PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Carmine Odonnell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicko Shoota (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nicko Shoota will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Odonnell
vs
Shoota

177 cm
18
161 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Carmine Odonnell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nicko Shoota!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Ren Mimura and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shoota misses with a double jab

and Odonnell counters with a shoot takedown. Shoota fights it but they end up in guard.
Odonnell slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Odonnell is looking to work some ground and pound but Shoota has wrist control.
Odonnell stops Shoota from standing up.
Shoota being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Odonnell might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Odonnell is working Shoota over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shoota is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Odonnell is controlling him.
Odonnell trying to control but Shoota is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Shoota is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Shoota misses with a series of wild punches.
Shoota looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Shoota throws a leg kick but Odonnell sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Odonnell changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Odonnell dives in for a single leg takedown but Shoota sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Odonnell misses with a low kick as Shoota jumps back.
Shoota misses with a low kick.
Shoota lands a right hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shoota lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Shoota fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Odonnell, pushing him back against the cage.

Odonnell breaks the clinch.
A good leg kick by Odonnell.
Shoota throws a combination that misses

and Odonnell counters by moving into the clinch.

Odonnell successfully pulls guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shoota won't allow Odonnell to sweep him here.
Shoota trying to control but Odonnell is working from the bottom.

Shoota got a little sloppy there for a moment and Odonnell has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Shoota has managed to get both his arms back between Odonnell's legs - danger averted.
Odonnell doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Odonnell has his hands on Shoota's head, controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Odonnell tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Shoota throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Odonnell looking for a guillotine here but Shoota defends easily.

Odonnell is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Shoota defends well.

Shoota gets to his feet. Odonnell looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Odonnell throws out a leg kick but Shoota moves out of range and Odonnell only half commits.
Odonnell darts in trying to clinch
and Shoota counters with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Odonnell slips a jab and a cross from Shoota.
Odonnell looks for a takedown but Shoota sprawls well.

Odonnell dives in and scores a takedown into Shoota's guard.
Shoota wants to stand and escape but Odonnell is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Odonnell throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Carmine Odonnell will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Odonnell feints and as Shoota raises his hands in defense, Odonnell changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Odonnell cracks Shoota with a solid left hand.

Odonnell drops back looking for a leg! Shoota is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Shoota manages to kick Odonnell off! Odonnell jumps back into Shoota's guard.
Odonnell won't allow Shoota to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Odonnell decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Odonnell dodges the punch combination from Shoota.
Shoota connects with a body shot.
Carmine Odonnell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shoota rushes Odonnell and presses him up against the cage.
Odonnell is looking to control Shoota's arms but Shoota gets an underhook and turns him. Now Odonnell has his back to the cage.
Odonnell stalling in the clinch but Shoota improves position.
Odonnell is trying to pull guard but Shoota has him pressed against the cage.
Odonnell looking to stall.

Odonnell manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Shoota would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Shoota won't allow Odonnell to sweep him here.
Odonnell tries to strike from the bottom.
Odonnell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shoota.
Shoota must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Shoota wants to control from the top but Odonnell keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Odonnell manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Shoota manages to get himself to full guard.

Odonnell trying to control the position from guard on top but Shoota is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Odonnell throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shoota works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Shoota wriggles free and stands up.
Nicko Shoota is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Shoota closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Odonnell is looking to control Shoota's arms but Shoota gets an underhook and turns him. Now Odonnell has his back to the cage.
Odonnell tries to pull guard but Shoota won't allow it.
Shoota is looking to break free of the clinch but Odonnell has double underhooks.
Shoota missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shoota tries to circle away but Odonnell has him pinned against the cage.
Odonnell tries to pull guard but Shoota won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carmine Odonnell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Odonnell trying to land knees to the body.
Odonnell is looking to control Shoota's arms but Shoota gets an underhook and turns him. Now Odonnell has his back to the cage.
Odonnell on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shoota is trying to break the clinch but Odonnell has him pressed against the cage.
Shoota is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Shoota looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Odonnell tries to land knees in the clinch but Shoota avoids the damage to the body.
Shoota has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Shoota wants to break the clinch but can't.
Odonnell tries to stall but Shoota uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Odonnell will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Shoota up against the cage.
Odonnell missing with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Odonnell is struggling to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shoota is trying to force a seperation but Odonnell has the dominant position.
Shoota avoiding damage as Odonnell throws knees to the body.
Shoota wants to get back to striking at distance but Odonnell won't allow it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Shoota just misses with a elbow thrown towards Odonnell's brow.
Shoota is trying to break free.
Shoota is trying to force a seperation but Odonnell has the dominant position.

Odonnell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shoota throws a right hand that Odonnell ducks under and follows up with a left that Odonnell also avoids with ease.
Nicko Shoota seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shoota connects with a body shot.

Shoota pushes Odonnell up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Odonnell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shoota scores with a hook.
The crowd cheers as Shoota lands an impressive looking overhand right. Odonnell doesn't seem phased though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicko Shoota showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Odonnell moves out of range of the body kick from Shoota.
Odonnell feinted with a counter takedown.
Shoota is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Shoota closes the distance and pushes Odonnell back into the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Odonnell has Shoota pressed against the cage, preventing Shoota from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Odonnell breaks from the clinch.
Shoota throws a right and a left that both miss.

Shoota has taken the fight to the clinch.
Shoota has had enough of the clinch but Odonnell keeps him there for the moment.
Shoota lands with a short punch from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Odonnell fails to pull guard.
Odonnell is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Odonnell takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Odonnell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shoota lunges at Odonnell with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Odonnell's hand.
Shoota throws a series of punches but Odonnell avoids them all with ease.

Odonnell tries to keep at a distance but Shoota has taken the fight into the clinch.
Shoota holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Odonnell throws an elbow but it misses.
Shoota wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Odonnell fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Shoota lands with a right to the head.
Shoota working hard to break the clinch.
Shoota avoiding damage as Odonnell throws knees to the body.
Shoota wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Odonnell stalling against the cage.
Odonnell trying to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shoota being controlled against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Shoota as Odonnell tries to tie him up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shoota taking a breather.
Odonnell fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carmine Odonnell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shoota wants to break the clinch but can't.
Odonnell misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Shoota.
Shoota scores with a nice hook to the head.
Odonnell tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Shoota avoids it.
Shoota has Odonnell pressed against the cage.

Shoota escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shoota lands a jab to Odonnell's midsection.
Shoota throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Odonnell.

Shoota darts in and clinches Odonnell up against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Shoota.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Shoota keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Odonnell's efforts to push away.
Odonnell looking to stall.
Nicko Shoota seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Odonnell fails to pull guard.
Odonnell throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Odonnell is looking to control Shoota's arms but Shoota gets an underhook and turns him. Now Odonnell has his back to the cage.
Shoota has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Shoota slowing the pace effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shoota looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Odonnell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Shoota moves into the clinch successfully.

Odonnell manages to break the clinch.
Shoota throws a right hand that Odonnell ducks under and follows up with a left that Odonnell also avoids with ease.
Shoota jabs Odonnell to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Odonnell avoids a punch combination nicely.

Shoota moves into range and clinches up with Odonnell.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Odonnell fails to pull the fight into his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicko Shoota comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Shoota has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicko Shoota!
Nicko Shoota decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.