PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Atlas Kivi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sho Shinjo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kivi comes to the cage accompanied by Metallica - Ride the Lightning. Shinjo is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Theme of Sho. This should be fireworks!

Kivi
vs
Shinjo

175 cm
33
160 lbs
23 - 15 - 1

176 cm
34
171 lbs
26 - 20 - 2

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Perkele!

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 23 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Atlas Kivi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 20 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sho Shinjo!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shinjo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kivi swivels and escapes.
Kivi tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Shinjo manages to circle out of the way.
Kivi swats away the attempt to clinch by Shinjo.
Kivi changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Kivi misses with a wild body shot.
Kivi misses with a body shot.
Shinjo walks into a stiff left hand from Kivi.
Shinjo staying out of range there.
Shinjo appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Shinjo misses with an attempted mid kick.
Shinjo shoots for a double leg takedown but Kivi sprawls well. He's pushed Shinjo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shinjo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Shinjo blocks a head kick by Kivi.
Atlas Kivi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kivi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shinjo manages to avoid it.
We've been informed that Shinjo has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shinjo tries a head kick but it misses.
Shinjo moves out of range of the strikes.
Kivi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Shinjo checks a low kick from Kivi.
A nice side step and Shinjo releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Kivi tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Shinjo is able to avoid easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shinjo scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Shinjo trying to control the action but Kivi is working from the bottom.
Kivi wants to control but Shinjo is keeping busy.

Shinjo wants to work for an arm triangle but Kivi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kivi is trying to maintain the position but Shinjo is very close to passing his half guard.

Shinjo 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.
Kivi trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shinjo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Shinjo is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Shinjo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shinjo with a flurry of punches that miss.

Shinjo has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Kivi to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Shinjo is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Kivi pulls down on the head and he's put Shinjo to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Atlas Kivi!
Atlas Kivi seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.