PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nick Shields (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Gallagher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gallagher is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Bloods & Crips - Steady Dippin. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shields
vs
Gallagher

170 cm
20
157 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
150 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

RMC - $ 11 Shorts!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nick Shields!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frank Gallagher!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Jorge Garcia and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gallagher uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shields.
Gallagher keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Shields.
Shields throws a hook but Gallagher blocks it.
Nick Shields seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gallagher takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Shields with a nice cross.
Gallagher throws the left hand but Shields avoids the punch easily.
Gallagher takes a swing at Shields's ribcage but misses.
Gallagher staying out of range there.
Shields attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Shields dives in and grabs Gallagher's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gallagher pushes down on Shields's head and hops out.
Gallagher misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shields.
Gallagher takes one to the side of the head.
Shields swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gallagher uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Shields.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gallagher swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Shields loads up on a big right hand but Gallagher slips the punch.
Gallagher with a hook.
Gallagher displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Shields throws out the jab.
Gallagher scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Shields doesn't seem bothered though.
Shields keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shields does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Shields moves away from the strike by Gallagher.
Shields throws a leg kick but Gallagher sees it coming and moves out of range.
Gallagher avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Shields throws a lazy right hand but Gallagher sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Shields lands a nice hook to Gallagher's body. Gallagher takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gallagher takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Shields lands a leg kick that knocks Gallagher off balance momentarily.
Gallagher waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shields.
A jab from Gallagher misses.
Shields swings widly with a right hand
and Gallagher makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Shields ducks right into an uppercut from Gallagher.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shields throws a lazy right hand but Gallagher sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Shields keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shields dips to his left and cracks Gallagher with an uppercut!
Gallagher fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Shields is out of range.
Gallagher ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice defenses there by Shields.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A leg kick checked by Shields.
Shields closes the distance and clinches up with Gallagher, looking for a takedown. Shields pushes Gallagher against the cage but Gallagher circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Shields throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gallagher's waist but Gallagher gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Shields off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Shields. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gallagher lunges at Shields with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Shields's hand.
Shields tries a low kick but Gallagher avoids it.
Gallagher bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Shields's head backwards.
Gallagher misses with a hook. Shields ducked under it nicely.
Shields blocks a jab.
Shields swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nice cross by Shields.
Gallagher jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gallagher just misses with a punch to the body.
Shields moves away from the strike by Gallagher.
Shields moves out of range of the strikes.
Shields throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gallagher sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gallagher is looking to chop away at Shields's legs.
Gallagher catches Shields with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Shields swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gallagher moves out of range of the leg kick from Shields.
Shields misses with a right hand
and Gallagher cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gallagher staying out of range there.
A nice inside leg kick there by Shields. That's going to slow Gallagher down.
The fighters circling - Gallagher throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Frank Gallagher will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Shields jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shields misses with a hook.
Gallagher throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gallagher loads up on a big right hand but Shields slips the punch.
Shields swings for the body but Gallagher moves out of range.
Shields loads up on a big right hand but Gallagher slips the punch.
Gallagher swings for the body but Shields moves out of range.
Shields looks to score with a jab to the body but Gallagher is just out of range.

Shields looking to score a takedown here. Gallagher is defending well but Shields drives through and ends up in Gallagher's guard.
Shields pushing down on Gallagher's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Shields is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gallagher is just riding it out for now. Shields eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shields lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gallagher is looking to improve his position.
Shields seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gallagher does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Gallagher manages to get to full guard.
Gallagher tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Gallagher is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Shields trying to control the position from guard on top but Gallagher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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.
Gallagher trying to control the position.
Gallagher utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gallagher looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shields is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Gallagher tries to bench press Shields off him but Shields keeps the position.

Shields is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Gallagher is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Shields is trying to get an arm triangle but Gallagher is defending well.
Gallagher is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields trying to control the action but Gallagher is working from the bottom.
Gallagher is trying to improve his position.
Gallagher is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Shields off and has taken his back!
Shields is taking damage to the body and head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shields takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Shields tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gallagher breaks from Shields's wrist control and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nick Shields will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gallagher ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Shields throws a body punch but Gallagher moves out of range.
Gallagher just misses with a punch to the body.
Nick Shields is winning the standup battle so far.
Gallagher throws a leg kick but Shields sees it coming and moves out of range.
Shields checks a low kick from Gallagher.
Shields throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Shields lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Gallagher avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Shields throws a hook but Gallagher blocks it.
Gallagher shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shields. Gallagher does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shields throws a low kick but it's checked well by Gallagher.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gallagher ducks under a wild hook from Shields.
Good standup being displayed there by Shields as he connects with a hook.
Gallagher throws a low kick but Shields avoids it.
Gallagher looks to score with a jab to the body but Shields is just out of range.
Gallagher takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Shields missing with a left hand there. Gallagher was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nice body punch from Shields.
Shields throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gallagher sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Shields tries for a takedown but Gallagher sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gallagher lands with a good body shot.
A clash of legs there as Shields blocks the low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields wants to slow Gallagher down by chopping away at his legs.
Gallagher throws a low kick, looking for Shields's leg but Shields calmly moves out of range.
Shields walks into a straight right hand from Gallagher.
Gallagher throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gallagher blocks a jab.
A swing and a miss from Shields.
Gallagher looks to score with a jab to the body but Shields is just out of range.
Shields misses with a low kick as Gallagher jumps back.
A nice leg kick lands there from Shields.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gallagher swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Shields dips to his left and cracks Gallagher with an uppercut!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields misses with a hook.

Shields decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gallagher trying to control but Shields postures up.
Gallagher is trying to get back to full guard.
Shields slows the pace down in half guard.
Gallagher is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gallagher manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields postures up.
Shields is stalling in the full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Shields trying to control the position from guard on top but Gallagher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gallagher really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shields. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Shields throws a jab when Gallagher was well out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gallagher loads up on a big right hand but Shields slips the punch.
Shields throws out a loose jab but Gallagher uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shields uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gallagher.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Shields clearly takes that round.
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.

Shields scores with a sloppy right hand. Gallagher should have avoided that one.
A telegraphed right hand from Shields misses the target.
Shields throws a jab but it's blocked by Gallagher.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Shields lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Gallagher has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Gallagher and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Gallagher lands a body shot.
Shields dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A shot to the body from Gallagher misses
and Shields cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gallagher takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Shields looks to throw the jab but Gallagher is out of range.
Gallagher takes a swing at Shields's ribcage but misses.
Gallagher misses with a looping right.
Gallagher throws the left hand but Shields avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shields misses with a looping left.
Gallagher swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Shields misses with a looping right.
Gallagher dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gallagher misses with an uppercut. Shields saw that one coming.
Gallagher moves out of range as Shields strikes.
Gallagher moves out of range as Shields strikes.
Shields checks a low kick from Gallagher.
Shields moves away from the strike by Gallagher.
Shields swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Donk. Gallagher catches Shields right on the button with a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gallagher ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Shields swings for the body but Gallagher moves out of range.
Gallagher just misses with a punch to the body.
A bone on bone clash there as Shields blocks the leg kick.
Shields keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gallagher.
Shields loads up on a big right hand but Gallagher slips the punch.
Frank Gallagher is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A jab from Shields misses.
Shields closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Shields throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shields misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gallagher misses the shot to the body.
Gallagher ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Gallagher steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Shields.
Gallagher throws a body punch but Shields moves out of range.
Shields throws a hook but Gallagher avoids it easily.
Shields misses the jab.
Shields throws a big shot that misses.
Gallagher looks to score with a jab to the body but Shields is just out of range.
Gallagher connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Gallagher misses with a straight left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gallagher steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Shields.
Shields is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gallagher.
Gallagher takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Gallagher throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shields misses with an uppercut. Gallagher saw that one coming.
Shields on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Gallagher throws a body punch but Shields moves out of range.
Gallagher ducks under a wild hook from Shields.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gallagher moves out of range as Shields strikes.
Shields misses with a straight right.
Shields throws an overhand right that lands on Gallagher's shoulder, as Gallagher tries to avoid the shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Nick Shields will probably get the nod.
That's time! Shields's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Shields misses with an uppercut. Gallagher saw that one coming.
Gallagher fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Shields lands a nice shot that snaps Gallagher's head back.
Shields checks a low kick from Gallagher.
Shields fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gallagher manages to avoid it.
Shields lands with a shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Shields throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Good work by Shields as he checks the leg kick.
Gallagher slips a jab from Shields.
Shields thows a body shot but no joy.
A big left from Shields misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gallagher ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Shields uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gallagher.
Shields misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gallagher.
A big right from Gallagher misses.
Shields misses with a low kick.
Shields thows a left - swing and a miss!
Shields slips a jab from Gallagher.
Gallagher keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gallagher avoids a kick to the body.
Gallagher throws a low kick but Shields moves out of range easily.
Shields ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gallagher moves away.
Frank Gallagher has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Shields missing with a left hand there. Gallagher was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gallagher swings for the body but Shields moves out of range.
Shields avoids the body shot from Gallagher.
Gallagher throws a chopping leg kick but Shields manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Gallagher throws a chopping leg kick but Shields manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Gallagher avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Gallagher tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Shields shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gallagher but Gallagher pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shields scores with a hook to the body. Gallagher takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gallagher takes a swing at Shields's ribcage but misses.
Shields throws a jab but it's blocked by Gallagher.
Shields throws an overhand right that lands on Gallagher's shoulder, as Gallagher tries to avoid the shot.
Shields on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Gallagher tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shields was well out of range. Poor timing from Gallagher.
Gallagher slips a jab from Shields.
An inside leg kick from Gallagher misses.
Gallagher throws a low kick but it's checked well by Shields.
Shields throws a leg kick but Gallagher sees it coming and moves out of range.
Gallagher throws the left hand but Shields avoids the punch easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gallagher throws a lazy right hand but Shields sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nick Shields is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nice cross by Shields.
Shields fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gallagher manages to avoid it.
Shields throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Shields thows a left - swing and a miss!
Shields throws a hook to the side of Gallagher's head but Gallagher sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shields misses with a low kick.
Gallagher checks a leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shields misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gallagher.
Gallagher takes a swing at Shields's ribcage but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Shields showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Shields has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 50:46
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 50:45
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Nick Shields!
Nick Shields retains his featherweight title!
An out of breath Nick Shields thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.