PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Shogun (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dennis Reynolds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lyoto Shogun has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Shogun
vs
Reynolds

175 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
183 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lyoto Shogun !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dennis Reynolds!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shogun tries to clinch but Reynolds moves out of range.
Lyoto Shogun seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Reynolds blocks a head kick by Shogun .
Shogun throws a head kick that misses.
A left and a right from Shogun both land. Nice combination.
Shogun throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Reynolds scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Reynolds thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Reynolds is trying to control the action in half guard but Shogun is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Shogun is trying to stand up here but Reynolds is controlling him well.
Shogun keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Reynolds gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Reynolds closes the distance and clinches.
Reynolds is trying to break the clinch but Shogun has him pressed against the cage.
Reynolds lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Reynolds lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Shogun knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Reynolds on the ground.
Shogun is refusing to be controlled, as Reynolds sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shogun has hold of Reynolds's hands but Reynolds slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Shogun wants to get back to his feet.
Reynolds scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Reynolds stands up out of the half guard.

That's two 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.
Reynolds circles away from the clinch attempt

so Reynolds counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Shogun is breathing heavily.
Reynolds trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Reynolds trying to control but Shogun is working from the bottom.
Reynolds postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Reynolds is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Shogun keeping moving, preventing Reynolds from controlling successfully.
Reynolds throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shogun keeping moving, preventing Reynolds from controlling successfully.
Reynolds has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Shogun throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Reynolds.
A head kick by Shogun misses

and Reynolds holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Reynolds prevents Shogun from breaking the clinch.

Reynolds tightens his grip and picks Shogun up, before dumping him to the ground. Shogun manages to land in guard.
Shogun has momentary wrist control but Reynolds slips an elbow through the middle.

Reynolds stands up from Shogun 's guard - Reynolds perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Reynolds gets a takedown into half guard.
Shogun is not content to let Reynolds control the position.

Reynolds decides to stand and escape the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Reynolds rushes Shogun and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Reynolds wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Reynolds is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Reynolds escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dennis Reynolds dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shogun closes the distance looking to clinch
and Reynolds counters with a left and a right that stings Shogun .

Reynolds decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Reynolds decides to return to a standing position.
Reynolds avoids the head kick by Shogun .

Excellent takedown into side control there by Reynolds.
Reynolds cracks Shogun with a big right hand but Shogun just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The strikes coming from Reynolds are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Shogun is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Reynolds asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Reynolds has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Reynolds looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Shogun !
Reynolds trying to control but Shogun is having none of it.
Dennis Reynolds has got the better of the ground game so far.
Reynolds is breathing heavily.
Reynolds thowing shots but they're missing.
Reynolds tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds wants to control the pace but Shogun is squirming around nicely.
Reynolds lands a heavy elbow.
Reynolds postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Shogun looks a forlorn figure.
Shogun squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
The referee warns Shogun that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds unloading with bombs!
Reynolds is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Shogun is bucking up trying to escape but Reynolds cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Reynolds connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Reynolds sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The referee warns Shogun that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Reynolds lands a heavy elbow.
Shogun tries to buck Reynolds off but he can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds with the ground and pound from mount.
Shogun wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

Reynolds jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Shogun manages to avoid the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dennis Reynolds showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Reynolds circles away from the clinch attempt

and Reynolds counters with a shoot takedown. Shogun fights it but they end up in guard.

Reynolds stands up and waves to Shogun to follow him.

Reynolds scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Shogun avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Reynolds.

Reynolds looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Reynolds lands a nice forearm strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shogun is working to avoid the ground and pound but Reynolds connects with a decent elbow.
Reynolds is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Shogun 's shoulder. That is not cool.
Reynolds trying to control the position but Shogun is working away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Reynolds is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Shogun 's shoulder. That is not cool.

Reynolds stands up and beckons Shogun to his feet.
Shogun lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Reynolds changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Shogun looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Reynolds has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Reynolds moves into range and clinches up with Shogun .
Reynolds has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Shogun using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Reynolds has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Reynolds unloads a knee to the mid-section. Shogun lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Reynolds pulls guard.
Shogun wants to stand but Reynolds has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Shogun wants to stand and escape but instead Reynolds has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds looking to sit in guard and control but Shogun gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Shogun won't allow Reynolds to get back to his feet.
Shogun tries to stand but Reynolds is controlling from the bottom.

Reynolds scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Shogun misses with a jab, cross combination.
Shogun throws a nice looking combination but Reynolds bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Crunch! Reynolds slams his shin into Shogun 's torso.
Lyoto Shogun is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Reynolds showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shogun .

Reynolds clinches.
Reynolds lands a nice shot to the body.

Shogun is fighting off a takedown attempt but Reynolds is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Shogun to the mat. Shogun regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Reynolds decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Shogun , up you get!

Reynolds clinches up with Shogun and pushes him back against the cage.
Shogun lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Shogun trying to land knees to the body.

Reynolds breaks from the clinch.
Shogun throws a head kick but Reynolds moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Reynolds scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Reynolds throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Lyoto Shogun has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Reynolds misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dennis Reynolds comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Reynolds 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dennis Reynolds!