PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mahdi Makungu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zygarath Shinsaku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Makungu kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Nelly - Heart of a Champion. Zygarath Shinsaku is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Makungu
vs
Shinsaku

174 cm
29
156 lbs
18 - 9 - 1

185 cm
24
153 lbs
12 - 5 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Mahdi Makungu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 2, fighting out of New York, Zygarath Shinsaku!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paulsen Ambrosius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Makungu throws a body punch but Shinsaku moves out of range.
Zygarath Shinsaku seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shinsaku throws a push kick but Makungu slaps the foot to one side.
Shinsaku throws a head kick that misses
and Makungu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Shinsaku wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Shinsaku throws a leg kick
enabling Makungu to counter with a crisp jab.
Makungu throws a series of punches but Shinsaku moves out of range.
A low kick from Shinsaku misses

and Makungu counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Shinsaku looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Makungu puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Shinsaku is trying is best to control the position here.
Shinsaku wants to improve his position but Makungu is controlling well.
Shinsaku is trying to maintain the position but Makungu is very close to passing his half guard.
Shinsaku tries to get to full guard but Makungu has control of the leg.
Shinsaku slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makungu throwing strikes from guard but Shinsaku blocks nicely.
Shinsaku is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Shinsaku is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Shinsaku trying to keep a closed guard but Makungu is proving a slippery customer.
Makungu wants to pass the guard but Shinsaku is keeping the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Makungu showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Zygarath Shinsaku was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Makungu cracks a nice hook into Shinsaku's ribs.
Makungu avoids a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Shinsaku misses with a low kick.
Makungu just misses with a punch to the body.
An inside leg kick from Shinsaku misses.
Shinsaku throws a leg kick that is checked

so Makungu counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Shinsaku preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shinsaku lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Makungu!
Shinsaku content just to control the position here.
Makungu is looking to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shinsaku wants to control the pace but Makungu is squirming around nicely.
Shinsaku avoids the attempt from Makungu to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinsaku looking to control and managing it successfully.
Makungu really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Shinsaku content just to control the position here.
Makungu is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Shinsaku avoids the attempt from Makungu to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Makungu is wriggling around trying to escape.
Makungu sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Makungu tries to roll over but Shinsaku keeps him under control.

Shinsaku decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Makungu takes a kick to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A jab lands there for Makungu.
Shinsaku throws a leg kick
and Makungu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Makungu looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mahdi Makungu dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Shinsaku is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A low kick from Shinsaku misses
and Makungu counters with a three punch combo that has Shinsaku backing up. Shinsaku nods at Makungu to acknowledge the strikes.
Shinsaku has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Shinsaku there as he acknowledges the shot.
Shinsaku looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Shinsaku lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Shinsaku fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Makungu checks it well.
Shinsaku tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shinsaku throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Makungu sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A swing and a miss from Makungu.
Shinsaku misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shinsaku throws a leg kick but Makungu checks it.
Shinsaku misses with a leg kick
and Makungu counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Makungu misses with a wild combination.
Shinsaku throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makungu takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Shinsaku throws a sloppy head kick
and Makungu counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shinsaku lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Shinsaku moves out of range of the strikes.
A solid leg kick lands there for Shinsaku.
Makungu takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A head kick misses from Shinsaku.
Shinsaku tries a low kick but Makungu avoids it.
Shinsaku misses with a low kick as Makungu jumps back.
Shinsaku turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Shinsaku uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Makungu.
Shinsaku throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Makungu closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Makungu lands in his opponent's guard.
Makungu pushing down on Shinsaku's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shinsaku blocking the ground and pound attempt from Makungu.
Shinsaku is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Makungu not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shinsaku is trying to get back to full guard.
Makungu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shinsaku's head.
Makungu thows a huge punch but Shinsaku dodges it nicely.
Makungu sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Makungu working Shinsaku over with strikes.
Makungu has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Makungu is looking for a kimura but Shinsaku is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Makungu to get the leverage.

Makungu is trying to work for a kimura but Shinsaku is defending well.
Shinsaku regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Makungu.
Shinsaku utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Makungu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Shinsaku really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Makungu. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Shinsaku has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Makungu wants to control from the top but Shinsaku keeps moving.
Makungu might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

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.
Shinsaku looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Makungu puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Shinsaku is trying to control but Makungu manages to pass to mount!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Shinsaku can do anything to dispel that myth.
Makungu landing punches.
Makungu landing shots from mount.
Makungu in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Shinsaku is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Makungu thowing shots but they're missing.
Makungu working Shinsaku over with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mahdi Makungu dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Shinsaku misses with a body shot
and Makungu counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Shinsaku misses with a head kick.
Shinsaku goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Makungu pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Shinsaku dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Makungu. That did some damage!
Shinsaku tries a head kick but it misses.
Shinsaku misses with a leg kick
and Makungu counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Makungu looks to land a combination but Shinsaku avoids it well.
Makungu takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Shinsaku throws a low kick but it's checked well by Makungu.
Shinsaku lands a nice leg kick that just misses Makungu's sensitive parts.
Makungu is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A solid leg kick lands there for Shinsaku.
Shinsaku takes a swing at Makungu's ribcage but misses.
Makungu misses with a hook
and Shinsaku counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makungu throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Shinsaku counters with a leg kick.
Makungu lands a really nice looking cross but Shinsaku seems unphased.
Shinsaku steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Makungu.
Makungu throws a shot from downtown. Shinsaku moves away and avoids it.
Makungu throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Shinsaku.
Makungu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shinsaku throws a solid leg kick but Makungu takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Shinsaku.
Makungu takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Shinsaku throws a low kick, looking for Makungu's leg but Makungu calmly moves out of range.
Makungu misses with a body shot
and Shinsaku counters with a big head kick but Makungu shrugs it off.
Makungu avoids a kick to the body.
Makungu throws a body punch but Shinsaku moves out of range.
Shinsaku throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Makungu's head.
Zygarath Shinsaku is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Makungu on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shinsaku. Shinsaku obviously looking to wear him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makungu throws a big shot that misses.
Makungu swings for the body but Shinsaku moves out of range.
Shinsaku plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Zygarath Shinsaku seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice uppercut there from Makungu.
Shinsaku does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Makungu closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Shinsaku gets back to half guard.
Shinsaku wants to control but Makungu is keeping busy.
Shinsaku is trying to stand up here but Makungu is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makungu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Makungu thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Shinsaku to regain full guard.
Makungu trying to control but Shinsaku is working from the bottom.
Makungu slips nicely into half guard.
Makungu is thwarting Shinsaku's attempts to control the position.
Shinsaku wants to improve his position but Makungu is controlling well.
Shinsaku takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Makungu lands with a punch from half guard.
Zygarath Shinsaku has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mahdi Makungu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Makungu wants to take a breather but Shinsaku is having none of it.
Mahdi Makungu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Makungu missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Makungu not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shinsaku blocking the ground and pound attempt from Makungu.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Makungu in particular looking to stall.
Makungu seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Shinsaku does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Makungu sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shinsaku defending well though.
Makungu looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Makungu controlling the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Zygarath Shinsaku.
I think Makungu 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mahdi Makungu!