PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Carmine Chavez (ranked 25376 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kiyoshi Shibata (ranked 5213 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Chavez
vs
Shibata

166 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 3 - 1

188 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Carmine Chavez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kiyoshi Shibata!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Sosuke Kotani and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Chavez tries to sprawl but Shibata drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Shibata thows a huge punch but Chavez dodges it nicely.
Shibata keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Shibata is trying to work for a kimura but Chavez is defending well.

Shibata decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
A good leg kick by Shibata.
Shibata scores with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shibata throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Chavez was covering up waiting for the punch and Shibata finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Shibata engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shibata is looking to stand up but Chavez won't let him.
Chavez working a defensive guard but Shibata manages to pass into side control anyway.
Shibata is staying tight to Chavez's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Shibata is trying to ground and pound but Chavez uses the momentary lack of control by Shibata to regain half guard.
Chavez regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Shibata.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Shibata is looking to pass into half guard but Chavez pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Chavez is in guard.

Shibata has control of Chavez's left arm, preventing Chavez from doing any damage.
Let's hope that Shibata has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Chavez stands up and waves to Shibata to follow him.

Shibata gets the takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chavez defending against the ground and pound.

Shibata decides to stand back up.
Shibata fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Chavez.

Shibata shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Chavez's guard.

Chavez is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Shibata breaks from the clinch.
Chavez avoids the body shot from Shibata.
Chavez closes the distance and clinches up with Shibata, looking for a takedown. Chavez pushes Shibata against the cage but Shibata circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Chavez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shibata but Shibata pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shibata scores with a takedown into Chavez's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Chavez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Shibata is controlling him.
Shibata postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shibata trying to control but Chavez is working from the bottom.
Chavez trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kiyoshi Shibata dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Shibata gets a double leg takedown into Chavez's guard.
Chavez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Shibata prevents Chavez from getting back to his feet.
Shibata postures up in Chavez's guard and throws a big left but Chavez blocks it.
Shibata loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Chavez tries to strike from the bottom.
Chavez throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shibata engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Shibata lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shibata looking to sit in guard and control but Chavez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Shibata wants to stand and escape but Chavez is having none of it.
Shibata avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Chavez throws a big right hand that misses.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shibata is on top in guard.

Shibata seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Chavez trying to keep a closed guard but Shibata is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chavez wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Shibata throwing strikes but missing.
Shibata controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Chavez trying to strike off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shibata content to stall in guard here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Chavez shoots in looking for a takedown. Shibata tries to sprawl out of it but Chavez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shibata manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Carmine Chavez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shibata pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shibata is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Shibata has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Shibata throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Chavez tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Shibata is in Chavez's guard.

Chavez uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Shibata drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Chavez manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Shibata has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Chavez uses from the top position.
Chavez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Chavez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Shibata is breathing heavily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Chavez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Chavez postures up in Shibata's guard and throws a big left but Shibata blocks it.
Chavez scoring with some ground and pound.
Chavez is looking to work some ground and pound but Shibata has wrist control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shibata preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Chavez postures up in Shibata's guard and throws a big left but Shibata blocks it.
Shibata looking for a sweep. Not yet Shibata, not yet.
Shibata trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kiyoshi Shibata will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Horrible takedown attempt by Chavez or perhaps it was just good defense by Shibata, which made it look bad.
Nice body kick from Shibata.
Chavez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Shibata pinned against the cage. Shibata gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shibata with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Shibata misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shibata throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Chavez could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Shibata bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Shibata controlling the position from side mount.
Shibata misses with the ground and pound.
Shibata tries to advance to mount but Chavez denies him.
Shibata trying to control the position but Chavez is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chavez misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Chavez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
You can see the frustration on Chavez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Chavez sneaks out the side door and pushes Shibata away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Shibata throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Chavez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Shibata is fending him off so far but Chavez persists. Nope, Shibata circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carmine Chavez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Shibata rushes Chavez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shibata throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Chavez was covering up waiting for the punch and Shibata finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shibata with a flurry of punches that miss.
Shibata wants to control from the top but Chavez keeps moving.
Shibata controls from within his opponent's guard.
Shibata must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Shibata postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shibata tries to free his leg and advance position but Chavez is retaining full guard.
Shibata is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Chavez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Shibata moves into the clinch.

Shibata has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Chavez clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Shibata looking for the choke but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kiyoshi Shibata comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Shibata has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kiyoshi Shibata!