PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nick Fairley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brock Shamrock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Brock Shamrock was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Fairley
vs
Shamrock

176 cm
29
174 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

187 cm
25
212 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nick Fairley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Brock Shamrock!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shamrock tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Fairley tries to bum rush Shamrock with a series of wild strikes but Shamrock uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Fairley.
Fairley avoids a punch combination nicely.
Shamrock tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fairley swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fairley doesn't manage to clinch there - Shamrock circles away.
Fairley shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Shamrock sprawls well. Shamrock wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fairley gets slowly back to his feet.

Fairley closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Shamrock's guard.
Shamrock is trying to control the position but Fairley postures up.
Fairley wants to control from the top but Shamrock keeps moving.
Fairley passes Shamrock's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Fairley sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shamrock defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shamrock blocking the ground and pound attempt from Fairley.
Fairley is looking to take a break and control but Shamrock is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fairley not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shamrock is refusing to be controlled, as Fairley sits in half guard.
Shamrock keeping hold of Fairley's head, controlling as best he can.
Shamrock regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Fairley.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shamrock working a defensive guard here.
Fairley trying to control the position from guard on top but Shamrock is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shamrock is pulling down on Fairley's head. It's preventing any offense from Fairley, at least for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shamrock uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fairley.
Shamrock looks to land a left hand but Fairley moved out of range nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shamrock looks to land a combination but Fairley avoids it well.
Shamrock misses with a low kick.
Fairley closes the distance and clinches up with Shamrock, looking for a takedown. Fairley pushes Shamrock against the cage but Shamrock circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Fairley. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Fairley gets a double leg takedown into Shamrock's guard.
Fairley passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Fairley working the ground and pound but Shamrock is defending the strikes.
Fairley throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Fairley is trying to get an arm triangle but Shamrock is defending well.
Fairley 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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fairley is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Shamrock knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Shamrock is trying to control Fairley's posture but Fairley avoids it.
Shamrock really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Fairley. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Shamrock is looking for a sweep.

Fairley is trying to get an arm triangle but Shamrock is defending well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fairley takes a little break here. Shamrock wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Fairley dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Fairley misses with a takedown attempt - Shamrock sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Shamrock scores a takedown into full mount!
Fairley bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Fairley throwing strikes from guard but Shamrock blocks nicely.

Fairley drops back, looking for a kneebar! Shamrock looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Shamrock looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Shamrock!
Fairley being controlled for a moment.
Shamrock in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shamrock wants to stand but Fairley has his arm trapped.

Shamrock decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Nick Fairley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fairley tries for a takedown but Shamrock circles away easily

and Shamrock counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Fairley's guard now.
Fairley trying to keep a closed guard but Shamrock is proving a slippery customer.
Fairley has a closed guard, preventing Shamrock from standing up.

Fairley is looking for a triangle but Shamrock pushes his legs off easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Fairley is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Shamrock is aware though and is defending well.
Shamrock is pushing down on Fairley's leg trying to pass to half guard. Fairley is fighting to maintain full guard but Shamrock has managed to sneak the leg through.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Fairley here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fairley trying to control but Shamrock postures up.

Fairley looking for submissions off his back.
Fairley moves into full guard.
Fairley keeping moving, preventing Shamrock from controlling successfully.
Fairley seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shamrock wants to pass the guard but Fairley is keeping the position.
Fairley wants to sweep here but Shamrock controlling him for the moment.
Shamrock trying to control the position from guard on top but Fairley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shamrock wants to stand but Fairley has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Brock Shamrock hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Fairley shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Shamrock sprawls well. Shamrock wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fairley gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Fairley. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Shamrock feints and as Fairley raises his hands in defense, Shamrock changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fairley wants to sweep but no luck.
Shamrock tries to free his leg and advance position but Fairley is retaining full guard.

Fairley working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Shamrock doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Shamrock manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Fairley striking off his back but it's not causing Shamrock any problems.
Shamrock wants to stand but Fairley has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Fairley trying to keep a closed guard but Shamrock is proving a slippery customer.
Shamrock must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fairley has Shamrock pulled in close to control his posture.
Shamrock wants to get up but he can't break Fairley's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Fairley looking for a guillotine here but Shamrock defends easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shamrock tries to free his leg and advance position but Fairley is retaining full guard.
Fairley controlling Shamrock's posture.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shamrock advances position into side control!
Fairley gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Brock Shamrock will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Fairley throws a wild hook but Shamrock just manages to duck under it and - ooooh! Fairley gets nailed by a brutal uppercut which crumples him back against the cage! The referee jumps in - Shamrock raises his hands in celebration and walks away!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Brock Shamrock!