PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shigeru Otori (ranked 3488 p4p, 5379 weight class) and Tahiwai Pihopa (ranked 334 p4p, 430 weight class). Shigeru Otori had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Otori
vs
Pihopa

178 cm
20
149
4 - 4 - 1

169 cm
20
157
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Money Inc. (160Q with Proof ) 165$

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 4 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Shigeru Otori!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tahiwai Pihopa!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Otori throws out a powerful jab.
Otori misses with a straight left.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Pihopa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Otori sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Otori wants to land a leg kick but Pihopa is out of range.
Pihopa is looking to chop away at Otori's legs.
Pihopa scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Otori doesn't seem bothered though.
Otori swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Otori throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Pihopa walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Pihopa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A punch lands to the side of Pihopa 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Otori throws a series of punches but Pihopa moves out of range.
Pihopa ducks under a wild hook from Otori.
Otori fails to land with a series of punches.
Pihopa looks to land a left hand but Otori moved out of range nicely.
Otori misses the jab.
Otori scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pihopa blocks a low kick nicely.
Pihopa is looking to score with low kicks.
Pihopa misses with a leg kick.
Otori thinks about countering with a head kick.
Otori clobbers Pihopa with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Some wild striking there from Otori.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Otori takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A big left from Pihopa misses.
Otori doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Otori steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pihopa.
Otori appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Pihopa scores with a jab to the jaw.
A telegraphed right hand from Otori misses the target.
Otori dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Otori slips under a jab.
Otori is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Pihopa throws out a powerful jab.
Pihopa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Otori.
Otori connects with a crisp jab.
Otori throws a right and a left that Pihopa avoids nicely.
Pihopa jabs Otori to the body, keeping him at a distance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Otori steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pihopa.
Shigeru Otori seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Otori uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Pihopa.
Pihopa throws a jab but it's blocked by Otori.
Otori takes a swing at Pihopa's ribcage but misses.
Otori defending well as Pihopa loads up on a big left hand.
It looks like Otori has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pihopa walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Pihopa lands a nice leg kick that just misses Otori's sensitive parts.
Otori tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pihopa was well out of range. Poor timing from Otori.
Otori throws a jab when Pihopa was well out of range.
A nice side step and Pihopa releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Pihopa cracks Otori with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Otori misses the jab.
Otori cracks Pihopa with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Otori scores with a spinning back kick!
Otori tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pihopa was well out of range. Poor timing from Otori.
A swing and a miss from Pihopa.
Pihopa just misses with a punch to the body.
Otori loads up on a big right hand but Pihopa slips the punch.
Otori throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pihopa only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Pihopa throws a hook but Otori blocks it.
Pihopa is looking to chop away at Otori's legs.
Otori takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A low kick from Otori is predictable there
and Pihopa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pihopa throws a lazy right hand but Otori sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Otori misses its target.
Pihopa tried to score with a low kick but Otori checks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Otori checks a low kick from Pihopa.
A thudding body kick lands there by Otori!
Otori misses with a hook. Pihopa ducked under it nicely.
Otori misses with a low kick as Pihopa jumps back.
Otori buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Otori misses with a body kick.
Otori thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pihopa lands with a hook. Otori tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A jab from Pihopa misses.
Pihopa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Otori is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
The fighters circling - Pihopa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pihopa avoids the body shot from Otori.
Pihopa looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Otori wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Otori throws a hook to the side of Pihopa's head but Pihopa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Otori has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Pihopa.
Pihopa moves away from the strike by Otori.
A telegraphed right hand from Otori misses the target.
Otori misses with an uppercut
and Pihopa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
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!
Otori takes a swing at Pihopa's ribcage but misses.
Pihopa let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pihopa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pihopa lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Otori bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Pihopa's head backwards.
Otori throws the kick towards the body but Pihopa avoids it.
Pihopa is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Otori throws a wild body kick that Pihopa sees coming a mile off.
Pihopa lands a nice looking body kick.
Pihopa takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Pihopa blocks a jab.
Otori moves out of range of the strikes.
Pihopa looks for the body kick but Otori saw that one coming.
Nice defenses there by Pihopa.
Otori misses with a wild body shot.
Pihopa only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Otori pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Pihopa staying out of range there.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pihopa blocks the body kick.
A head kick misses from Otori.
Otori lands with an overhand left.
A nice leg kick lands there from Otori.
Pihopa thows a left - swing and a miss!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Shigeru Otori will probably get the nod.
That's time! Otori's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Otori uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pihopa.
Pihopa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Pihopa slips a straight right by Otori.
It seemed like Pihopa was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Otori takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Otori has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Pihopa.
Otori rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pihopa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Otori misses with a lunging right hand
and Pihopa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Otori connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Pihopa throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Otori stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Pihopa looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Pihopa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Otori throws a body kick that misses.
A low kick lands for Pihopa.
Otori throws a series of punches but Pihopa avoids them all with ease.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Pihopa! But no joy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Otori connects with a body shot that sends Pihopa's belly button to the back.
Otori misses with a body kick.
Pihopa tests Otori's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Pihopa moves out of range as Otori strikes.
Pihopa now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Otori bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Otori misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pihopa looks for the body kick but Otori saw that one coming.
Otori uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pihopa.
An attempted straight right counter from Otori misses the target.
Pihopa takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Pihopa lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Pihopa ducks under a wild hook from Otori.
Nice uppercut there from Pihopa.
A big left from Otori misses.
Otori throws an overhand right that lands on Pihopa's shoulder, as Pihopa tries to avoid the shot.
Otori lands a lovely overhand right.
Otori sizes up Pihopa with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Pihopa misses with an attempted mid kick.
Otori defending well as Pihopa loads up on a big left hand.
Otori jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Pihopa throws a lazy right hand but Otori sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
That kick from Pihopa tenderised Otori's leg. Otori is trying to keep his angry face on.
Shigeru Otori is winning the standup battle so far.
Otori darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Pihopa doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pihopa moves forwards but Otori connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Otori throws a nice looking combination but Pihopa bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Otori just misses with a punch to the body.
Pihopa only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Pihopa moves out of range of the body kick.
Pihopa throws the left hand but Otori avoids the punch easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Pihopa misses the target.
An attempted straight right counter from Otori misses the target.
Otori jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Pihopa is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Otori with a body shot.
A nice leg kick lands there from Pihopa.
Jab, jab by Otori - just one landing.
Otori throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Otori avoids a punch combination nicely.
Otori misses with a kick to the body.
Otori slips a jab from Pihopa.
Otori thuds a left hand into Pihopa's body.
Pihopa throws a body punch but Otori moves out of range.
Otori misses with a hook. Pihopa ducked under it nicely.
Pihopa throws the left hand but Otori avoids the punch easily.
Otori is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Pihopa swings for the body but Otori moves out of range.
Otori quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Pihopa avoids the body shot from Otori.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pihopa looking to land some kicks to the body here.
It looked like Otori wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Otori's corner calls for a 1-2. Otori obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Otori misses with a body shot
letting Pihopa counter with a right hand.
Otori drops his hands momentarily and Pihopa takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Pihopa moves out of range of the strikes.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Pihopa! But no joy.
A swing and a miss from Otori.
An inside leg kick lands from Pihopa.
Otori takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Pihopa moves out of range of the body kick.
Otori slips under a jab.
Pihopa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Pihopa misses with a looping left.
Otori misses with a wild body shot.
A good leg kick by Pihopa.
Pihopa throws the left hand but Otori avoids the punch easily.
Good work by Pihopa as he checks the leg kick.
Pihopa misses with a kick to the body.
Pihopa moves away from the strike by Otori.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Otori slips under a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Otori 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.
A jab from Otori misses.
Pihopa throws out a loose jab but Otori uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Otori.
Otori 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.
Pihopa misses with a low kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pihopa. Otori does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pihopa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Otori moves away.
Otori throws a head kick but Pihopa moves out of range.
Pihopa misses with a looping left.
Otori throws a head kick that misses.
Pihopa lands a body shot.
Pihopa avoids the body shot from Otori.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pihopa misses with a looping left.
Pihopa throws a good cross that connects.
Pihopa misses with a low kick.
Pihopa throws a body shot but no joy.
Pihopa tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tahiwai Pihopa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Pihopa throws a looping overhand right but Otori ducks down to avoid it.
Pihopa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Otori.
Otori swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Otori lands with a nice body punch.
Otori slips a jab from Pihopa.
Pihopa takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Otori steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pihopa.
Otori throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Pihopa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pihopa throws a body shot but no joy.
Pihopa loads up on a big right hand but Otori slips the punch.
Otori throws a big shot that misses.
Pihopa misses with a straight left.
Otori swinging wildly here.
Otori backing away here, and Pihopa unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pihopa takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Otori throws the kick towards the body but Pihopa avoids it.
Pihopa on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Pihopa connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Otori checks a low kick from Pihopa.
Pihopa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Pihopa.
Pihopa takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Pihopa throws an overhand right that lands on Otori's shoulder, as Otori tries to avoid the shot.
Pihopa lands a right hook to the body.
Otori throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Otori loads up on a big right hand but Pihopa slips the punch.
Pihopa throws a quick inside leg kick.
Otori just misses with a punch to the body.
Pihopa lands a jab to Otori's midsection.
Pihopa throws a right and a left that Otori avoids nicely.
It looked like Otori wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Pihopa stuns Otori with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Pihopa takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Pihopa moves out of range as Otori throws a body kick.
It seemed like Pihopa was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A jab from Otori misses.
Otori throws a body shot but no joy.
Pihopa looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pihopa ducks under a wild hook from Otori.
Pihopa has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Otori fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Pihopa looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Otori looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Otori throws a left and a right that both miss
and Pihopa counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Otori thinking.
Pihopa blocks a jab.
Pihopa appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Pihopa connects with a right hand. Otori shakes it off.
Otori throws a push kick but Pihopa slaps the foot to one side.
Pihopa misses with a body kick.
Pihopa misses with a hook.
Otori throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A punch combination from Otori misses.
Pihopa loads up on a big right hand but Otori slips the punch.
Good exchange - Pihopa coming out on top.
Otori throws a sloppy head kick and Pihopa moves out of range easily.
Otori walks into a stiff left hand from Pihopa.
Otori fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pihopa manages to avoid it.
Pihopa looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
The crowd cheers as Pihopa lands an impressive looking overhand right. Otori doesn't seem phased though.
A shot to the liver by Pihopa. Beautiful body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Otori misses with an uppercut
and Pihopa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pihopa moves out of range as Otori throws a body kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pihopa. Otori does a little dance to reset his feet.
A slow jab from Otori misses its intended target.
Some bone on bone action there as Otori checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Pihopa scores with a nice strike.
Otori throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Pihopa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pihopa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Otori pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pihopa let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Otori uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pihopa.
Otori just misses with a punch to the body.
Pihopa connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Pihopa throws a lazy uppercut
and Otori counters with a nice uppercut.
Pihopa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Otori sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Pihopa tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Otori. Pihopa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pihopa misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pihopa has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Otori.
Pihopa moves out of range as Otori strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Otori throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Pihopa on the side of the head.
Pihopa throws a jab but it's blocked by Otori.
Pihopa does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Pihopa lands with a cross.
Otori is looking to land body kicks.
Otori slips under a jab.
Otori misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pihopa.
Pihopa misses with a straight left.
Otori ducks under a wild hook from Pihopa.
Pihopa missing with a left hand there. Otori was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Otori scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Pihopa sizes up Otori with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A low kick from Otori is predictable there
and Pihopa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pihopa swings for the body but Otori moves out of range.
Otori is looking to counter with a body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pihopa looks to land a left hand but Otori moved out of range nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tahiwai Pihopa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pihopa 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tahiwai Pihopa!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Tahiwai Pihopa waved his t-shirt featuring Money Inc. (160Q with Proof ) 165$ 's logo in front of the cameras.