PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between DoDo Bird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Makoto Shibasaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shibasaki comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Genki Sudo - 'Mind Shift' kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! This should be a great matchup!

Bird
vs
Shibasaki

177 cm
21
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
22
164 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Good gas tank

ACME-Blood Red Q158 Always $30 (5% Laundry SALE)
[WOT] DTK Designs (Laundry)

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 St Petersburg, DoDo Bird!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Makoto Shibasaki!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Sergei Dronov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shibasaki keeps the fight on the outside.
Bird doesn't manage to clinch there - Shibasaki circles away.
A telegraphed right hand from Shibasaki misses the target.
Shibasaki scores with a leg kick.
Bird tries to clinch up but Shibasaki circles away and keeps his distance.
Bird misses the body punch

and Shibasaki counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Shibasaki wants to pass to mount but Bird is defending the position.
Shibasaki prevents Bird from standing back up.
Bird is staying active underneath Shibasaki, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bird wants to get back to his feet.
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!
Shibasaki works his way into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shibasaki trying to control but Bird is having none of it.
Shibasaki looking to finish with strikes here!
Shibasaki controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Shibasaki trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Shibasaki controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shibasaki's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Bird holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Shibasaki tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shibasaki controlling from the full mount.
Shibasaki looking to finish Bird with some ground and pound. This is bad for Bird!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shibasaki unloads with some shots from mount but Bird bucks and avoids them well.
Poor strikes thrown by Shibasaki there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Shibasaki tries to control but Bird wriggling away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shibasaki thowing shots but they're missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Makoto Shibasaki dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Shibasaki connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Bird throws a nice looking combination but Shibasaki bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bird scores with a nice body kick.
Bird tries to clinch up.
Shibasaki misses with an uppercut.
Shibasaki throws a push kick but Bird slaps the foot to one side.
Shibasaki throws a leg kick but Bird sees it coming and moves out of range.

Bird forces Shibasaki back against the cage and clinches.
Shibasaki blocks the elbow strike.
Shibasaki is trying to drag Bird to the mat but Bird just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Bird just misses with a elbow thrown towards Shibasaki's brow.
Bird throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bird comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Shibasaki takes an elbow to the forehead.
Shibasaki taking a breather.

Bird breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick misses from Bird.
Shibasaki walks into a stiff left hand from Bird.
Bird lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A head kick misses from Bird.
Sloppy strikes from Bird. Those never looked like landing.
Shibasaki takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Shibasaki jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bird throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Bird looks to land a combination but Shibasaki avoids it well.
Shibasaki fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A head kick misses from Bird.
DoDo Bird seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bird moves out of range of the strikes.
Bird misses with a head kick.

Shibasaki gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Shibasaki keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bird's efforts to push away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bird is trying to force a seperation but Shibasaki has the dominant position.
Bird wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Shibasaki has him pressed against the cage.
Shibasaki misses with a body punch.
Bird avoids the elbow strike from Shibasaki, against the cage.
Bird throws an elbow but it misses.

Shibasaki tightens his grip and picks Bird up, before dumping him to the ground. Bird manages to land in guard.
Shibasaki throwing strikes but missing.
Bird is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird keeping full guard, as Shibasaki tries to pass.
Shibasaki postures up in Bird's guard and throws a big left but Bird blocks it.
Shibasaki looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shibasaki scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Shibasaki looking to pass the guard.
Bird knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shibasaki on the ground.
Shibasaki throws a big right hand that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shibasaki slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Makoto Shibasaki will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Bird swings for the body but Shibasaki moves out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Shibasaki lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Bird has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Bird and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Bird swings away with a body shot that misses
and Shibasaki counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Shibasaki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bird manages to avoid it.
Shibasaki looks to throw the jab but Bird is out of range.
DoDo Bird is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bird throws a combination that misses
enabling Shibasaki to counter with a crisp jab.
Bird tries to clinch up.
Shibasaki is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bird sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bird throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Shibasaki.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Bird checks a leg kick.
Shibasaki lands a nice shot that snaps Bird's head back.
Bird misses with a double jab.
Shibasaki shoots in looking for a takedown. Bird tries to sprawl out of it but Shibasaki keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bird manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shibasaki throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Shibasaki ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Bird swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bird scores with a nice head shot.
Bird scores with a shot to the body.
Bird scores with a body shot.
A head kick by Bird misses
and Shibasaki counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Bird gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Shibasaki to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Shibasaki is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shibasaki trying to control the position from guard on top but Bird is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shibasaki accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Makoto Shibasaki wasn't active enough on the ground.
Shibasaki swings for the body but Bird moves out of range.
Shibasaki avoids the head kick by Bird.
Nice takedown defense from Bird. No joy for Shibasaki on that attempt.
DoDo Bird has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Makoto Shibasaki.
Shibasaki fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bird avoids it really well and circles away.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Bird.
DoDo Bird is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shibasaki misses the jab.
Shibasaki jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bird scores with a kick to the body.
Bird scores with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shibasaki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shibasaki throws a solid leg kick but Bird takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Shibasaki.
Makoto Shibasaki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Shibasaki fails with a takedown attempt.
Bird ducks under a wild hook from Shibasaki.
Makoto Shibasaki is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Shibasaki closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Bird's guard.
Shibasaki wants to control from the top but Bird keeps moving.
Shibasaki is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shibasaki wants to control from the top but Bird keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Makoto Shibasaki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shibasaki 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Makoto Shibasaki!
Post fight, an emotional Makoto Shibasaki said 'We are all one!'.