PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thor Svensson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonathan Shift (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Svensson's entrance music is Gods of Thunder, Of Wind and of Rain. A fine choice. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Svensson
vs
Shift

169 cm
18
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thor Svensson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jonathan Shift!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Svensson shoots in looking for a takedown but Shift manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Svensson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Svensson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Shift is trying to defend but Svensson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Svensson is looking for a kimura here.
Svensson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Shift wants to control but Svensson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Svensson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Shift is looking to get back to is feet but Svensson passes into side control.
Svensson 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.
Shift tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Svensson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Shift wants to get back to his feet but Svensson drags him back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shift parries the strikes from Svensson easily there. Svensson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Shift to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Svensson wants to control but Shift is keeping him busy.
Svensson is really struggling to control Shift but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Svensson taking a breather here.
Shift regains half guard there - taking advantage of Svensson's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Svensson is looking to stall here but Shift recovers full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Svensson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Shift's head.
Svensson trying to control the position from guard on top but Shift is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Svensson looking to sit in guard and control but Shift gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Svensson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Svensson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Shift doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Shift manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Shift must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Shift engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Svensson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Svensson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Shift defends it easily.
Shift stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Svensson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Svensson keeping moving, preventing Shift from controlling successfully.
Svensson has a closed guard, preventing Shift from standing up.
Svensson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Shift trying to control the position from guard on top but Svensson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Jonathan Shift has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Svensson shoots in for a double leg but Shift sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thor Svensson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shift gets tackled into the cage by Svensson. Svensson maintains the clinch.
Shift putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Svensson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Shift escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Svensson shoots in and drives through. Shift sprawls well.
Shift keeps Svensson at a distance using the push kick.
Shift tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Svensson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Shift gets a clinch.
Nice elbow from Shift.
Nice elbow from Shift.

Svensson lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Shift is looking to escape.
Shift wants to control but Svensson passes into side.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Svensson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Shift has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Svensson but great work by Shift.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Svensson parries the strikes from Shift easily there. Shift is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Svensson to escape.
Svensson is not content to let Shift control the position.
Svensson is trying to improve his position.
Svensson wants to get back to his feet but Shift is dominant here and he's now got Svensson's back!
Shift throwing wild punches that miss their target.
I would not like to be Svensson right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Svensson rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Shift takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jonathan Shift.
Svensson fails to land the takedown.
Shift tries to clinch up but Svensson circles away and keeps his distance.
Shift shoots in for a takedown but Svensson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Svensson shoots for a double leg takedown but Shift sprawls well. He's pushed Svensson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thor Svensson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svensson tries for a takedown but Shift sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Svensson sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Svensson shoots in but no luck this time.
Svensson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Shift.
Svensson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Shift sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Shift is trying hard to land a takedown here. Svensson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Shift shoots in but no luck this time.
Thor Svensson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shift dives in and grabs Svensson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Svensson pushes down on Shift's head and hops out.
Shift tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Svensson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Svensson wants to stand up but Shift is controlling the position.
Svensson trying to pass the guard but Shift defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Svensson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shift is squirming around, avoiding Svensson's attempts to control the action.
Thor Svensson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Svensson misses with a head shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jonathan Shift will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Svensson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Shift pushes Svensson up against the cage in a clinch.
Svensson looking for a takedown.
Svensson is looking to take this one to the mat.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Shift.
Svensson is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thor Svensson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Svensson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Shift.
Svensson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Shift is defending well.
A knee to the head by Shift.

Svensson has Shift pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Svensson pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Shift tumbling to the mat - Svensson dives into Shift's guard.
Svensson is fighting to break Shift's control of his arms but Shift is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Shift can't keep his opponent in guard - Svensson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Svensson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shift is trying to maintain the position but Svensson is very close to passing his half guard.
Svensson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Svensson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Svensson wants to control but Shift is keeping him busy.
Svensson wants to stand up but Shift manages to regain full guard.
Svensson trying to control but Shift is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shift 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.

Shift scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Svensson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Shift to the mat! Shift manages to get full guard.

Svensson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Svensson shoots in but Shift avoids the takedown attempt easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Svensson has Shift pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Shift manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Svensson takes a knee right on the jaw!
A shot in the inside from Shift.

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

Shift moves into range and clinches up with Svensson.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shift with a knee to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Shift breaks from the clinch.
Shift wants to clinch

and Svensson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Shift!

And that's the end of the fight!
Thor Svensson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Svensson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thor Svensson!
Thor Svensson thanked the fans post fight for their support.