PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jason Shields (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Israel Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Israel Stephens is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Shields
vs
Stephens

167 cm
28
130 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

225 cm
26
140 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jason Shields!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Israel Stephens!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stephens lands a head kick. Shields smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Israel Stephens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stephens fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Shields has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Shields avoids a punch combination nicely.
A low kick from Stephens misses

and Shields counters with a single leg into guard. Stephens didn't expect that.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Shields throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stephens works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shields with a flurry of punches that miss.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stephens can do anything to dispel that myth.
Shields is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Shields postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Stephens looking for a sweep. Not yet Stephens, not yet.
Stephens really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shields. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Shields throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stephens works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stephens preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shields missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stephens preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shields 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.
Shields trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shields stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stephens swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Shields throws a big right hand that misses.
Shields works over Stephens with some ground and pound from guard.
Stephens utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shields accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shields lands a couple of digs.
Shields postures up and lands a big shot to Stephens's brow.
Shields trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Shields lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Shields throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields with a flurry of punches that miss.
Shields is looking to work some ground and pound but Stephens has wrist control.
Shields postures up and lands a big shot to Stephens's brow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shields throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stephens is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Stephens holds on and takes a little breather.
Shields throwing strikes from guard but Stephens blocks nicely.
Shields missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Shields lands a couple of elbows.
Stephens working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shields.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shields postures up and lands a big shot to Stephens's brow.
Shields keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stephens's head.
Shields with a flurry of punches that miss.
Shields with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stephens working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shields.
Shields with a flurry of punches that miss.
Shields with a flurry of punches that miss.
Shields keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stephens's head.
Shields working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Shields scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields landing with the ground and pound.
Shields working some strikes from top position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shields is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Shields throwing strikes but missing.
Shields landing with the ground and pound.
Shields is looking to work some ground and pound but Stephens has wrist control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shields trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Shields dominated that round.
That's time! Shields's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Stephens throws a head kick that Shields semi-blocks.
Shields tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stephens swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jason Shields is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Shields takes the fight into the clinch.
Stephens looking to stall.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Stephens just misses with a elbow thrown towards Shields's brow.
Shields is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Stephens is defending well.

Shields wants the takedown. Stephens is fighting it off but Shields persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Stephens's guard against the cage.
Shields throwing strikes from guard but Stephens blocks nicely.
Shields with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stephens avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stephens managing to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shields loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Shields throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shields with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stephens preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shields accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shields loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Shields trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Stephens working a defensive guard here.
Shields is in close to Stephens's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stephens is keeping the position for now.
Shields is looking to work some ground and pound but Stephens has wrist control.
Stephens avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shields accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stephens looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shields with a nice head shot there.
Shields postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shields postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stephens utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields working some strikes from top position.
Shields trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Stephens is breathing heavily.
Stephens has momentary wrist control but Shields slips an elbow through the middle.
Shields with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Shields's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Shields missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shields accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stephens working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shields.
Stephens has momentary wrist control but Shields slips an elbow through the middle.
Shields trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jason Shields overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stephens has momentary wrist control but Shields slips an elbow through the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shields with a flurry of punches that miss.
Shields in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stephens avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Shields is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shields accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shields is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shields accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shields throwing strikes but missing.
Stephens preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Shields dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Shields shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Shields not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Shields is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stephens can do to turn this around?
Shields not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Shields not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Stephens on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Shields seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Shields throwing shots but Stephens is blocking nicely.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Shields lands a nice short elbow.
Shields working the head and body with strikes.
Stephens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Shields.
Shields scoring with punches to the head and body.
Shields throws a big elbow that misses.
Shields trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Shields might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Shields is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Shields scoring with some ground and pound.
Shields working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Shields postures up and lands a big shot to Stephens's brow.
Shields postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shields makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Israel Stephens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields throwing strikes from guard but Stephens blocks nicely.
Shields makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shields cracks Stephens with a solid left hand.
Stephens preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shields throwing strikes but missing.
Shields postures up in Stephens's guard and throws a big left but Stephens blocks it.
Stephens working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shields.
Shields connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stephens preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shields throwing strikes but missing.
Shields is in close to Stephens's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Shields is looking to work some ground and pound but Stephens has wrist control.
Shields connects with a couple of short punches.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Shields's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Shields throwing strikes from guard but Stephens blocks nicely.
Shields postures up in Stephens's guard and throws a big left but Stephens blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stephens works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shields trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Shields with a flurry of punches that miss.
Shields postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Shields lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shields connects with a couple of short punches.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Shields's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shields connects with a couple of short punches.
Stephens has momentary wrist control but Shields slips an elbow through the middle.
Shields postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jason Shields showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shields, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:26
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:26

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