PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nick Shamrock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arnold Rothstein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shamrock's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Kanye West 's Stronger . Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shamrock
vs
Rothstein

178 cm
33
141 lbs
28 - 18 - 1

170 cm
23
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Good knees
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 18 - 1, fighting out of London, Nick Shamrock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arnold Rothstein!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Glass and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rothstein throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Shamrock.
Arnold Rothstein seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick by Rothstein misses

and Shamrock holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rothstein working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rothstein lands a right hand.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rothstein managing to block the knees to the body from Shamrock.
Rothstein tries to throw a body punch but Shamrock avoids it by throwing Rothstein back against the cage.
Rothstein taking a breather.
Rothstein misses with some punches.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Rothstein.
Rothstein blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shamrock pushes off an throws an elbow but Rothstein leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rothstein tries to stall but Shamrock uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Shamrock tries to land a knee to the head but Rothstein blocks with his arms.
Rothstein is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rothstein blocks an elbow strike.

Rothstein tightens his grip and picks Shamrock up, before dumping him to the ground. Shamrock manages to land in guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Rothstein throws a big elbow that misses.
Shamrock wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rothstein wants to control from the top but Shamrock keeps moving.
Rothstein trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shamrock throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
Rothstein connects with a couple of short punches.
Rothstein trying to control the position from guard on top but Shamrock is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shamrock working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rothstein looking to pass the guard.
Rothstein wants to control from the top but Shamrock keeps moving.
Rothstein 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.
Shamrock striking off his back but it's not causing Rothstein any problems.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Arnold Rothstein hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Shamrock displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rothstein throws out the jab.
Rothstein throws a body punch but Shamrock moves out of range.
Nick Shamrock is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rothstein throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rothstein cracks Shamrock with a right hand to the side of the head.
Rothstein throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rothstein misses the shot to the body.
Rothstein throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rothstein missing with a left hand there. Shamrock was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rothstein throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Shamrock counters with a slapping leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rothstein throws a jab when Shamrock was well out of range.
Rothstein looks to land a left hand but Shamrock moved out of range nicely.
Rothstein throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Shamrock counters with a straight right hand.
Rothstein throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shamrock slips a straight right by Rothstein.
Shamrock keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rothstein throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Rothstein attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Shamrock connects with a body shot.
Rothstein dives in and grabs Shamrock's left leg, looking for a takedown. Shamrock pushes down on Rothstein's head and hops out.
Shamrock blocks a head kick by Rothstein.
Rothstein throws out a powerful jab.
Rothstein throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Shamrock counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rothstein throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Shamrock sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rothstein throws a big shot that misses.
Shamrock really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rothstein throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rothstein misses the shot to the body.
Shamrock avoids the head kick by Rothstein.
A low kick from Rothstein is predictable there
and Shamrock counters with a straight right hand.
Rothstein tries to bum rush Shamrock with a series of wild strikes but Shamrock uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Good exchange - Rothstein coming out on top.
Shamrock thows a left - swing and a miss!
Shamrock scores with a body shot.
Rothstein uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shamrock slips a jab and a cross from Rothstein.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rothstein tries a head kick but it misses.
Rothstein keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Shamrock.
Rothstein throws a right hand that Shamrock ducks under and follows up with a left that Shamrock also avoids with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arnold Rothstein dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rothstein looks to land a body kick but Shamrock moved away.
Rothstein misses the shot to the body.
Rothstein lands a glancing blow to the side of Shamrock's head.
Rothstein just misses with a punch to the body.
Shamrock sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Rothstein throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Shamrock is rocked!
Shamrock showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rothstein.
Oh Shamrock is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rothstein is looking to land body kicks.
A big left from Shamrock misses.
Rothstein looks to land a combination but Shamrock avoids it well.
Rothstein tries a head kick but it misses.
Rothstein looks to land a combination but Shamrock avoids it well.
A bone on bone clash there as Shamrock blocks the leg kick.
Rothstein misses with the combination.
Rothstein throws a head kick that misses.
Shamrock ducks under a wild hook from Rothstein.
Rothstein is breathing heavily.
Rothstein misses with a double jab
and Shamrock counters with a nice leg kick.
Shamrock seems to have got his legs back now.
Rothstein misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shamrock.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shamrock connects with the punch.
Rothstein misses with a lunging right hand
and Shamrock counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rothstein tries a low kick but Shamrock avoids it.
Rothstein fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rothstein throws a one two combo.
Rothstein throws a shot from downtown. Shamrock moves away and avoids it.
Rothstein tries to land a body kick
and Shamrock counters with a straight right hand.
Shamrock checks a low kick from Rothstein.
Rothstein ducks under a wild hook from Shamrock.
Rothstein misses with an uppercut. Shamrock saw that one coming.
Rothstein cracks the inside of Shamrock's front leg.
Rothstein misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shamrock defending well as Rothstein loads up on a big left hand.
Shamrock moves away from the strike by Rothstein.
Shamrock steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rothstein.
Rothstein throws a sloppy body shot
and Shamrock cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rothstein looks to land a left hand but Shamrock moved out of range nicely.
Shamrock walks into a stiff left hand from Rothstein.
Shamrock drops his hands momentarily and Rothstein takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rothstein misses with a left hand
enabling Shamrock to counter with a crisp jab.
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!
Shamrock fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rothstein manages to avoid it.
Rothstein swinging wildly here.
Rothstein throws a leg kick but Shamrock sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rothstein jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Rothstein closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Shamrock is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Shamrock trying to control but Rothstein postures up.
Shamrock moves into full guard.
Rothstein in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rothstein looking to pass the guard.
Rothstein throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shamrock lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rothstein!
Rothstein is trying to escape the mount.
Shamrock throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Rothstein wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Shamrock.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shamrock thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shamrock throws some wild stikes that Rothstein manages to avoid easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arnold Rothstein showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rothstein misses with a few strikes there.
Arnold Rothstein seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rothstein lands a head kick!
Rothstein just misses with a punch to the body.
Rothstein jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rothstein fakes the leg kick and cracks Shamrock in the body.
Rothstein throws a lazy uppercut
and Shamrock cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rothstein throws a lazy uppercut
and Shamrock counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rothstein misses with a body shot
and Shamrock counters with a nice uppercut.
Rothstein connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Shamrock moves forwards but Rothstein connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rothstein throws a looping overhand right but Shamrock ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Rothstein misses
and Shamrock makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Shamrock stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Shamrock wants it to stay on the feet.
Rothstein takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Rothstein crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Shamrock - the referee stops the clock and Rothstein gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Shamrock. Rothstein manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Rothstein throws a head kick that misses.
Shamrock avoids the body shot from Rothstein.
Shamrock avoids a punch combination nicely.
Shamrock slips under a jab from Rothstein.
Rothstein slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Rothstein buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rothstein tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shamrock was well out of range. Poor timing from Rothstein.
No joy there for Rothstein, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shamrock blocks the body kick.
Rothstein thuds his shin into the meat of Shamrock's side.
Rothstein is looking to land body kicks.
Rothstein misses with a right hand
and Shamrock counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rothstein throws a lazy uppercut
and Shamrock counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rothstein thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rothstein throws a series of punches but Shamrock avoids them all with ease.
Rothstein throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Shamrock to counter with a crisp jab.
Rothstein throws a hook but Shamrock blocks it.
Shamrock misses with a wild body shot.
Shamrock closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rothstein misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rothstein throws a right hand that misses

and Shamrock holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rothstein is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Shamrock with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rothstein is trying to push Shamrock away but Shamrock has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Shamrock lands a hook to the side of the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Shamrock is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Rothstein struggles to land a body shot inside as Shamrock controls his hands.
Rothstein is trying to stall.
Rothstein takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rothstein avoiding damage as Shamrock throws knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Shamrock as Rothstein tries to tie him up.
Rothstein is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nick Shamrock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arnold Rothstein.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shamrock throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Shamrock looking to throw knees to the head but Rothstein is blocking nicely.
Shamrock connects with a knee to the head.
Shamrock misses with a knee strike.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Shamrock is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rothstein is defending well for now.
Shamrock looking to throw knees to the head but Rothstein is blocking nicely.
Shamrock using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rothstein has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rothstein tries to break free but Shamrock pushes him back against the cage.
Shamrock tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rothstein avoids it.
Rothstein trying to control the position but instead, Shamrock has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rothstein into the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shamrock with an attempt at a knee that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rothstein taking a breather.
Shamrock looking to throw knees to the head but Rothstein is blocking nicely.
Rothstein misses with a short punch on the inside.
Shamrock misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rothstein.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arnold Rothstein comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rothstein 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arnold Rothstein!