PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gaius Arabi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Shields (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arabi kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Genesis - Justice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Arabi
vs
Shields

172 cm
22
160 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

170 cm
22
157 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

The Choke´s On You
STEEL PENN'S 160 OF STEEL $50 Rio

HGH Nutrients Q160-Q158

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gaius Arabi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nick Shields!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Russell Pearce and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shields closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Shields lands in his opponent's guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Arabi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Arabi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shields wants to pass the guard but Arabi is keeping the position.

Arabi has his foot on Shields's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Shields works his way back into a safe position though.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Shields's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Arabi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Shields doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Shields manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Shields stands and throws Arabi's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Shields tries to advance to mount but Arabi denies him.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Arabi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Shields throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shields lands some shots froms side control.
Arabi is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Shields off and has taken his back!

Shields is having to fend off submission attempts from Arabi, who is looking to sink in the choke. Arabi doesn't have the hooks in though and Shields manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
Shields stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Arabi swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Arabi looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Shields has picked Arabi up and slammed him! Arabi can't keep hold of the triangle and Shields manages to pass to side control!
You can see the frustration on Arabi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arabi tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Shields wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Arabi struggling a bit here.
Arabi is trying to get back to half guard.
Shields wants to lay and pray for a moment but Arabi keeps working.
Shields might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Arabi kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Arabi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Shields working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Arabi bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Arabi tries to clinch but Shields moves away
and Shields counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Arabi's corner calls for a 1-2. Arabi obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A big right from Shields misses.
Arabi misses with a looping left.
Arabi just misses with a punch to the body.
Shields keeps the fight on the outside.
A punch lands to the side of Shields 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Shields fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Arabi looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Jab by Arabi.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big right from Arabi misses.
Shields avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jab from Arabi.
Shields connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Arabi momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields lands a nice shot to the body.
Arabi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Arabi on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Arabi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Arabi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Shields uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Arabi.
Arabi throws a shot from downtown. Shields moves away and avoids it.
Arabi throws a right and a left that Shields avoids nicely.
Shields scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Arabi doesn't seem bothered though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Arabi misses with a straight right.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shields. Arabi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shields scores with a shot to the body.
Arabi tries to clinch there but Shields circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nick Shields will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Arabi checks a leg kick.
Shields takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Arabi misses with a straight left.
Gaius Arabi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shields misses with an uppercut. Arabi saw that one coming.
Shields dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Shields connects with a body shot that sends Arabi's belly button to the back.
Shields ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Arabi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shields was well out of range. Poor timing from Arabi.
Arabi tries to bum rush Shields with a series of wild strikes but Shields uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Arabi lands a really nice looking cross but Shields seems unphased.
Gaius Arabi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arabi avoids the body shot from Shields.
Arabi throws out a loose jab but Shields uses good head movement to avoid it.
A punch combination from Arabi misses.
Shields avoids the body shot from Arabi.
A jab from Shields finds it's way through Arabi's defenses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shields lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Shields is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Arabi.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Arabi tries to close the distance and clinch but Shields swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Shields looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Shields works his foot free and advances to mount.
Shields controlling his opponent.

Arabi defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Shields.
Shields can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Arabi is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shields landing strikes, looking to finish!
Shields trying to control but Arabi is having none of it.
Shields has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Arabi's face.
Shields trying to control but Arabi is having none of it.
Arabi is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nick Shields has got the better of the ground game so far.

Shields looking for a guillotine from mount but Arabi is having none of it.
Shields is landing with some decent strikes but Arabi is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arabi wants to hold on but Shields pushes him away.
The referee warns Arabi that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Arabi is rocked!
Shields prevents Arabi from getting the reversal.
Oh Arabi is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Shields has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Shields connects with a bit shot that sees Arabi covering up! More strikes from Shields and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Shields is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nick Shields!
Nick Shields thanked the fans post fight for their support.