PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Warick Foster (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Shields (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Foster comes to the cage accompanied by We Are Young - Hollywood Undead. Shields has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! Warick Foster has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Foster
vs
Shields

175 cm
21
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
22
176 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Heavy handed

Empire Threads - Featuring Deadly Clothing

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Warick Foster!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kevin Shields!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Jonathan Paton and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shields stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Shields wants it to stay on the feet.
Shields looks gassed!
Foster looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Shields is fending him off so far but Foster persists. Nope, Shields circles away and we're back to standing.
Foster tries to clinch but Shields is having none of it.
Shields throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Foster tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shields swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shields blocks a head kick by Foster.

Foster shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Shields manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Shields utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Foster throwing strikes from guard but Shields blocks nicely.
Foster throws a big right hand that misses.
Foster wants to control from the top but Shields keeps moving.
Shields 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Foster looking to sit in guard and control but Shields gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foster trying to control the position.
Foster is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Foster decides to stand and escape the position.

Foster looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foster throwing strikes from guard but Shields blocks nicely.
Foster wants to control from the top but Shields keeps moving.
Foster postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Foster stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Foster closes the distance and pushes Shields back into the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Foster pushes off an throws an elbow but Shields leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Foster escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Foster shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Warick Foster. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Shields. No joy for Foster on that attempt.
Shields slaps away a takedown attempt from Foster, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Foster shoots for a double leg takedown but Shields sprawls well. He's pushed Foster's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shields walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Shields throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Foster.
Shields takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Foster lands a two punch combo.
Foster lands a slapping body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shields tries to sprawl but Foster drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Shields tries to kick Foster off but Foster keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Foster is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Shields is just riding it out for now. Foster eventually gives up the hold.
Shields is looking to control Foster's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shields avoid being mounted?
Foster prevents Shields from improving his position.

Shields is defending against the submission attempts here by Foster.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Warick Foster dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Shields swats away the attempt to clinch by Foster.
Foster fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Foster jabs at Shields's body.

Foster shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Shields has hold of Foster's hands but Foster slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Foster lands a nice short elbow.
Shields trying to hold on to Foster's head to control him but Foster postures up.
Shields is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shields is not content to let Foster control the position.
Foster is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Shields is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Warick Foster.

Foster shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Foster is working for a submission of some sort.
Foster is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foster lands strikes from half guard.
Well, if Foster is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Foster is trying to work for a kimura but Shields is defending well.
Foster trying to control from half guard but Shields is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields blocking the ground and pound attempt from Foster.
Foster thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Shields trying to hold on to Foster's head to control him but Foster postures up.

Foster stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Foster closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Foster lands in his opponent's guard.
Foster trying to control but Shields is working from the bottom.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields wants to control the position but Foster says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Shields is not content to let Foster control the position.
Foster working Shields over with strikes.
Shields is not content to let Foster control the position.
Foster keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Foster is keen to just control but Shields is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Warick Foster dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Foster is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Foster tries to clinch up but Shields circles away and keeps his distance.
Foster fails with the takedown.
Shields keeps the fight on the outside.
Foster changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shields tries to avoid it but Foster manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shields to the ground. Shields escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Foster fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Shields avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Warick Foster. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Foster shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shields but Shields pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Foster is looking to clinch but Shields is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foster shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Shields pinned against the cage. Shields gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Foster dives in and grabs Shields's left leg, looking for a takedown. Shields pushes down on Foster's head and hops out.
Shields lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Foster takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Warick Foster is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Foster misses the shot to the body.
Foster tries to clinch up.
Foster scores with a push kick.
Shields misses with a double jab.
Foster changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shields tries to avoid it but Foster manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shields to the ground. Shields escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Shields as Foster shoots in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foster tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice takedown defense from Shields. No joy for Foster on that attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Foster.
Foster fails with a takedown attempt.
Foster tries to clinch up.

Foster shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Foster wants to control from the top but Shields keeps moving.
Shields looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields keeping full guard, as Foster tries to pass.
Shields wants to stand and escape but Foster is having none of it.

Shields is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Foster is aware though and is defending well.
Foster trying to control the position from guard on top but Shields is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shields 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.
Foster sitting in guard here, content to control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Foster passes Shields's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Warick Foster overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four 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.
Foster content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Foster trying to control from half guard but Shields is working away.
Foster throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Shields tries to roll over but Foster keeps him under control.
Shields has hold of Foster's hands but Foster slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Foster throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kevin Shields has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Warick Foster is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shields flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

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 Warick Foster.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Foster, 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Warick Foster!