PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between David Shields (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Avon Barksdale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). David Shields has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Shields
vs
Barksdale

183 cm
27
185 lbs
17 - 6 - 0

185 cm
26
186 lbs
8 - 4 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Powerful

Diamond Nutrition 160q

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 17 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, David Shields!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Avon Barksdale!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Franklyn Lucas and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shields avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shields swings for the body but Barksdale moves out of range.
Shields keeps the fight on the outside.
David Shields seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A nice inside leg kick there by Shields. That's going to slow Barksdale down.
Shields swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice uppercut there from Shields.
Shields bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Barksdale's head backwards.
Barksdale fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shields comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Barksdale doesn't manage to clinch there - Shields circles away.
Shields will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Shields connects with a looping right hand.
Shields misses with a body shot.
Shields throws a hook but Barksdale blocks it.
Barksdale takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Shields is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Barksdale looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A bone on bone clash there as Barksdale blocks the leg kick.
Shields circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Barksdale there.
Barksdale tries to clinch but Shields moves away
and Shields counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Donk. Shields catches Barksdale right on the button with a cross.
Avon Barksdale is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Barksdale pushes Shields up against the cage in a clinch.
Barksdale cracks Shields with a nice body shot.
Barksdale throws a head punch that misses.
Shields working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Barksdale pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Barksdale lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Barksdale scores with a shoulder strike.
Shields looking to slow down the pace here.
Barksdale lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Shields lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Barksdale manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Barksdale's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Barksdale gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Barksdale lands with a short shot to the head.

It looks like David Shields has been cut.
Barksdale creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Shields lands a shoulder strike.
Barksdale is trying to maintain a safe position but Shields gets an underhook and turns Barksdale into the cage.
Barksdale lands an elbow that stopped Shields in his tracks for a moment.
Shields lands a left hand.
Still in the clinch, Shields scores with a nice short uppercut.
Shields trying to stall but Barksdale improves his position.
Barksdale misses with some punches.
Barksdale is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Shields is keeping busy.
Barksdale tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Barksdale has a couple of punches blocked by Shields.
Barksdale lands a nice uppercut.
Barksdale tries to stall but Shields uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Shields just leaning against Barksdale, taking a breather.
Shields lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields lands a left hand.
Barksdale makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Shields misses with a punch to the body.
Shields misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Shields.
Shields throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Barksdales head.
Shields lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Barksdale backwards.
Shields misses with a short punch on the inside.
Barksdale blocking some punches.
Shields tries to throw a body punch but Barksdale avoids it by throwing Shields back against the cage.
Barksdale throws a head punch that misses.
Barksdale blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Shields is trying to maintain a safe position but Barksdale gets an underhook and turns Shields into the cage.
Shields throws a punch but it's blocked by Barksdale.
Shields pushes Barksdale back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Barksdale fails to land.
Shields lands with a left to the head.
Shields lands a nice uppercut.

Barksdale is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale blocks an uppercut.
Barksdale is still on wobbly legs! Can Shields finish him?
A hook to the body from Shields.
Barksdale seems to have recovered his senses.
Shields throws a head punch that misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Barksdale creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Barksdale looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Barksdale misses with the head strike.
Shields avoids the elbow strike from Barksdale, against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Barksdale.
Shields lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Barksdale backwards.
Shields working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Barksdale misses with some punches.
Barksdale lands an elbow inside that Shields shrugs off.
Shields blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Shields lands a left hand.
Shields swings wildly with an uppercut but Barksdale uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shields scores with a nice hook to the head.
A short right from Shields.
Shields lands a big right hand that drops Barksdale! The killer instinct kicks in and Shields finishes his opponent with a series of strikes from mount. A dominating finish by Shields!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). David Shields!