PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yoshihiro Imanari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris To Short (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Imanari
vs
To Short

172 cm
21
165 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

168 cm
24
159 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Crossfit HGH

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yoshihiro Imanari!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Chris To Short !
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
To Short misses with a low kick.
Imanari avoids the head kick by To Short .
Imanari misses with a two punch combination.
Imanari uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before To Short has time to react.
To Short misses with a low kick as Imanari jumps back.
Imanari stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from To Short .
To Short looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
To Short lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
To Short uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Nice body kick there by To Short .
A head kick by To Short misses
and To Short takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
To Short pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from To Short .
Imanari blocks a head kick by To Short .
To Short throws a head kick that Imanari semi-blocks.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Imanari blocks a head kick by To Short .
Imanari fails with a takedown attempt.
Chris To Short seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
To Short throws a leg kick

and Imanari counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
To Short is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

To Short actively working from the bottom here.
Imanari wants to pass to mount but To Short is defending the position.

To Short looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
To Short missing with punches from the bottom.
Imanari sitting and controlling from the half guard.
To Short wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
To Short wants to get back to his feet.
To Short is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
To Short working to try and regain half guard.
A nice elbow there by Imanari.
To Short is trying desperately to improve position.
A nice elbow there by Imanari.
Imanari lands a big shot there that rocks To Short but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
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!
Imanari working away from the top, dropping strikes.
To Short is desperately trying to improve his position but Imanari has a good base and remains in mount.

Imanari looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
To Short is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imanari tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Imanari looking to control but To Short is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Imanari lands with some strikes.
Imanari lands a big shot there that rocks To Short but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
To Short really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Imanari putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Imanari lands a nice shot to the head.
To Short is looking to improve his position but Imanari isn't that keen on the idea.
Imanari working the ground and pound effectively.
To Short is in all sorts of trouble here.
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!
Imanari pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imanari prevents To Short from getting the reversal.
To Short is squirming around, avoiding Imanari's attempts to control the action.
Imanari landing shots from mount.
Imanari scores with a couple of good head shots there.

To Short is rocked!
To Short is in a horrible position here. Imanari smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
To Short is still in real trouble! Can Imanari finish him?
Imanari looking to control and managing it successfully.
Imanari is landing with some decent strikes but To Short is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Imanari lands a big shot to the head and To Short winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:50 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Yoshihiro Imanari!
Yoshihiro Imanari is the new lightweight champion!