.

Gouki jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Ehrenholm manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Ehrenholm bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Gouki shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ehrenholm counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Gouki is working an open guard so Ehrenholm takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ehrenholm goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Ehrenholm shoots in looking for a takedown. Gouki tries to sprawl out of it but Ehrenholm keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gouki manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Gouki closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gouki lands in his opponent's guard.

Gouki thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gouki wants to control from the top but Ehrenholm keeps moving.
Ehrenholm manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Ehrenholm working for a submission but Gouki is keeping him at bay.
Ehrenholm looking to control but Gouki is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ehrenholm wants to get back to his feet but Gouki is holding on tight.
Gouki is trying desperately to improve position.
Marcus Ehrenholm has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shibukawa Gouki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Ehrenholm swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Gouki is now in Ehrenholm's guard. A big mistake from Ehrenholm there, giving up the dominant position!

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 Shibukawa Gouki.
Well Gouki 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shibukawa Gouki!