PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Francisco Modesto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuki Shojo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Modesto comes into the arena with Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire blaring out of the sound system. Yuki Shojo is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Francisco Modesto
vs
Shojo

166 cm
22
146 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

165 cm
23
140 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Aspire Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carlos Francisco Modesto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yuki Shojo!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yukihiro Shimada and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Modesto pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Shojo moves away from the strike by Modesto.
Shojo lands a nice looking kick to the body. Modesto takes a step back to recover.
Modesto misses with an uppercut
and Shojo counters with a straight right hand.
Shojo wants to slow Modesto down by chopping away at his legs.
Modesto's corner calls for a 1-2. Modesto obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Shojo connects with a high kick.
Shojo digs a good hook to Modesto's body.
Shojo throws a head kick that misses.
It looked like Modesto wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Shojo scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Modesto doesn't seem bothered though.
Shojo throws a hook to the side of Modesto's head but Modesto sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shojo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Modesto swats away the attempt to clinch by Shojo.
Shojo is looking to clinch.
Modesto slips a jab from Shojo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Modesto takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Shojo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Modesto.
Modesto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Shojo! But no joy.
Modesto blocks a head kick by Shojo.
Shojo takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Modesto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shojo.
Shojo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Modesto manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sloppy strikes from Shojo. Those never looked like landing.
Modesto moves out of range of the body kick from Shojo.
Shojo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Modesto.
Modesto defending well as Shojo loads up on a big left hand.
No joy there for Modesto, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Shojo is looking to land body kicks.
Modesto was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shojo slips under a jab.
Modesto lands with a good body shot.
Shojo takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shojo moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Shojo lands a nice shot that snaps Modesto's head back.
Shojo throws out a leg kick but Modesto moves out of range and Shojo only half commits.
Modesto swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Shojo is looking to clinch but Modesto is avoiding it.
Modesto steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Shojo.
Modesto throws a poor cross that misses
and Shojo counters with a leg kick.
Shojo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Modesto paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Modesto scores with a sloppy right hand. Shojo should have avoided that one.

It looks like Yuki Shojo has been cut.
Shojo lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Modesto at a distance.
Shojo takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Shojo swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shojo moves away from the strike by Modesto.
Modesto throws a body shot but no joy.
Modesto blocks a head kick by Shojo.
Modesto lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shojo circles away quickly and effectively.
Shojo scores with a nice body kick.
Shojo takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Modesto throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Modesto takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Shojo tries to clinch up.
It looked like Modesto wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Modesto avoids the body shot from Shojo.

Shojo has managed to clinch.
Shojo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Modesto avoids it.
Shojo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Modesto lands a left hand that snaps the head of Shojo backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shojo content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Shojo is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shojo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Modesto lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Modesto is trying to stall.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Modesto can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Shojo scores with a shot to the side of Modesto's head.
Shojo utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Modesto lands a right hand.
A short uppercut from Shojo.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Modesto as Shojo tries to tie him up.
Modesto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Shojo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuki Shojo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Yuki Shojo's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Shojo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Modesto.
Modesto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Shojo slips a jab and a cross from Modesto.
Shojo lets loose with a powerful body kick. Modesto will feel that in the morning.
Modesto throws a left and a right that both miss
and Shojo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A big right from Modesto misses.
Shojo lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Shojo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Modesto.
Shojo thinks about the counter body kick.
Shojo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Modesto misses with a hook. Shojo ducked under it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shojo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Modesto, pushing him back against the cage.
Modesto misses with a body punch.
Shojo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Shojo is looking to control Modesto's arms but Modesto gets an underhook and turns him. Now Shojo has his back to the cage.
Modesto lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Modesto misses with a punch on the inside.
Modesto tries a body shot but Shojo blocks it.
Modesto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Shojo's elbow.
Shojo has Modesto pushed against the cage.
Yuki Shojo seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Modesto misses with a short punch on the inside.
Modesto doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Shojo prevents a body shot from Modesto.
Modesto tries a body shot but Shojo blocks it.
Shojo prevents a body shot from Modesto.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Modesto creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Modesto misses with some punches.
Modesto avoiding damage as Shojo throws knees to the body.
Modesto has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
A short left from Shojo.
Shojo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Modesto will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Shojo up against the cage.
Shojo blocks an uppercut.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Modesto takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Modesto tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Modesto throws a punch but it's blocked by Shojo.
Modesto misses with a hook from the clinch.
Knees to the body from Shojo.
Modesto throws a head punch that misses.
Modesto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Modesto misses with a short punch on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Knees in the clinch landing for Shojo.
Modesto misses with the head strike.
Modesto blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Modesto.
Modesto slows down the pace here.
Shojo prevents a body shot from Modesto.
Modesto swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shojo's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Shojo lands a knee to the body.
Modesto stalling.
Shojo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Modesto is defending well for now.
Shojo misses with a knee strike.
Modesto throws a punch but it's blocked by Shojo.
Shojo slowing the pace effectively.
Modesto misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Modesto throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shojo lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Shojo looking to stall.
Modesto stalls.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Shojo as Modesto tries to tie him up.
Modesto can't find room to land a body shot as Shojo controls the action.
Modesto lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Modesto lands a body punch in the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Modesto.
Shojo prevents a body shot from Modesto.
A head punch on the inside from Modesto fails to land.
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!
Shojo lands a right hand that snaps the head of Modesto backwards.
Modesto has a couple of punches blocked by Shojo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Carlos Francisco Modesto will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Yuki Shojo's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Modesto takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Shojo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shojo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A punch combination from Shojo misses.
Shojo cracks a nice hook into Modesto's ribs.
Yuki Shojo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shojo turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Modesto works over Shojo's head and body with a nice combination.
Shojo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Modesto paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Modesto was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Shojo drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A combination from Modesto does no damage.
Shojo throws a leg kick which misses Modesto's front leg but catches the back leg as Modesto tries to avoid it.
Shojo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Shojo steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Modesto.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Modesto misses with an uppercut. Shojo saw that one coming.
Shojo wants to counter with a clinch but Modesto pushes him away.
Modesto throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shojo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Modesto checks the leg kick nicely there.
Modesto moves out of range of the body kick from Shojo.
Shojo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Modesto paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shojo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nice cross by Modesto.

Shojo moves into the clinch successfully.
Shojo blocks a body shot from Modesto.
Shojo letting Modesto take a breather here.
Modesto blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Modesto throws a punch but it's blocked by Shojo.
A bit of stalling here from Modesto.
Modesto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shojo obliges.
Shojo slows down the pace here.
Shojo lands a left hand that snaps the head of Modesto backwards.
Modesto lands with a right to the head.
Modesto looking to slow down the pace here.
Modesto tries a body shot but Shojo blocks it.
Shojo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Modesto.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shojo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Modestos head.
Shojo connects with a nasty looking knee right to Modesto's face.

Modesto is rocked!
Modesto is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Oh Modesto is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Shojo unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Shojo creates some distance for himself and unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Modesto's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Modesto drops to his knees and Shojo pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Yuki Shojo!
Yuki Shojo really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Lion Fightwear logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.