PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hakeem Diaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ardian Shiba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ardian Shiba has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Diaw
vs
Shiba

181 cm
24
201 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

186 cm
23
198 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hakeem Diaw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Ardian Shiba!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Colin Fotheringham and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Shiba looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shiba tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Diaw paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shiba is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Shiba darts in trying to clinch
and Shiba takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Shiba closes the distance and clinches.
Shiba putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Diaw in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Diaw managing to block the knees to the body from Shiba.
Shiba softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Diaw - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A head punch on the inside from Shiba fails to land.
Diaw keeps control of Shiba as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Diaw can't find room to land a body shot as Shiba controls the action.
Diaw throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Shibas head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shiba tries a knee to the head but Diaw blocks it.
Diaw wants to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Diaw.
Diaw managing to block the knees to the body from Shiba.
Shiba landing knees to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Diaw.
Shiba misses with a hook from the clinch.
Shiba fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Shiba scores with a knee to the head.
Shiba connects with a knee to the head.
Shiba missing with knees to the body.
Shiba swings wildly with an uppercut but Diaw uses good head movement to avoid it.
Diaw managing to block the knees to the body from Shiba.
Diaw lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Shiba misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Diaw.
Shiba misses with a knee to the head.
Diaw will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Shiba up against the cage.
Shiba unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Diaw takes a knee to the side of the body.
Diaw jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Shiba walks away with a smile on his face. Diaw gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Shiba fails with an attempt to clinch.

Shiba moves into the clinch successfully.
Shiba tries for a takedown but Diaw manages to get underhooks.
Diaw blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Diaw lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Diaw decides to pull guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Diaw looking for a guillotine here but Shiba defends easily.
Diaw tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Shiba avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Shiba trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaw looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Diaw is on top in guard.
Diaw trying to control but Shiba is working from the bottom.
Shiba wants to sweep here but Diaw controlling him for the moment.

Shiba looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Diaw stopping the sweep attempt from Shiba.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shiba working a defensive guard here.
Shiba utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Shiba working for a triangle but Diaw defends it easily.
Diaw seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Diaw passes into half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shiba controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ardian Shiba dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Diaw swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Shiba takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Diaw circles away from the clinch attempt
and Diaw counters with a left to the body.
Diaw circles away from the clinch attempt.
Shiba bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Shiba wants to clinch.
Diaw throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Diaw lands with an overhand left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaw loads up on a big right hand but Shiba slips the punch.
Shiba tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Diaw pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Diaw misses with a low kick.
Nice defenses there by Shiba.
Diaw lands a body shot.
Shiba steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Diaw.
Shiba tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shiba will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Shiba tries to clinch up but Diaw circles away and keeps his distance.
Diaw lands a jab to the nose.
Shiba is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shiba tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Diaw counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Shiba thinking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shiba drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Diaw being controlled for a moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Diaw takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Shiba tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Shiba creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Diaw sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shiba is looking to take a break and control but Diaw is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Diaw's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Diaw is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Shiba's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Shiba is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Diaw is just riding it out for now. Shiba eventually gives up the hold.
Shiba missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shiba throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Shiba not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Diaw trying to control but Shiba postures up.
Ardian Shiba has got the better of the ground game so far.
Shiba is trying to control. Diaw wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ground and pound from Shiba.
Shiba is thwarting Diaw's attempts to control the position.
Diaw tries to get to full guard but Shiba has control of the leg.
Diaw works his way to full guard. Good work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diaw is pulling down on Shiba's head to control his posture.
Shiba working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ardian Shiba will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Shiba slips a jab from Diaw.
Shiba keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shiba tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Shiba takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Shiba tries to close the distance and clinch but Diaw swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shiba tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Diaw counters with a nice uppercut.

Shiba fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Diaw, pushing him back against the cage.

Shiba has clasped his hands together around Diaw's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Shiba wants to control for a moment but Diaw uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Diaw tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shiba is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Diaw doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Shiba.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Shiba connects with a nice short shot to Diaw's temple.
Diaw wants to control but Shiba is keeping busy.
Diaw is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Shiba tries to pass to full mount but Diaw defends it.
Diaw taking some punishment here, with Shiba in his half guard.
Hakeem Diaw has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shiba missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Diaw gets back to full guard.
Diaw is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Shiba postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Shiba throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shiba throws a big right hand that misses.
Shiba trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Diaw working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Shiba doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Shiba manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shiba trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shiba passes Diaw's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ardian Shiba is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Diaw slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Shiba trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shiba is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Shiba trying to control but Diaw is working from the bottom.

Diaw throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Diaw keeping moving, preventing Shiba from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shiba tries to free his leg and advance position but Diaw is retaining full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Shiba trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diaw tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Diaw throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Shiba trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ardian Shiba.
Shiba tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Diaw circles away from the clinch attempt
and Diaw counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Shiba gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ardian Shiba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shiba 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ardian Shiba!
Ardian Shiba seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.