PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Didzis Verbickis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Omi Shuai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shuai has chosen Xiaolin Showdown as his entrance music. Didzis Verbickis has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Verbickis
vs
Shuai

180 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
21
160 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 Los Angeles, Didzis Verbickis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Omi Shuai!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Verbickis shoots in but Shuai avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Shuai fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Shuai fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shuai throws a sloppy head kick and Verbickis moves out of range easily.
Shuai shoots for a double leg takedown but Verbickis sprawls well. He's pushed Shuai's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Didzis Verbickis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Omi Shuai.
Shuai fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Verbickis fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Shuai, pushing him back against the cage.
Shuai is trying to pull guard but Verbickis has him pressed against the cage.
Verbickis tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Verbickis controlling the action here for a moment.

Verbickis gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Shuai preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shuai keeping moving, preventing Verbickis from controlling successfully.
Verbickis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shuai works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Verbickis trying to control but Shuai is working from the bottom.
Shuai wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Didzis Verbickis.
Verbickis looks to throw a body kick

and Shuai decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Verbickis's guard.
Shuai has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Verbickis is proving hard to escape from.

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

Verbickis scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Shuai is looking to clinch.

Verbickis moves into range and clinches up with Shuai.
Verbickis is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Shuai gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Verbickis is trying to break the clinch but Shuai is controlling him.
Shuai tries to pull guard but Verbickis won't allow it.

Verbickis has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Shuai clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Shuai really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Verbickis. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Verbickis misses with punches from the back.
Shuai manages to reverse the position and now he's in Verbickis's guard. Nice work there by Shuai.
Shuai trying to control the position from guard on top but Verbickis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shuai 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.
Verbickis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Verbickis working for a triangle but Shuai defends it easily.
Shuai stands up over Verbickis, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Shuai works over Verbickis with some ground and pound from guard.

Verbickis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Verbickis 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.

Verbickis is looking for a triangle but Shuai pushes his legs off easily.
Verbickis is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Verbickis had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Shuai defends it easily.

Shuai decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Verbickis, up you get!
Verbickis looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Verbickis doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Shuai counters with a big head kick but Verbickis shrugs it off.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shuai looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Verbickis is fending him off so far but Shuai persists. Nope, Verbickis circles away and we're back to standing.

Shuai 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.
Shuai trying to control the position from guard on top but Verbickis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shuai would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Omi Shuai will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Shuai gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Verbickis trying to land knees to the body.
Verbickis has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Shuai avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Verbickis pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Didzis Verbickis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shuai looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Verbickis misses with a takedown attempt
and Shuai counters with a straight right hand.
Shuai misses with a takedown attempt - Verbickis sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Verbickis fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Didzis Verbickis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Verbickis has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Shuai gets a clinch.
Shuai has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Verbickis after a bit of a struggle.

Verbickis pulls Shuai into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Verbickis is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Verbickis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Verbickis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Shuai throws a big right hand that misses.
Shuai trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Verbickis trying to control the position.

Shuai avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Shuai is in close to Verbickis's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shuai wants to stand but Verbickis has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Shuai trying to control but Verbickis is working from the bottom.
Verbickis working a defensive guard here.
Shuai wants to control from the top but Verbickis keeps moving.

Shuai drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Shuai jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Verbickis trying to keep a closed guard but Shuai is proving a slippery customer.
Shuai trying to control but Verbickis is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verbickis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Verbickis doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Shuai fails with the takedown

and Verbickis counters with a shoot takedown. Shuai fights it but they end up in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Shuai escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Verbickis gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Shuai wants to sweep here but Verbickis controlling him for the moment.
Verbickis wants to control from the top but Shuai keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shuai wants to stand and escape but Verbickis is having none of it.
Shuai 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.
Verbickis trying to control the position from guard on top but Shuai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

We're going to have a standup here because Didzis Verbickis wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Shuai moves in looking to clinch but Verbickis pushes him off.
Didzis Verbickis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Shuai decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Verbickis is not content to let Shuai control the position.
Verbickis wants to control but Shuai is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Omi Shuai will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A slapping body kick lands there for Shuai.

Verbickis moves into the clinch.
Verbickis wants to take the fight to the mat but Shuai manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Verbickis pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Shuai is pressed up against the cage. Verbickis has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Shuai down to the mat. Shuai avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Shuai takes the fight into the clinch.
Shuai blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Verbickis has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Shuai clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Verbickis tightening his grip on Shuai, looking for the choke.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shuai tries to roll but Verbickis sticks to his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Verbickis is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Shuai is defending well though. Verbickis let's go of the attempt for now.
Shuai tries to escape but Verbickis has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Will Verbickis go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Verbickis is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Didzis Verbickis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Verbickis lands strikes to the head.
Shuai wants to control his opponent's hands but Verbickis gets his hands free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verbickis missing with strikes.

Verbickis has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Verbickis missing with strikes.
Shuai tries to escape the position.

Verbickis has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Shuai has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Verbickis misses with an elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verbickis avoiding Shuai 's attempts to control his hands.
Verbickis misses with an elbow to the head.
Shuai manages to reverse the position and now he's in Verbickis's guard. Nice work there by Shuai.
Verbickis keeping moving, preventing Shuai from controlling successfully.
Shuai postures up.
Shuai trying to control the position from guard on top but Verbickis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shuai has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Verbickis is proving hard to escape from.
Shuai in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shuai 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shuai wants to control from the top but Verbickis keeps moving.
Shuai might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Verbickis kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Verbickis is trying to keep Shuai in close.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shuai 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.
Didzis Verbickis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Omi Shuai is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Omi Shuai hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Shuai lands a jab-cross combination.

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 Didzis Verbickis.
I think Shuai 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Omi Shuai!