PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Harald Harfager (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Shaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Harfager might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Amon Amarth - Pursuit of Vikings. Shaw has chosen Shangri-La as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Harfager
vs
Shaw

188 cm
24
186 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

181 cm
21
200 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Syndicate Drugs

Hellbent, Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Harald Harfager!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Shaw!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Viktor Lagutenko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Harfager moves into the clinch successfully.
Harfager will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Shaw up against the cage.
Harfager tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Shaw's elbow.
Harfager looking to stall.
Shaw drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Harfager lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Shaw or not.
Harfager trying to land knees to the body.
Shaw drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Harfager scores a nice knee to the body.
Shaw blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Harfager tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Shaw avoids it.
Harfager prevents the takedown attempt.
Harald Harfager has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Shaw.
Harfager missing with knees to the body.
Harfager tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Shaw avoids it.

Shaw works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Shaw with a flurry of punches that miss.
Harfager wants to sweep but no luck.
Shaw postures up in Harfager's guard and throws a big left but Harfager blocks it.
Harfager knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shaw on the ground.
Shaw prevents Harfager from getting back to his feet.
Harfager keeping moving, preventing Shaw from controlling successfully.
Shaw is pushing down on Harfager's leg trying to pass to half guard. Harfager is fighting to maintain full guard but Shaw has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harfager is trying to stand up here but Shaw is controlling him well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Harfager moves into the clinch.
Harfager working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Shaw blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Shaw is trying to trip Harfager. He has hold of a leg but Harfager is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Shaw persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Harfager working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shaw.
Harfager is adopting a defensive guard.
Shaw preventing the sweep.
Shaw postures up in Harfager's guard and throws a big left but Harfager blocks it.
Shaw postures up.
Shaw has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Harfager preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shaw looking to pass the guard.
Shaw is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Shaw tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Harfager swivels and escapes.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Harfager throws an elbow that misses.

Shaw jumps guard and drags Harfager to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Shaw has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Harfager has passed into side control.
Harfager taking a breather here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Harfager tries to stand but Shaw is controlling his head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shaw manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Harfager sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shaw defending well though.
Harfager wants to pass to mount but Shaw is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaw is looking for a sweep. Harfager is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Shaw makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Shaw.
Harfager wants to control from the top but Shaw keeps moving.
Harfager pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shaw is keeping the position for now.
Shaw looking for a sweep. Not yet Shaw, not yet.
Shaw lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Harfager!
Harfager wants to hold on but Shaw pushes him away.
Shaw landing punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harfager wants to get back to his feet.
Harfager manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Harfager wants to improve his position but Shaw is controlling well.
Shaw throwing shots but Harfager is blocking nicely.
Shaw throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Shaw trying to pass the guard but Harfager defending well.
Harfager keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Harfager wants to get back to his feet.
Shaw missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Shaw missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Shaw closes the distance and clinches up with Harfager, looking for a takedown. Shaw pushes Harfager against the cage but Harfager circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Shaw will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

The fight stays on the outside here - Harfager looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Harfager moves in looking to clinch but Shaw pushes him off.
Shaw tries for a takedown but Harfager sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Shaw shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Harfager but Harfager pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Harfager tries to close the distance and clinch but Shaw swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Harfager listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Harfager misses with a low kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Harfager looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Harfager, right into the meat.
Harfager looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Harfager gets caught flat footed, as Shaw shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Harfager looking to control.
Shaw stopping the sweep attempt from Harfager.
Shaw prevents Harfager from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw wants to pass the guard but Harfager is keeping the position.

Harfager escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Shaw gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Shaw throwing strikes from guard but Harfager blocks nicely.
Shaw throws and elbow that misses. Harfager uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Shaw's guard. Nice move by Harfager!

Harfager decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Harfager wants to clinch up but Shaw keeps it at a distance.
Shaw shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Harfager sprawls well. Harfager wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Shaw gets slowly back to his feet.
Harald Harfager has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Shaw.
Harfager scores with a hook to the body. Shaw takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Shaw is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harfager tries to clinch there but Shaw circles away.

Shaw shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Shaw trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Harfager pulls Shaw in close to prevent any damage.
Shaw trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Harfager is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Harfager prevents Shaw from improving his position.
Harfager wants to free his trapped foot but Shaw is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Harfager wants to take a breather but Shaw is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harfager thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Harfager trying to pass the guard but Shaw defending well.
Harfager seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Harfager tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Harfager defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Shaw.
Harfager is looking to clinch.
Shaw fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Harfager avoids it really well and circles away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Shaw.
Harfager manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harfager keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Harfager is trying to stand.
Shaw scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Shaw prevents Harfager from standing back up.
Shaw tries to pass to full mount but Harfager defends it.
Harfager tries to get to full guard but Shaw has control of the leg.
Harfager is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Shaw's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Shaw's back!
Harfager is looking to control Shaw but Shaw is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Shaw is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Harfager.
Harfager is trying to stick to Shaw's back but Shaw is turning into Harfager. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Harfager's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Shaw.
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 Harald Harfager will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Shaw shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Shaw showed some decent athleticism there.
Shaw takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Harfager is trying to stand back up but Shaw is controlling him
Harfager is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Shaw scores with a couple of nice shots.
John Shaw has got the better of the ground game so far.
Shaw is thwarting Harfager's attempts to control the position.
Shaw prevents Harfager from improving his position.
Shaw 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.
Harfager is trying to stand up here but Shaw is controlling him well.
Shaw not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Harfager blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Harfager to regain full guard.
Harfager is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Shaw is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Shaw with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shaw throwing strikes from guard but Harfager blocks nicely.
Shaw trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Harfager wants to stand up but Shaw is controlling him.
Shaw stands up over Harfager, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaw won't allow Harfager to get back to his feet.
Shaw stopping the sweep attempt from Harfager.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Shaw fails to land the takedown.
Harfager connects with a looping right hand.

Harfager moves into the clinch successfully.
A looping hook to the body misses from Harfager. Shaw does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shaw will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Harfager tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shaw paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Harfager feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Shaw's calf.
Shaw takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harfager tries to clinch there but Shaw circles away.
Harfager tries to clinch up but Shaw circles away and keeps his distance.
Harfager stuffs the takedown.
Harald Harfager has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Shaw.
A slapping leg kick lands for Harfager.
Shaw fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Harfager doesn't manage to clinch there - Shaw circles away.

Harfager instigates a clinch.
Shaw blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Harfager lands a shot to the body.
Harfager gets underhooks to prevent Shaw's takedown attempt.
Harfager lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Shaw on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shaw managing to block the knees to the body from Harfager.
Harfager prevents a takedown attempt there.
Shaw blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Harfager throws an elbow but it misses.
Harfager tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Shaw avoids it.
Harfager looking to throw knees to the head but Shaw is blocking nicely.
Harfager cracks Shaw with a nice body shot.

Shaw has Harfager pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Shaw pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Harfager tumbling to the mat - Shaw dives into Harfager's guard.
Harfager bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Shaw's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaw trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Harfager won't allow Shaw to sweep him here.
Harfager trying to control the position from guard on top but Shaw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Harfager won't allow Shaw to sweep him here.

Shaw looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Shaw wants to sweep but no luck.
Harfager sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Shaw's guard.
Harfager wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shaw keeps working.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Harfager wants to clinch up but Shaw keeps it at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John Shaw.
I think Shaw 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Shaw!