PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Niko Bellic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Shields (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jack Shields has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Bellic
vs
Shields

172 cm
33
172 lbs
8 - 16 - 0

180 cm
25
182 lbs
8 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 8 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Niko Bellic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jack Shields!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Gwen Towbar and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shields forces Bellic back against the cage and clinches.

Bellic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Shields closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Shields lands in his opponent's guard.
Shields passes Bellic's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Shields working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Shields is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Bellic taking some punishment here, with Shields in his half guard.
Shields sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bellic defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shields is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shields passes the guard and advances to mount!
Bellic has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Shields's lack of action.

Shields is looking for a kimura but Bellic is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Shields to get the leverage.

Bellic actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Well, if Shields is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Shields is keen to just control but Bellic is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bellic is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Shields pulls his head out easily.
Shields trying to control from half guard but Bellic is working away.
Shields missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shields is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bellic is just riding it out for now. Shields eventually gives up the hold.

Shields looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Shields wants to take a breather but Bellic is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bellic regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Shields.
Shields 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.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shields wants to control from the top but Bellic keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Shields dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bellic misses with a takedown attempt - Shields sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bellic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Bellic gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Shields prevents Bellic from breaking the clinch.

Bellic breaks the clinch.
Bellic shoots in for a takedown but Shields shows good takedown defense.

Shields feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Shields is working Bellic over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Shields has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bellic utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shields slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Shields stands and throws Bellic's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shields wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bellic keeps working.

Shields is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bellic knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Check out the look on Shields's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Shields trying to control the position but Bellic is working away.

Shields is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Bellic has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on Bellic's face as Shields controls the position.
Bellic is working to avoid the ground and pound but Shields connects with a decent elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields misses with the ground and pound.
Jack Shields has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bellic on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Shields thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Shields wants to control for a moment but Bellic uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

Shields is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bellic regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Shields.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shields trying to control but Bellic is working from the bottom.
Shields landing some decent shots from guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shields trying to control the position from guard on top but Bellic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Shields showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Bellic closes the distance and clinches.
Bellic tries to break free but Shields pushes him back against the cage.

Bellic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bellic misses with a head kick.
Bellic will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bellic shoots and misses

and Shields counters with a takedown into side control.
Bellic takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Shields trying to control the action but Bellic is working from the bottom.
A lull in the action here as Shields stalls from top position.
Shields sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Bellic is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bellic prevents Shields from moving into mount.
Shields trying to control the position but Bellic is working away.
Shields has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Bellic!
Shields sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Shields wants to control the pace but Bellic is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shields goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Bellic turns into him and now he's in Shields's guard.
Shields manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
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.
Shields has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Shields throws a sloppy strike and Bellic uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Bellic has ended up in Shields's guard.
Bellic won't allow Shields to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bellic won't allow Shields to get back to his feet.
Shields looking to control.

Bellic drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bellic jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Shields is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shields is on top in guard.
Shields trying to control but Bellic is working from the bottom.
Shields tries to free his leg and advance position but Bellic is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields postures up in Bellic's guard and throws a big left but Bellic blocks it.
Shields pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bellic is keeping the position for now.
Shields sitting in guard here, content to control.
Shields looking to pass the guard.
Bellic keeping moving, preventing Shields from controlling successfully.
Niko Bellic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bellic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Shields comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shields 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Shields!