PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Robbie Shewmaker (ranked 2652 p4p, 24032 weight class) and David Eagle (ranked 325 p4p, 712 weight class). Eagle is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Pay money To my Pain - Weight of my pride. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shewmaker
vs
Eagle

180 cm
28
175
4 - 3 - 0

182 cm
22
175
2 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Gonzasco Q160 (159.9)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Robbie Shewmaker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, David Eagle!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Percy O'Donnell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Eagle moves into the clinch.
Shewmaker can't break the clinch.
Eagle is pressed up against the cage. Shewmaker has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Eagle down to the mat. Eagle avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Eagle moves into the clinch successfully.
Shewmaker jumps guard but Eagle turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Shewmaker holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Eagle jumps guard and drags Shewmaker to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Shewmaker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Eagle is keeping the position for now.
Eagle controlling Shewmaker's posture.
We've been hearing good reports from Shewmaker's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Shewmaker wants to control from the top but Eagle keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eagle has control of Shewmaker's left arm, preventing Shewmaker from doing any damage.
Shewmaker sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Eagle's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eagle gets back to full guard.
Shewmaker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Eagle is keeping the position for now.
Eagle is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Eagle seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Shewmaker wants to control from the top but Eagle keeps moving.
Eagle wants to sweep here but Shewmaker controlling him for the moment.
Shewmaker wants to pass the guard but Eagle is keeping the position.
Eagle is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shewmaker trying to control the position from guard on top but Eagle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shewmaker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Eagle is trying to control the position but Shewmaker postures up.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Shewmaker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Eagle is keeping the position for now.
Eagle seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Shewmaker tries to keep at a distance but Eagle has taken the fight into the clinch.
Shewmaker fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robbie Shewmaker. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Eagle pulls guard.
Shewmaker tries to free his leg and advance position but Eagle is retaining full guard.
Eagle is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eagle has control of Shewmaker's left arm, preventing Shewmaker from doing any damage.
Shewmaker stopping the sweep attempt from Eagle.
Shewmaker is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Shewmaker trying to control the position from guard on top but Eagle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Eagle controlling Shewmaker's posture.
Eagle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Eagle is trying to control the position but Shewmaker postures up.
Eagle is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Shewmaker shoots in but Eagle avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Shewmaker rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Eagle moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Shewmaker closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Eagle quickly recovers to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Eagle is trying to get back to full guard.
Shewmaker thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Eagle's head.
Shewmaker trying to control the action but Eagle is working from the bottom.
Eagle tries to get to full guard but Shewmaker has control of the leg.
Eagle has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Eagle keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shewmaker wants to pass to mount but Eagle is defending the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but David Eagle will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

No joy there for Shewmaker, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Eagle showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shewmaker.
Eagle tries to counter by closing the distance.
Eagle slips a jab and a cross from Shewmaker.
Eagle moves in looking to clinch but Shewmaker pushes him off.
Eagle fails with an attempt to clinch.
Shewmaker throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Eagle clinches up with Shewmaker and pushes him back against the cage.

Shewmaker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Eagle instigates a clinch.

Eagle pulls guard effortlessly.
Eagle not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shewmaker is fighting to break Eagle's control of his arms but Eagle is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Shewmaker is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Shewmaker passes Eagle's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shewmaker is taking a breather. Eagle says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Shewmaker is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Eagle reverses the position - he's now on top in Shewmaker's guard.
Eagle wants to pass the guard but Shewmaker is keeping the position.
Shewmaker trying to keep a closed guard but Eagle is proving a slippery customer.
Shewmaker can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Eagle controls the pace.
Eagle won't allow Shewmaker to sweep him here.

Shewmaker is looking for a triangle but Eagle pushes his legs off easily.
Eagle controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eagle looking to pass the guard.

Shewmaker has his foot on Eagle's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Eagle works his way back into a safe position though.

Shewmaker is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Eagle got a little sloppy there for a moment and Shewmaker has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Eagle has managed to get both his arms back between Shewmaker's legs - danger averted.
Shewmaker is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Eagle controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eagle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shewmaker swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Shewmaker keeping moving, preventing Eagle from controlling successfully.
Shewmaker wants to sweep but no luck.

Shewmaker has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Eagle can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Eagle stopping the sweep attempt from Shewmaker.

Shewmaker is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Eagle defends well.
Robbie Shewmaker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Shewmaker is looking for a triangle here but Eagle uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eagle trying to control the position but Shewmaker is working away.
Eagle tries to advance to mount but Shewmaker denies him.
Shewmaker manages to work his way to half guard, despite Eagle's best efforts.
Shewmaker tries to roll over but Eagle keeps him under control.
Shewmaker won't allow Eagle to pass to mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Shewmaker looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Eagle frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but David Eagle will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Shewmaker throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Eagle moves away from the strike by Shewmaker.
Shewmaker swinging wildly here.
Eagle uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Shewmaker.

Eagle gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Shewmaker has had enough of the clinch but Eagle keeps him there for the moment.

Eagle pulls guard successfully.
Shewmaker pushing down on Eagle's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Eagle tries to roll over but Shewmaker keeps him under control.
Shewmaker seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Eagle does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eagle blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shewmaker.
Shewmaker is taking a breather. Eagle says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Eagle trying to control but Shewmaker postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eagle is looking for a sweep. Shewmaker is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Shewmaker tries to pass to full mount but Eagle defends it.
Eagle is trying to control but can't.
Eagle works his way to full guard. Good work.
Eagle is pulling down on Shewmaker's head to control his posture.
Shewmaker looking to pass the guard.
Eagle is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shewmaker looking to pass the guard.
Eagle wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two 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.
Shewmaker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Eagle swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Shewmaker postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Shewmaker throws a body punch but Eagle moves out of range.
Shewmaker lands a right hook to the body.
Shewmaker looks to score with a jab to the body but Eagle is just out of range.
Shewmaker sets himself, and Eagle steps forward looking for the clinch! Shewmaker avoids it this time.
David Eagle is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shewmaker fails with a takedown attempt.

Eagle clinches up against the cage.
Eagle is trying to pull guard but Shewmaker has him pressed against the cage.
Shewmaker is trying to push Eagle away but Eagle has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eagle fails to pull guard.

Eagle manages to pull guard.
Eagle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shewmaker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Eagle is keeping the position for now.
Shewmaker pushing down on Eagle's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Shewmaker wants to control but Eagle is keeping him busy.
Shewmaker is thwarting Eagle's attempts to control the position.
Eagle regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shewmaker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Eagle is keeping the position for now.
Eagle keeping moving, preventing Shewmaker from controlling successfully.
Shewmaker looking to pass the guard.
Eagle trying to keep a closed guard but Shewmaker is proving a slippery customer.
Shewmaker is looking to pass into half guard but Eagle pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Eagle is in guard.

Eagle got a little sloppy there for a moment and Shewmaker has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Eagle has managed to get both his arms back between Shewmaker's legs - danger averted.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Eagle slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Robbie Shewmaker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Shewmaker is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Robbie Shewmaker.
I think Eagle 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... David Eagle!
In his post fight interview, David Eagle started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
In defeat, Robbie Shewmaker stepped up to the mic, saying 'I will come back. I am pretty sure that guy is juiced to the gills. But I still should have won. '.