PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Aleks Breznhev (ranked 1829 p4p, 203 weight class) and Yuki Shojo (ranked 1651 p4p, 178 weight class). Breznhev comes to the cage accompanied by Death Grips - No Love. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Yuki Shojo enters the cage!

Breznhev
vs
Shojo

161 cm
26
155 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

165 cm
25
155 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Aspire Nutrition

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 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aleks Breznhev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yuki Shojo!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Breznhev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Shojo stuffs the takedown attempt from Breznhev. Breznhev gets slowly back to his feet.
Breznhev fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Shojo avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleks Breznhev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Breznhev with that takedown attempt.
Breznhev goes for a double leg but Shojo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Shojo continues to drive forward.
Shojo throws a hook to the side of Breznhev's head but Breznhev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shojo moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
We've been told by Breznhev's head coaches at Blackscar Fitness that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Breznhev takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Breznhev takes one on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Shojo. No joy for Breznhev on that attempt.
Shojo 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.
Shojo pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Breznhev back to the cage. Shojo follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Shojo feints and then cracks Breznhev's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Breznhev down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shojo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Shojo fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shojo misses the jab.
Shojo lands with a cross.
Breznhev throws out a loose jab but Shojo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Breznhev shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Shojo sprawls well. Shojo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Breznhev gets slowly back to his feet.
A nice inside leg kick there by Shojo. That's going to slow Breznhev down.
Shojo stuffs the takedown attempt from Breznhev. Breznhev gets slowly back to his feet.

Breznhev looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Shojo has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Breznhev is on him like a limpet, forcing Shojo back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Breznhev misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Breznhev misses with the head strike.
Shojo misses with a knee strike.
Shojo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Shojo prevents a body shot from Breznhev.
Breznhev is trying to pull guard but Shojo has him pressed against the cage.

Shojo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shojo moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Good exchange - Breznhev coming out on top.
A jab from Shojo finds it's way through Breznhev's defenses.

Breznhev closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Shojo quickly recovers to half guard.
Shojo keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Breznhev is trying to control the action in half guard but Shojo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Shojo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Breznhev is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Breznhev trying to control from half guard but Shojo is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shojo is looking to improve his position.
Shojo keeps trying to improve his position.

Shojo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Breznhev working Shojo over with strikes.
Breznhev sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shojo defending well though.
Shojo is trying to maintain the position but Breznhev is very close to passing his half guard.
Breznhev keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Breznhev is trying to control the action in half guard but Shojo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Breznhev passes to side control.
Shojo struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shojo is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Breznhev is controlling him well.
Breznhev in the domination position with Shojo hanging on.
Shojo tries to buck Breznhev off but Breznhev is having none of it.

Shojo sneaks out the side door and pushes Breznhev away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
A good leg kick by Shojo.
Breznhev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Breznhev appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Breznhev looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuki Shojo dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Shojo wants to clinch.
Yuki Shojo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shojo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shojo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Breznhev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shojo misses with a hook. Breznhev ducked under it nicely.

Shojo gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Breznhev to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Breznhev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shojo is keeping the position for now.
Yuki Shojo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Breznhev being controlled here momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shojo keeping full guard, as Breznhev tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shojo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Breznhev is aware though and is defending well.
Breznhev content to stall in guard here.
Breznhev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shojo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Breznhev pushing down on Shojo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Breznhev is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Shojo sees it coming and defends easily.
Shojo wants to control but Breznhev is keeping busy.
The fighters are battling for position here. Shojo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Breznhev cracks Shojo with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Breznhev passes into half guard.
Shojo is refusing to be controlled, as Breznhev sits in half guard.
Breznhev thows a huge punch but Shojo dodges it nicely.
Breznhev winds up and cracks Shojo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Breznhev is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Breznhev trying to control from Shojo's half guard. Shojo has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Shojo looking to control.
Breznhev passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Breznhev working the head with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Breznhev lands a decent elbow from side control.
Breznhev wants to control but Shojo is keeping him busy.
Shojo tries to improve position but can't.
Breznhev cracks Shojo with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Breznhev tries to move to mount but Shojo blocks the move with his legs.
Shojo stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Breznhev working away.
Breznhev wants to control but Shojo is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shojo is trying to get back to half guard.
Breznhev in side control lands a decent elbow.
Breznhev connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Shojo some visible discomfort.
Breznhev tries to advance to mount but can't.
Breznhev staying calm.
Shojo is working to avoid the ground and pound but Breznhev connects with a decent elbow.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shojo is looking to regain half guard here but Breznhev keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleks Breznhev dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Shojo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Breznhev feinted with a counter takedown.
Shojo moves in looking to clinch but Breznhev pushes him off.
Breznhev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Breznhev tries to keep at a distance but Shojo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Shojo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Breznhev lands a left hand that snaps the head of Shojo backwards.
Breznhev tries a body shot but Shojo blocks it.
Shojo tries to stall but Breznhev uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Shojo looking to throw knees to the head but Breznhev is blocking nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Breznhev lands with a light punch inside.
Breznhev jumps guard but Shojo stands there with Breznhev around his waist. Breznhev gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Breznhev is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Breznhev scores with a shot to the side of Shojo's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Breznhev jumps guard but Shojo turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleks Breznhev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Breznhev throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Shojos head.

Breznhev has hold of one of Shojo's legs. Shojo is fighting the takedown attempt but Breznhev gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Breznhev has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Shojo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Breznhev trying to control the position from guard on top but Shojo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Breznhev tries to free his leg and advance position but Shojo is retaining full guard.
Shojo looking to control.
Breznhev trying to control but Shojo is working from the bottom.

Shojo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shojo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Breznhev gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Breznhev trying to control the position from guard on top but Shojo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Breznhev passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Breznhev scores with a couple of short elbows.
Shojo is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shojo struggling a bit here.

Breznhev swings around for an armbar but Shojo sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Breznhev's guard.
Shojo wants to stand but Breznhev is controlling his posture from full guard.
Shojo stopping the sweep attempt from Breznhev.
Shojo wanted to stand there but Breznhev had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Breznhev has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Shojo has passed into side control.

Shojo decides to stand back up.
Breznhev jabs Shojo to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Yuki Shojo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Shojo slaps away a takedown attempt from Breznhev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Yuki Shojo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shojo fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Breznhev is out of range.
Breznhev misses the shot to the body.

Shojo has taken the fight to the clinch.
Breznhev jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Shojo walks away with a smile on his face. Breznhev gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Breznhev looks for a takedown but Shojo sprawls well.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Shojo.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Yuki Shojo.
I think Shojo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Yuki Shojo!
Yuki Shojo really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Lion Fightwear logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.