PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Okuma Shigenobu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Varelans (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.

Shigenobu
vs
Varelans

195 cm
18
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
23
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

[CBK] LEGAL HIGHS - AJFC ↑ DOUBLE 160Q *

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight 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, Okuma Shigenobu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Paul Varelans!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Varelans gets a takedown into half guard.

Varelans 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.

Varelans is working for a submission of some sort.
Varelans throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varelans perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Varelans postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Shigenobu to stand up.
Varelans blocks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varelans tries to move into range but Shigenobu moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Varelans checks a leg kick.
Shigenobu thumps Varelans with a low kick.
Varelans tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Shigenobu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Varelans attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Varelans takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
A head kick by Shigenobu misses
letting Varelans counter with a right hand.

Varelans closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
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!
Shigenobu tries to stall but Varelans uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Varelans is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Shigenobu gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Shigenobu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Varelans wants to break free but Shigenobu has control.
Shigenobu could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Varelans is trying to pull guard but Shigenobu turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Varelans jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Shigenobu walks away with a smile on his face. Varelans gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Okuma Shigenobu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Varelans.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shigenobu is looking to score with low kicks.
An inside leg kick from Shigenobu misses.
Varelans checks the leg kick.
Shigenobu looks for the body kick but Varelans saw that one coming.
Shigenobu throws a leg kick but Varelans sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Shigenobu comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Varelans shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Shigenobu's guard.
Varelans is looking to work some ground and pound but Shigenobu has wrist control.
Varelans looking to pass the guard.
Shigenobu can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Varelans controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shigenobu looking to control but Varelans passes into half guard.

Varelans is working for a submission of some sort.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Well, if Varelans is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Varelans dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Varelans checks the leg kick.
Varelans closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Okuma Shigenobu has been cut.
Shigenobu misses with a kick to the body

and Varelans counters by moving into the clinch.
Shigenobu struggles to land a body shot inside as Varelans controls his hands.
Shigenobu makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Varelans ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Varelans no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Varelans is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Okuma Shigenobu has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Shigenobu misses with a head kick.
Shigenobu lands a nice looking body kick.
Shigenobu throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Varelans. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Varelans looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Shigenobu moves into the clinch.
Shigenobu trying to stall but Varelans improves his position.
Shigenobu misses with a punch to the body.
Shigenobu is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Varelans blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Varelans - that landed with a thud.
Varelans presses Shigenobu against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Varelans blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Shigenobu tries to throw a body punch but Varelans avoids it by throwing Shigenobu back against the cage.
Shigenobu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shigenobu.
Shigenobu tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Varelans tries to break free but Shigenobu pushes him back against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Varelans blocking some punches.
Varelans can't break the clinch.
Varelans fails to pull guard.
Shigenobu looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varelans has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Shigenobu is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Okuma Shigenobu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Varelans.
Shigenobu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shigenobu is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Shigenobu is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Shigenobu prevents Varelans from breaking the clinch.
Shigenobu can't find room to land a body shot as Varelans controls the action.
Varelans blocks a body shot from Shigenobu.
Shigenobu keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Varelans's efforts to push away.
Varelans is looking to break free of the clinch but Shigenobu has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shigenobu has Varelans pressed against the cage, preventing Varelans from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Shigenobu blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shigenobu struggles to land a body shot inside as Varelans controls his hands.
Shigenobu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Shigenobu misses with the head strike.
Varelans tries to pull guard but Shigenobu forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Shigenobu struggles to land a body shot inside as Varelans controls his hands.

Varelans pulls Shigenobu into guard.
Varelans is pulling down on Shigenobu's head to control his posture.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Varelans changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shigenobu tries to avoid it but Varelans manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shigenobu to the ground. Shigenobu escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Shigenobu scores with a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Varelans showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Okuma Shigenobu's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Shigenobu circles away from the clinch attempt.
Varelans closes the distance and clinches up with Shigenobu, looking for a takedown. Varelans pushes Shigenobu against the cage but Shigenobu circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Shigenobu looks to land a body kick but Varelans moved away.
Shigenobu pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Shigenobu misses with an attempted mid kick.
Varelans moves out of range of the leg kick from Shigenobu.
Varelans takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Shigenobu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice body kick there by Shigenobu.
Varelans tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A combination from Varelans does no damage.
Varelans tries to close the distance and clinch but Shigenobu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shigenobu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Varelans shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Shigenobu tries to roll over but Varelans keeps him under control.
Varelans missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Shigenobu is defending against the submission attempts here by Varelans.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Varelans in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Varelans stands up and beckons Shigenobu to join him on the feet.
Shigenobu fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Varelans checks it well.
Varelans shoots in for a double leg but Shigenobu sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Paul Varelans is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shigenobu misses with a left hand
and Varelans counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Shigenobu is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Okuma Shigenobu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Varelans takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
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!
Varelans lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Shigenobu throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Shigenobu moves in looking to clinch but Varelans pushes him off.
Shigenobu dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Varelans. That did some damage!
Both fighters circling a little - Shigenobu finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Varelans checks a leg kick.
Varelans has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Varelans there as he acknowledges the shot.
Varelans checks a low kick from Shigenobu.
Varelans misses with a kick to the body.
Okuma Shigenobu is winning the standup battle so far.
Varelans tries to clinch up but Shigenobu circles away and keeps his distance.
Paul Varelans is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Varelans is defended easily by Shigenobu.
Okuma Shigenobu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Varelans.
Varelans checks the leg kick nicely there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shigenobu. Varelans does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shigenobu throws a nice looking combination but Varelans bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Varelans tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shigenobu throws a half hearted mid kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Shigenobu.
Shigenobu leaves Varelans with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Shigenobu throws a nice outside leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Shigenobu. That's going to slow Varelans down.
Shigenobu tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Varelans is able to avoid easily.

Varelans clinches up with Shigenobu and pushes him back against the cage.
Shigenobu doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Shigenobu.
Shigenobu gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Paul Varelans.
I've got Varelans winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Varelans!