PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Evan Sheilds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kazushi Sakuraba will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Sheilds
vs
Sakuraba

189 cm
23
200 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
19
183 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Evan Sheilds!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Ren Mimura and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuraba misses with a hook

and Sheilds counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Sakuraba!
Sakuraba wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Sheilds controlling from mount.
Sakuraba is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Sheilds controlling from the full mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sheilds with the ground and pound from mount.
Sakuraba tries to hold on but Sheilds postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sheilds controlling the position easily from mount.
Sheilds working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Sheilds controlling the position easily from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sheilds working for a submission but Sakuraba is keeping him at bay.
Sakuraba can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba tries to lock up and control but Sheilds gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sheilds has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Sakuraba's face.
Sakuraba keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sakuraba's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Sakuraba taking shots to the head.
Sheilds controlling his opponent.
Sheilds throws some wild stikes that Sakuraba manages to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sheilds controlling the position easily from mount.
Sakuraba is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Sheilds content just to control the position here.
Sakuraba is squirming around, avoiding Sheilds's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evan Sheilds dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sakuraba misses with a left hand

and Sheilds decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sakuraba's guard.
Sheilds trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakuraba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sheilds stopping the sweep attempt from Sakuraba.
Sheilds sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Sheilds won't allow Sakuraba to sweep him here.
Sheilds throwing strikes from guard but Sakuraba blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheilds looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Evan Sheilds has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sheilds.
Sheilds paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Sakuraba throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sakuraba misses the jab.
Sakuraba throws a nice looking combination but Sheilds bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sheilds moves away from the strike by Sakuraba.

Sheilds decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheilds is pressing down on Sakuraba's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sakuraba is holding on for now.
Sheilds is keen to just control but Sakuraba is a slippery customer.
Sheilds working the head and body with strikes.
Sakuraba tries to roll over but Sheilds keeps him under control.
Sheilds slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Sakuraba wants to control but Sheilds is keeping busy.
Sakuraba tries to kick Sheilds off in order to stand up. Sheilds Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Sheilds throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Sakuraba parries the strikes from Sheilds easily there. Sheilds is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Sakuraba to escape.

Sheilds is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sakuraba has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sakuraba stops Sheilds from passing to mount.

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.
Sakuraba is not content to let Sheilds control the position.

Sheilds tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Sheilds tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evan Sheilds dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sakuraba misses with an uppercut
and Sheilds counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Some wild striking there from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba scores with a nice right hand.
Kazushi Sakuraba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sakuraba fails to land with a series of punches.
Sakuraba takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Sakuraba fails to land with a series of punches.
Sakuraba throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Sheilds drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sakuraba on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Sheilds trying to control the position but Sakuraba is working away.
A lull in the action here as Sheilds stalls from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheilds in the domination position with Sakuraba hanging on.
Sheilds wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sakuraba keeps working.
Sheilds misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Sheilds wants to control but Sakuraba is keeping him busy.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Sheilds working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sakuraba is not content to let Sheilds control the position.
Sheilds in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Sheilds is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Sakuraba's shoulder. That is not cool.
Sakuraba is looking for a sweep.
Sakuraba trying to remain calm as Sheilds controls from the top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Evan Sheilds.
Sakuraba misses with a left hand

and Sheilds counters with a single leg into guard. Sakuraba didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheilds showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Sakuraba preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sheilds trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakuraba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sakuraba 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.
Sakuraba trying to keep a closed guard but Sheilds is proving a slippery customer.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Sakuraba keeping moving, preventing Sheilds from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Evan Sheilds.
Sakuraba pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sakuraba is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Sakuraba scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Sheilds shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sakuraba manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Sakuraba not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sakuraba avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sheilds postures up.
Kazushi Sakuraba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sakuraba tries to land a sweep but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Evan Sheilds showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sheilds, 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Evan Sheilds!