PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Shaft (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fei Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Shaft
vs
Li

190 cm
23
214 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

190 cm
24
220 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid 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 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Shaft!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fei Li!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Ren Mimura and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shaft has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Shaft there as he acknowledges the shot.

It looks like John Shaft has been cut.
Shaft misses with a takedown attempt - Li sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Li throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Li tries to clinch there but Shaft circles away.

Li has managed to clinch.
Li connects with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Li.
Shaft is breathing heavily.
Li tries a knee to the head but Shaft blocks it.
Shaft fails to pull guard.
Li with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Shaft wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Shaft. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shaft fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Shaft changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Li fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Li scores with a one two! Shaft had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shaft takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Li tries to close the distance and clinch but Shaft swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A thudding body kick lands there by Li!

Li drives through and clinches with Shaft against the cage.
Li scores a nice knee to the body.
Li with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Li breaks from the clinch.
Li stuffs the takedown attempt from Shaft. Shaft gets slowly back to his feet.
Li fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shaft stuffs the takedown attempt from Li. Li gets slowly back to his feet.
Shaft pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Shaft closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Li regains half guard.
Li trying to control from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Shaft stops Li from getting back to his feet.

Shaft escapes and gets back to his feet.
Shaft shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Li but Li pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Shaft gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Knees to the body from Li.
Li gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Shaft.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Shaft pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Li missing with knees to the body.
Li misses with a knee to the head.
Li landing knees to the head.
Li stops a takedown attempt from Shaft.
Shaft can't get the takedown.

Li manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Shaft prevents Li from getting back to his feet.
Shaft tries to free his leg and advance position but Li is retaining full guard.
Shaft trying to control but Li is working from the bottom.
Shaft stopping the sweep attempt from Li.
Shaft passes Li's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shaft is looking for a kimura but Li is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Shaft to get the leverage.
Shaft prevents Li from improving his position.
Shaft prevents Li from standing back up.
Li is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Shaft postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Li to stand up.
Shaft shoots in but Li avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Li rushes Shaft and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Shaft is working for takedown but Li is calmly controlling the position for now.
Shaft wants a takedown but no success here.
Li connects with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li looking for a takedown.
Li landing knees to the head.
Shaft is pressed up against the cage. Li has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Shaft down to the mat. Shaft avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Shaft as Li tries to tie him up.
Shaft goes for a takedown in the clinch but Li prevents it.
Li lands an elbow just above Shaft 's eye.
Li tries a knee to the head but Shaft blocks it.
Shaft is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Li lands a knee to the head.
Shaft looking for a takedown.
Li prevents a takedown attempt there.
Li slowing the pace effectively.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shaft is trying to drag Li to the mat but Li just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Li prevents a takedown attempt there.
Shaft has had enough of the clinch but Li keeps him there for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fei Li dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Shaft'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.

Shaft moves out of range as Li throws a body kick.
Nice sprawl there from Li as Shaft shoots in.
Li throws a series of punches but Shaft moves out of range.

Li drives through and clinches with Shaft against the cage.

Li ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Li no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Li is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Li keeping full guard, as Shaft tries to pass.

Shaft postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Li is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Shaft, into his guard.

Shaft is looking for a triangle but Li pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Shaft looking for a triangle here. Li is fighting it but it looks tight! Shaft pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Li is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). John Shaft!