PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Shiina (ranked 1309 p4p, 74 weight class) and Branimir Simeon (ranked 1431 p4p, 80 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Shiina
vs
Simeon

167 cm
20
140 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

163 cm
27
130 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Urban Fighter
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Anthony Shiina!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Branimir Simeon!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Steve Erwin and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shiina misses with a looping left.
Simeon lands with a hook. Shiina tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Simeon misses with a body shot.
Shiina doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Simeon counters with a nice uppercut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Simeon. Shiina does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shiina uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Simeon.
Simeon has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Shiina throws a looping overhand right but Simeon ducks down to avoid it.
Simeon lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Shiina misses with a lunging right hand
and Simeon counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Simeon uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Shiina.
Shiina doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Simeon counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Shiina misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Shiina. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice jab there from Simeon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shiina takes a swing at Simeon's ribcage but misses.
Simeon throws a body punch but Shiina moves out of range.
Shiina throws a jab when Simeon was well out of range.
A big right from Shiina misses.
Shiina on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Shiina misses with a right hand
and Simeon counters with a nice body shot.
Simeon takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Shiina misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Simeon throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shiina shoots in but no luck this time.

Shiina feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Simeon keeping full guard, as Shiina tries to pass.
Shiina is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shiina trying to control but Simeon is working from the bottom.
Shiina is pushing down on Simeon's leg trying to pass to half guard. Simeon is fighting to maintain full guard but Shiina has managed to sneak the leg through.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shiina wants to control but Simeon is keeping him busy.
Shiina is controlling the pace.
Simeon tries to get to full guard but Shiina has control of the leg.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Simeon can do anything to dispel that myth.

Shiina is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Simeon has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shiina is looking for a kimura here.

Shiina is looking for a kimura but Simeon is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Shiina to get the leverage.
Shiina is looking to take a break and control but Simeon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Shiina is looking for a kimura here.
Simeon really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shiina. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Simeon is staying active underneath Shiina, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Simeon tries to get to full guard but Shiina has control of the leg.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Shiina slows the pace down in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shiina throws an off balance right hand
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
enabling Simeon to counter with a crisp jab.
Simeon is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Shiina had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Shiina doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Simeon counters with a left and a right that stings Shiina.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Branimir Simeon dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shiina.
Shiina misses with a takedown attempt - Simeon sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Shiina seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Shiina misses with a looping right.
Simeon uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Shiina shoots in for a takedown but Simeon shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Shiina. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good standup being displayed there by Simeon as he connects with a hook.
Simeon ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shiina moves away.
Simeon slips under a jab from Shiina.
Shiina is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Simeon scores with a nice strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shiina pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Shiina rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Simeon counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Shiina thinking.
Simeon stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Simeon wants it to stay on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Shiina.
Simeon wants to counter the offense by Shiina and move into the clinch position.
Anthony Shiina seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shiina shoots in for a takedown but Simeon shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A countering left hand to the body from Simeon misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shiina shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Shiina was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Simeon tries to buck Shiina off but Shiina is having none of it.
Simeon can't do much from the bottom here.
Simeon is not content to let Shiina control the position.
Simeon is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simeon holding on.
Anthony Shiina overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Shiina looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Simeon can't do much from the bottom here.
Shiina is looking to take a break and control but Simeon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Shiina is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Simeon is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shiina thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Shiina tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Shiina has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four 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.

Shiina looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Simeon tries to improve position but can't.
Shiina has control of an arm but Simeon manages to advance to Shiina's back!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shiina just trying to survive but Simeon is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Branimir Simeon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shiina shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Shiina showed some decent athleticism there.

Shiina wants to work for an arm triangle but Simeon is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Simeon is refusing to be controlled, as Shiina sits in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shiina seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Simeon is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Anthony Shiina!
Anthony Shiina retains his bantamweight title!
Anthony Shiina seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
In defeat, Branimir Simeon stepped up to the mic, saying 'Thanks for coming...I'll be back'.