PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shiko Shubaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michal Kurpinski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shubaka
vs
Kurpinski

172 cm
19
158 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
159 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Shiko Shubaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michal Kurpinski!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shubaka scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Shubaka decides to stand up.

Shubaka drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Shubaka is in close to Kurpinski's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Shubaka with a flurry of punches that miss.

Shubaka decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kurpinski, up you get!

Shubaka drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kurpinski is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Shubaka decides to stand up, so the ref orders Kurpinski to his feet.

Shubaka shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kurpinski is trying to defend but Shubaka finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
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!

Shubaka decides to stand up.
Kurpinski looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shubaka closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Shubaka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kurpinski has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Shubaka throws an elbow but misses.
Kurpinski tries to pull guard but Shubaka holds him up against the cage and eventually Kurpinski drops back down to his feet.
Kurpinski misses with a knee to the head.
Kurpinski has had enough of the clinch but Shubaka keeps him there for the moment.
Shubaka scores with a shoulder strike.
Kurpinski tries to circle away but Shubaka has him pinned against the cage.
Kurpinski jumps guard but Shubaka stands there with Kurpinski around his waist. Kurpinski gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Shubaka gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Kurpinski taking some punishment here, with Shubaka in his half guard.
Shubaka is looking to advance position but Kurpinski won't allow it.

Shubaka wants to work for an arm triangle but Kurpinski is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shubaka is looking for a kimura but Kurpinski is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Shubaka to get the leverage.
Shubaka prevents Kurpinski from standing back up.
Shubaka wants to stand up but Kurpinski has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Shubaka is looking for a kimura here.
Shubaka is looking to pass Kurpinski's guard but actually Kurpinski recovers to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Shubaka drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kurpinski looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kurpinski looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kurpinski!
Kurpinski advances to mount.

Shubaka defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Kurpinski.
Shubaka sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Shubaka gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shubaka looking to control.

Shubaka is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kurpinski is aware though and is defending well.
Kurpinski is stalling in the full guard.

Shubaka looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Shubaka is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kurpinski is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shubaka has a closed guard, preventing Kurpinski from standing up.

Shubaka has his foot on Kurpinski's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kurpinski works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shiko Shubaka dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kurpinski doesn't manage to clinch there - Shubaka circles away.

Shubaka shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Shubaka looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Shubaka is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Shiko Shubaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kurpinski with a lazy takedown attempt

and Shubaka counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Shubaka wants to work for an arm triangle but Kurpinski is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Kurpinski kicks Shubaka off and gets back to his feet.

Shubaka scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kurpinski is not content to let Shubaka control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurpinski wants to control but Shubaka postures up.

Shubaka decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Shubaka shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kurpinski manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Shubaka stands up from Kurpinski's guard - Shubaka perhaps looking for a knockout.

Shubaka closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kurpinski to the mat! Kurpinski manages to get full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shubaka is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Kurpinski is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Kurpinski has escaped and now he's on top!
Kurpinski wants to control from the top but Shubaka keeps moving.

Shubaka escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kurpinski gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kurpinski 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.
Kurpinski wants to control from the top but Shubaka keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kurpinski avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Shubaka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kurpinski can do to turn this around?

Kurpinski avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Shubaka working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kurpinski doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kurpinski manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Shubaka trying to strike off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shubaka working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Kurpinski has passed into half guard!
Kurpinski controlling the action here.
Shubaka might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Shubaka is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kurpinski pulls his head out easily.

Shubaka is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kurpinski pulls his head out easily.
Shubaka trying to control but Kurpinski postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kurpinski working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shiko Shubaka dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Kurpinski leaves Shubaka with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Shubaka gets the takedown into side control.

Shubaka wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kurpinski, who protects the arm well.

Shubaka decides to stand back up. Shubaka steps back and let's Kurpinski get back to his feet.
Kurpinski looks to clinch

and Shubaka counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Shubaka seems to be working for a kimura but Kurpinski defends the submission attempt.
Shubaka tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shubaka is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kurpinski defends it well.

Shubaka is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kurpinski defends it well.
Shubaka trying to control from half guard but Kurpinski is working away.
Kurpinski wants to get back to full guard.

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.

Shubaka is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kurpinski is just riding it out for now. Shubaka eventually gives up the hold.
Shubaka not landing any meaningful shots this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Shubaka displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kurpinski.
Shiko Shubaka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Shubaka throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kurpinski was covering up waiting for the punch and Shubaka finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kurpinski keeping full guard, as Shubaka tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shubaka wants to get up but he can't break Kurpinski's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Shubaka trying to control but Kurpinski is working from the bottom.
Shiko Shubaka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shubaka content to stall in guard here.
Shubaka stands and throws Kurpinski's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kurpinski tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Shubaka decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Shiko Shubaka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Shubaka pushes Kurpinski up against the cage in a clinch.

Shubaka has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Kurpinski is trying to keep an underhook but Shubaka manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Kurpinski wants to get back to his feet.
Shubaka tries to stand but can't do so whilst Kurpinski controls his leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shiko Shubaka showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Shubaka has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shiko Shubaka!