PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Shaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gaius Alexander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Shaw might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Shangri-La. Alexander comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Sweep the Leg kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Gaius Alexander told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Shaw
vs
Alexander

181 cm
21
200 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

185 cm
21
189 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Win Nutritional - proof of quality
Hellbent, Inc.

Win Nutritional - proof of quality
Cobra Kai Nutrition

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Shaw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gaius Alexander!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Sergei Dronov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alexander looks to score with a jab to the body but Shaw is just out of range.

Alexander gets caught flat footed, as Shaw shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Shaw with a flurry of punches that miss.
Shaw stops Alexander from standing up.
Shaw is looking to work some ground and pound but Alexander has wrist control.
Alexander really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shaw. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Alexander is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Alexander is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Shaw lands a couple of digs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shaw content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Alexander is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Shaw is controlling him.
Shaw throwing strikes from guard but Alexander blocks nicely.
Shaw throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Shaw tries to free his leg and advance position but Alexander is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw landing with the ground and pound.
Shaw with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Shaw is looking to work some ground and pound but Alexander has wrist control.
Shaw trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shaw prevents Alexander from getting back to his feet.
Shaw wants to pass the guard but Alexander is keeping the position.
Alexander wants to stand and escape but Shaw is having none of it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shaw accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Shaw shoots in for a takedown but Alexander shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Alexander defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Shaw.
Shaw dives in and grabs Alexander's left leg, looking for a takedown. Alexander pushes down on Shaw's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Shaw. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shaw is breathing heavily.
Alexander thows a body shot but no joy.
Alexander scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Alexander throws out a loose jab but Shaw uses good head movement to avoid it.
Alexander thows a body shot but no joy.
Gaius Alexander is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Shaw checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A leg kick checked by Shaw.
Alexander throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shaw swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Alexander tries to land a leg kick but Shaw saw it coming and moves away.
Alexander throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Shaw takes one on the button.

It looks like John Shaw has been cut.
Alexander misses with a wild body shot.
Alexander avoids the body shot from Shaw.
Shaw fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Alexander dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Shaw. That did some damage!
Alexander takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Shaw shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alexander really wants to buck Shaw off and get back to his feet.
Shaw 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.
Shaw throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Alexander squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Shaw with a couple of short strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Alexander is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Shaw lands with some strikes.
Alexander squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
The referee warns Alexander that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Shaw landing punches.
Shaw working the ground and pound effectively.
Shaw unloading with bombs!
Alexander is trying to stand up.
Shaw dominating with strikes here.
Shaw landing shots from mount.
Shaw lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Alexander avoids a series of strikes thrown by Shaw.
Shaw is landing with some decent strikes but Alexander is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alexander is trying to stand.
A nice elbow there by Shaw.
You get the feeling that Alexander really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Shaw throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Alexander because Shaw loaded up on that one.
Shaw in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Shaw in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Alexander is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

Alexander bucks up and throws Shaw to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Alexander swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
John Shaw seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shaw slips under a jab.

Shaw looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
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!
Alexander is trying to stand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alexander blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shaw.
Alexander tries to kick Shaw off but Shaw keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Shaw looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Shaw dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Shaw's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Shaw misses with a body shot.
Alexander throws a leg kick but Shaw checks it.
Shaw shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Alexander pinned against the cage. Alexander gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Shaw drives through with a takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shaw accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shaw throws a big right hand that misses.

Alexander is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Shaw blocks an elbow strike.
Alexander tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Shaw is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Alexander has Shaw pressed against the cage.
Shaw managing to block the knees to the body from Alexander.
Alexander landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alexander lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Alexander missing with knees to the body.
Shaw is working for takedown but Alexander is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Shaw. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alexander misses with an elbow over the top.

Alexander escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Alexander is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Shaw rather than just go for the knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Shaw.
Shaw shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alexander as he jumps to the side.
Alexander throws a wild body kick that Shaw sees coming a mile off.
Alexander bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Alexander tries to clinch there but Shaw circles away.
Shaw uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Alexander.
Shaw fails with the takedown.
Alexander misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Shaw stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Alexander.
Alexander displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Shaw.
Shaw dodges the punch combination from Alexander.
Alexander scoring well with a low kick there.
Alexander throws a right and a left that Shaw avoids nicely.
Gaius Alexander is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alexander is looking to clinch.
Alexander tries to work over Shaw's front leg with a kick but Shaw checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexander takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Alexander keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Alexander connects with a high kick.

Alexander gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Alexander breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alexander throws a right and a left that both miss.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alexander looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Alexander lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shaw circles away quickly and effectively.

Shaw scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shaw stops Alexander from getting back to his feet.
Alexander keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Alexander is trying to stand.
Shaw throwing shots but Alexander is blocking nicely.
Alexander pushes Shaw off looking to stand but Shaw dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Shaw scores with a couple of nice shots.

Alexander kicks off Shaw and gets to his feet.
Shaw lands a jab to Alexander's midsection.
Shaw looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Alexander lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Shaw shoots in and bounces Alexander off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Shaw loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Alexander wants to stand but Shaw is controlling the position.

Alexander pushes Shaw off and gets back to his feet.
Alexander swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Shaw wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Shaw.
Alexander is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Shaw has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Shaw in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
John Shaw overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shaw scores with a couple of short elbows.
Alexander is pushing Shaw's head away, looking to escape. Shaw manages to hold on to the position though.
Shaw working the head and body with strikes.
Alexander is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Shaw is controlling him well.
Shaw lands a few punches from side control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Alexander defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Shaw.
Alexander misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shaw digs a good hook to Alexander's body.
Alexander stalks Shaw and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Shaw's face. Shaw staggers backwards, shaken.

Shaw closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
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!
Shaw not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gaius Alexander showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on John Shaw's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Shaw looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Alexander is fending him off so far but Shaw persists. Nope, Alexander circles away and we're back to standing.
Alexander throws a sloppy head kick and Shaw moves out of range easily.
Alexander works the jab nicely.
Alexander misses with a leg kick.

Shaw shoots in and bounces Alexander off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Shaw won't allow Alexander to get back to his feet.
Shaw scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Shaw lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Alexander pushes Shaw off and gets back to his feet.
Shaw slips a jab and a cross from Alexander.
Shaw ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Gaius Alexander seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shaw misses with a takedown attempt - Alexander sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw circles away from the clinch attempt.
Shaw on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Shaw dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Shaw shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alexander as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Shaw. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shaw fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Alexander manages to avoid it.
Shaw fails with the takedown.
Alexander fails with an attempt to clinch.
Shaw checks a leg kick nicely.

Alexander takes the fight into the clinch.
Alexander taking a breather.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Alexander just misses with a elbow thrown towards Shaw's brow.
Alexander lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Shaw backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Shaw.
Shaw has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Alexander avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Alexander misses with the head strike.

Alexander breaks the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Shaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexander buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Alexander turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Shaw avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Alexander scores with a nice strike.
Alexander throws a low kick but it's checked well by Shaw.
Shaw circles away from the clinch attempt.

Shaw changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Alexander looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Alexander tries to escape but Shaw is in control.
An elbow from Shaw crashes against the mat.
Alexander is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Shaw has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Shaw grinds an elbow into Alexander's temple.
Alexander takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Shaw asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Shaw is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Alexander's half guard.
Shaw lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Shaw thows a huge punch but Alexander dodges it nicely.
Alexander blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shaw.
Alexander pushes Shaw off looking to stand but Shaw dives back in and keeps control.
Alexander keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Alexander makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Shaw takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Alexander tries to clinch but Shaw is having none of it.
Alexander looks for the body kick but Shaw saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shaw scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Shaw tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Alexander parries the strikes from Shaw easily there. Shaw is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Alexander to escape.
Alexander wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Shaw working the body and head with strikes.
Shaw prevents Alexander from escaping the position.
Alexander prevents Shaw from moving into mount.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Shaw throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Alexander stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Alexander is looking to slow Shaw down with leg kicks.
Shaw moves into range and connects with a jab.
Alexander throws a low kick, looking for Shaw's leg but Shaw calmly moves out of range.

Shaw shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

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 John Shaw.
I think Shaw has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28

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