PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cesc Fabregas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shaun Shurk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fabregas's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, We Fly High. Cesc Fabregas had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Fabregas
vs
Shurk

173 cm
23
170 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

175 cm
19
176 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Hell's Balls Fightwear

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cesc Fabregas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Shaun Shurk!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good shot there by Shurk.
Fabregas tries for a takedown but Shurk sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Fabregas fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Fabregas misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cesc Fabregas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fabregas circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fabregas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shurk.
Fabregas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Fabregas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shurk is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fabregas shoots in looking for a takedown. Shurk tries to sprawl out of it but Fabregas keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shurk manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice takedown defense from Shurk. No joy for Fabregas on that attempt.
Shaun Shurk is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shurk tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Fabregas circles away from the clinch attempt.

Fabregas fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Shurk sprawls well initially but Fabregas persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Shurk is looking for a sweep. Fabregas is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shurk wants to control but Fabregas is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Fabregas is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Fabregas is working for a kimura but Shurk is defending it quite comfortably.
Shurk gets back to full guard.
Shurk is looking to stand up but Fabregas isn't so interested in that idea.
Shurk is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shurk wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fabregas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shurk swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Fabregas drops back looking for a leg! Shurk is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Shurk manages to kick Fabregas off! Fabregas jumps back into Shurk's guard.
Fabregas being controlled here momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shurk throws a series of punches but Fabregas avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Shurk tries to clinch but Fabregas is having none of it.
Shurk is looking to clinch but Fabregas is avoiding it.
A left and a right from Shurk both land. Nice combination.
Fabregas avoids the body shot from Shurk.
Fabregas will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Shurk wants to clinch up but Fabregas keeps it at a distance.
Fabregas looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Shurk is fending him off so far but Fabregas persists. Nope, Shurk circles away and we're back to standing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fabregas misses with a takedown attempt - Shurk sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Shurk has Fabregas up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shaun Shurk dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Fabregas shoots in for a takedown but Shurk shows good takedown defense.
Shurk tries to clinch but Fabregas is having none of it.

Fabregas looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Fabregas is keen to just control but Shurk is a slippery customer.
Shurk is holding on to half guard well.
Shurk wants to improve his position but Fabregas is controlling well.
Shurk keeping control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shurk regains full guard. Nicely done.
Fabregas postures up.
Fabregas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shurk really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Fabregas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Shurk can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Fabregas controls the pace.
Fabregas won't allow Shurk to sweep him here.
Shurk is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shurk is breathing heavily.
Fabregas wants to pass the guard but Shurk is keeping the position.
Shurk pulls Fabregas in to control the position.

That's two 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Fabregas shoots in for a double leg but Shurk sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Shurk moves into range and clinches up with Fabregas.
Shurk works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Shurk manages to break the clinch.
Fabregas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cesc Fabregas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fabregas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shurk tries to avoid it but Fabregas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shurk to the ground. Shurk escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Shurk forces Fabregas back against the cage and clinches.
Shurk's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Shurk lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Fabregas or not.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shurk missing with knees to the body.

Shurk breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fabregas shoots in for a double leg but Shurk sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Shurk getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Shurk forces Fabregas back against the cage and clinches.
Shurk slows down the pace here.
Shurk scores with a hook to the body.
Shurk leaning his opponent against the cage.
Fabregas wants a takedown.
A bit of stalling here from Shurk.
Good body shot from Shurk.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fabregas on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shurk missing with knees to the body.
Fabregas can't get the takedown.
Shurk stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Shurk lands a body shot in the clinch.

Shurk breaks the clinch.

Fabregas bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Shurk can't do much from the bottom here.
Shurk is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Fabregas's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Shurk gets back to full guard.
Fabregas pushes down on Shurk's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shaun Shurk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Fabregas avoids the head kick by Shurk.

Fabregas closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Shurk controlling the position for now.
Let's hope that Shurk has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Fabregas tries to pass the half guard into mount. Shurk knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Shurk wants to control but Fabregas is keeping busy.
Shurk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shurk moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fabregas trying to control the position from guard on top but Shurk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shurk looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fabregas is one step ahead there.
Fabregas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fabregas wants to control from the top but Shurk keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shurk stuffs the takedown attempt from Fabregas. Fabregas gets slowly back to his feet.
Fabregas shoots in looking for a takedown. Shurk tries to sprawl out of it but Fabregas keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shurk manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

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.
Fabregas shoots in for a takedown but Shurk shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cesc Fabregas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fabregas looks for a takedown but Shurk sprawls well.
Fabregas circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fabregas has a takedown stuffed.

Shurk pushes Fabregas up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Shurk.
Shurk works on Fabregas's body with a couple of short punches.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Shurk scores a nice knee to the body.
Fabregas on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shurk landing knees to the body.

Shurk breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fabregas takes a kick to the side of the head.
Shurk is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shurk keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Fabregas gets the takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fabregas working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Shurk struggling a bit here.

Fabregas is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Shurk is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Fabregas working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Fabregas wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Shurk, who protects the arm well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shaun Shurk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shurk winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shaun Shurk!