PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Victor Floriano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Shaft (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shaft has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. John Shaft told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Floriano
vs
Shaft

188 cm
22
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
23
214 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Alpha-Omega

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Victor Floriano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Shaft!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Floriano tries to clinch but Shaft moves out of range.
Shaft tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Floriano swivels and escapes.
Shaft looks gassed!
Shaft fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Floriano lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shaft circles away quickly and effectively.
Floriano shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
No luck for Floriano with that takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Floriano misses.

Floriano looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Floriano drops back looking for a leg! Shaft is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Shaft manages to kick Floriano off! Floriano jumps back into Shaft's guard.

Floriano drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Floriano jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Floriano drops back looking for a leg! Shaft is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Shaft manages to kick Floriano off! Floriano jumps back into Shaft's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shaft escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Floriano gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Floriano drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Floriano jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Floriano is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Shaft escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Floriano gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Shaft looking for a sweep. Not yet Shaft, not yet.

Floriano decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Floriano closes the distance and clinches.
Floriano is pushing Shaft up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Floriano's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shaft shoots for a takedown but Floriano saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Victor Floriano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Shaft.
Both fighters circling a little - Floriano finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Floriano throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaft lands a slapping body shot.
Shaft fails with a takedown attempt.
Floriano tries to clinch up but Shaft circles away and keeps his distance.

Floriano clinches with his opponent.

Floriano breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shaft tries to clinch up but Floriano circles away and keeps his distance.
Shaft keeps the fight on the outside.
Floriano tries to clinch but Shaft is having none of it.

Shaft drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Shaft wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Floriano, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Shaft is trying to get an arm triangle but Floriano is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaft advances nicely into full mount.

Shaft swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Floriano is now in Shaft's guard. A big mistake from Shaft there, giving up the dominant position!

Shaft escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Floriano gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Shaft tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Floriano 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.

Floriano fails with the takedown

and Shaft counters with a nice double leg into side control. Floriano won't be happy with that.
Floriano gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Shaft is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Floriano has managed to free his arm - good work.
Shaft thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Floriano's head.

Shaft looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Floriano won't allow Shaft to pass to mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shaft is trying to work for a kimura but Floriano is defending well.
Shaft seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Floriano is staying active underneath Shaft, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Floriano shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Shaft as he jumps to the side.
Shaft misses with a takedown attempt
and Floriano counters with a three punch combo that has Shaft backing up. Shaft nods at Floriano to acknowledge the strikes.
Floriano fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Victor Floriano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shaft with a lazy takedown attempt
and Floriano counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Shaft is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Shaft looks for a takedown but Floriano sprawls well.

That's two 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.
Horrible takedown by Shaft or perhaps it was just good defense by Floriano which made him look bad.

Floriano clinches up with Shaft and pushes him back against the cage.
Shaft tries for a takedown but Floriano manages to get underhooks.
Floriano fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Shaft misses with a knee strike.
Floriano misses with a hook from the clinch.
Shaft drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Floriano escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Floriano misses with an uppercut.
Floriano tries to close the distance and clinch but Shaft swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A head kick misses from Floriano.
Shaft throws a head kick but Floriano moves out of range.
Shaft shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Floriano counters with a head kick. That will keep Shaft thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaft looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Floriano drives through and clinches with Shaft against the cage.
Floriano with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Shaft pulls guard effortlessly.

Floriano drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Floriano jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Shaft has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Floriano can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Floriano preventing the sweep.

Floriano decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Shaft, up you get!
Victor Floriano is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Floriano tries to clinch but Shaft is having none of it.
A head kick misses from Shaft.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Floriano tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Floriano shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Shaft as he avoids it easily.
Shaft fails with the takedown

so Floriano counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Shaft is pulling down on Floriano's head. It's preventing any offense from Floriano, at least for the moment.

Floriano drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Shaft dives on top into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shaft slips nicely into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Floriano looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
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 Victor Floriano will probably get the nod.
That's time! Floriano's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Shaft as Floriano shoots in.

Floriano darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Floriano is looking for a kimura but Shaft is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Floriano to get the leverage.
Shaft regains full guard. Nicely done.

Shaft throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Floriano is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Floriano stops Shaft from standing up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shaft escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Floriano gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Shaft throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Floriano decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Shaft, up you get!
Shaft fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Floriano throws a sloppy head kick and Shaft moves out of range easily.
John Shaft has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaft looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Floriano is fending him off so far but Shaft persists. Nope, Floriano circles away and we're back to standing.
Shaft connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Shaft keeps the fight on the outside.
Floriano has a takedown stuffed.
Shaft lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Floriano circles away quickly and effectively.
Floriano throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Shaft.

Shaft feints and as Floriano raises his hands in defense, Shaft changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Shaft is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Floriano is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Floriano has escaped and now he's on top!

Shaft has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Floriano can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Floriano gets to his feet - Shaft follows without any prompting.
John Shaft seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Floriano changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shaft tries to avoid it but Floriano manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shaft to the ground. Shaft escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Victor Floriano. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Shaft bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Floriano bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Floriano gets caught flat footed, as Shaft shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Shaft postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Floriano is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Shaft dives into side control.

Shaft stands up.
Shaft shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Floriano as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaft shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Floriano as he avoids it easily.
Floriano throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Shaft's head.

Floriano closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Floriano is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Shaft has managed to free his arm - good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Floriano seems to be working for a kimura but Shaft defends the submission attempt.
Shaft tries to get to full guard but Floriano has control of the leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John Shaft.
I think Floriano has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Victor Floriano!