PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Makoto Shibasaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maria Ozawa (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.

Shibasaki
vs
Ozawa

172 cm
18
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Makoto Shibasaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Maria Ozawa!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shibasaki throws a series of punches but Ozawa avoids them all with ease.

Shibasaki clinches with his opponent.
Ozawa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Ozawa breaks from the clinch.
Ozawa lands a head kick!
Maria Ozawa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No joy there for Ozawa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Shibasaki moves into range and clinches up with Ozawa.

Ozawa jumps into guard, dragging Shibasaki to the mat.
Ozawa keeping full guard, as Shibasaki tries to pass.
Shibasaki prevents Ozawa from getting back to his feet.
Shibasaki advances position into side control!
Shibasaki wants to control but Ozawa is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shibasaki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ozawa, who protects the arm well.
Shibasaki tries to move to mount but Ozawa blocks the move with his legs.
Shibasaki remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Shibasaki in side control, throwing shots but Ozawa defends.
Ozawa is looking for a sweep.
Ozawa parries the strikes from Shibasaki easily there. Shibasaki is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Ozawa to escape.
Shibasaki misses with the ground and pound.
Shibasaki tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Shibasaki tries to advance position but instead Ozawa slips a leg back in to half guard.
Ozawa blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shibasaki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shibasaki passes to side control.
Shibasaki working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Ozawa is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Shibasaki off and has taken his back!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ozawa landing with strikes.
Shibasaki trying to control the position but Ozawa manages to sink in the hooks.
Shibasaki 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.
Ozawa loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Shibasaki hold on?
Shibasaki manages to reverse the position and now he's in Ozawa's guard. Nice work there by Shibasaki.
Shibasaki cracks Ozawa with a solid left hand.
Shibasaki is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Shibasaki tries to free his leg and advance position but Ozawa is retaining full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Shibasaki trying to control but Ozawa is working from the bottom.
Ozawa wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shibasaki trying to control but Ozawa is working from the bottom.
Shibasaki passes Ozawa's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ozawa is in trouble now - Shibasaki has advanced to mount!
Ozawa takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Shibasaki with a couple of short strikes.
Shibasaki lands with some strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shibasaki looking to control but Ozawa is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Shibasaki controlling from the full mount.
Shibasaki unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Ozawa wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Shibasaki celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Makoto Shibasaki!
During a confident post fight interview, Makoto Shibasaki thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.