PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brett Shinola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Tolomia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Tolomia has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Brett Shinola's chin.

Shinola
vs
Tolomia

201 cm
22
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
18
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brett Shinola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Michael Tolomia!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Shinola.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A short uppercut from Shinola.
Tolomia misses with a knee to the head.

Shinola pulls guard successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tolomia preventing the sweep.
Shinola on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Shinola tries to get out of the position.
Shinola is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shinola's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Shinola manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tolomia manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinola postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shinola wants to control from the top but Tolomia keeps moving.
Tolomia looks gassed!

Shinola stands up from Tolomia's guard - Shinola perhaps looking for a knockout.

Tolomia gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Shinola to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Shinola stands up from Tolomia's guard - Shinola perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shinola throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Tolomia was covering up waiting for the punch and Shinola finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Shinola decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Shinola closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Tolomia to the mat! Tolomia manages to get full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shinola wants to pass the guard but Tolomia is keeping the position.
Shinola is looking to stand up but Tolomia won't let him.
Shinola has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinola passes Tolomia's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Shinola will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Tolomia is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tolomia trying to control but Shinola postures up.
Shinola winds up and cracks Tolomia with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Shinola gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Shinola closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Tolomia did well to prevent Shinola getting side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinola lands with a punch from half guard.
Shinola looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Shinola stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Shinola changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tolomia tries to avoid it but Shinola manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tolomia to the ground. Tolomia escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Shinola tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tolomia swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brett Shinola. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Shinola is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Tolomia's half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tolomia regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Shinola.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brett Shinola dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Shinola shoots for a double leg takedown but Tolomia sprawls well. He's pushed Shinola's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Shinola darts in and clinches Tolomia up against the cage.
Shinola has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tolomia is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Shinola breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shinola misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shinola.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brett Shinola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shinola shoots in but Tolomia avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tolomia is looking to clinch but Shinola is avoiding it.

Shinola shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Shinola showed some decent athleticism there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinola missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Brett Shinola overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tolomia punching from the bottom.
Shinola takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Shinola is nestled in close to Tolomia, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Shinola prevents Tolomia from standing back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shinola trying to control the action but Tolomia is working from the bottom.

Shinola is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Tolomia is just riding it out for now. Shinola eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shinola tries to stand but can't do so whilst Tolomia controls his leg.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Shinola looks to clinch
and Tolomia counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Shinola drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Shinola stopping the sweep attempt from Tolomia.
Shinola cracks Tolomia with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinola content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Shinola lands a couple of elbows.
Shinola is working Tolomia over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Shinola postures up.
Shinola is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Shinola missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Shinola slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Shinola's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Shinola is in close to Tolomia's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Shinola knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tolomia on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinola not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Shinola with a nice head shot there.
Shinola working some strikes from top position.
Tolomia is trying to keep Shinola in close.
Shinola pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tolomia is keeping the position for now.
Tolomia wants to get back to his feet but Shinola is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Shinola makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brett Shinola dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Shinola throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Tolomia was covering up waiting for the punch and Shinola finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Shinola working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Tolomia's head.
Shinola working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Tolomia trying to keep a closed guard but Shinola is proving a slippery customer.

Shinola stands up and waves to Tolomia to follow him.

Shinola clinches with his opponent.

Shinola gets control of Tolomia's arms and successfully pulls guard. Shinola will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Tolomia takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shinola pushes Tolomia off and gets back to his feet.

Shinola drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tolomia controls Shinola momentarily but Shinola frees himself.
Shinola makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Shinola trying to control the position from guard on top but Tolomia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Tolomia looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Shinola passes into side control.
Check out the look on Shinola's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shinola is looking to take a break and control but Tolomia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Shinola stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Shinola wants to clinch.
Brett Shinola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shinola bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Shinola cracks Tolomia with a big right hand but Tolomia just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Shinola landing strikes.
Shinola in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Tolomia taking a bit of punishment here - Shinola scoring with strikes.
Shinola scores with a couple of short elbows.
Shinola working the head and body with strikes.
Shinola working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Tolomia takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Brett Shinola is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinola lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Tolomia down.
Shinola cracks Tolomia with a big elbow.
Shinola connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Tolomia some visible discomfort.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Shinola is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tolomia can do to turn this around?

Shinola tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Shinola has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
You can see the frustration on Tolomia's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tolomia is working to avoid the ground and pound but Shinola connects with a decent elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brett Shinola showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shinola, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:26
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brett Shinola!