PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Opa Jaeh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Shirwin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shirwin has chosen Still Standing - Hilltop Hoods as his entrance music. Steve Shirwin is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Jaeh
vs
Shirwin

180 cm
26
196 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
195 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Opa Jaeh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Shirwin!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Steve Erwin and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jaeh gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Jaeh escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Shirwin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Jaeh tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Jaeh is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Jaeh looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shirwin is one step ahead there.

Shirwin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Jaeh has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Shirwin has managed to get both his arms back between Jaeh's legs - danger averted.
Shirwin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Shirwin wants to control from the top but Jaeh keeps moving.
Shirwin thows a big elbow that misses.
Shirwin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Steve Shirwin.
Shirwin pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Jaeh back to the cage. Shirwin follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

It looks like Opa Jaeh has been cut.

Shirwin drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Shirwin tries for a kimura but Jaeh is defending well.
Jaeh is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jaeh regains half guard.

Jaeh looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Jaeh actively working from the bottom here.

Jaeh actively working from the bottom here.
Jaeh is breathing heavily.
Jaeh regains full guard. Nicely done.
Shirwin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Jaeh has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Shirwin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shirwin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Jaeh looking for a sweep. Not yet Jaeh, not yet.
Shirwin engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Jaeh escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Shirwin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shirwin trying to control the position from guard on top but Jaeh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shirwin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Steve Shirwin has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Shirwin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Jaeh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Jaeh has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Jaeh there as he acknowledges the shot.
Jaeh showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shirwin.
Shirwin misses with an uppercut. Jaeh saw that one coming.
Shirwin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Jaeh.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jaeh uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Shirwin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Shirwin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Opa Jaeh's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Shirwin slips a jab and a cross from Jaeh.
Steve Shirwin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shirwin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Jaeh manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Shirwin connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Jaeh closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Jaeh misses with a takedown
and Jaeh takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shirwin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jaeh moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Shirwin misses with a body kick.
Shirwin misses with a left hand
and Jaeh counters with a nice leg kick.
Jaeh swings widly with a right hand
and Shirwin counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Shirwin drives through with a takedown into Jaeh's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Jaeh has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Shirwin is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Jaeh.
Jaeh is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shirwin in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Jaeh tries to buck Shirwin off but Shirwin is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shirwin lands some shots froms side control.
Shirwin controls the position.
Shirwin trying to control the action but Jaeh is working from the bottom.

Steve Shirwin has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Jaeh throws a right hand that Shirwin ducks under and follows up with a left that Shirwin also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Donk. Shirwin catches Jaeh right on the button with a cross.
Shirwin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jaeh paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Jaeh displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Shirwin throws out the jab.
Jaeh scores with a head kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shirwin looks to land a right hand but Jaeh moved out of range.
Shirwin misses with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Shirwin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Opa Jaeh's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Jaeh with a poor takedown
and Shirwin counters with a two punch combo.

Shirwin drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Jaeh escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Shirwin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Jaeh looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Shirwin passes into half guard.
Jaeh is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Shirwin scores with a couple of nice shots.
Shirwin wants to pass the guard but Jaeh is defending well.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Shirwin connects with a nice short shot to Jaeh's temple.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jaeh is refusing to be controlled, as Shirwin sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaeh is pressing down on Shirwin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Shirwin won't allow Jaeh to sweep him here.

Jaeh throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Shirwin trying to control but Jaeh is working from the bottom.

Jaeh looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Shirwin cracks Jaeh with a solid left hand.
Shirwin won't allow Jaeh to sweep him here.
Shirwin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Shirwin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jaeh swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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.
Shirwin postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Shirwin engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Shirwin looking to pass the guard.

Jaeh throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Jaeh being controlled here, momentarily.
Jaeh keeping moving, preventing Shirwin from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaeh is looking to sweep but instead, Shirwin has passed into half guard.
Jaeh is looking for a sweep. Shirwin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Shirwin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Jaeh regains full guard. Nicely done.
Shirwin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Jaeh 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Steve Shirwin was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Shirwin lands with a good body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shirwin fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Jaeh to the ground. Shirwin is now in Jaeh's guard.

Shirwin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Jaeh has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Shirwin has managed to get both his arms back between Jaeh's legs - danger averted.
Shirwin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Steve Shirwin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shirwin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Opa Jaeh has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Jaeh had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Shirwin defends it easily.

Jaeh is looking for a triangle but Shirwin pushes his legs off easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Shirwin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Shirwin has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Shirwin!