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 has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Shields
vs
Stephens

167 cm
29
130 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

225 cm
26
140 lbs
3 - 6 - 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 6 - 8 - 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 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Israel Stephens!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stephens connects with an inside leg kick.
Stephens connects with a single shot there.
Stephens throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stephens darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Stephens is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Shields is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stephens misses with a low kick.

Shields shoots in and bounces Stephens off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Stephens avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Shields with a flurry of punches that miss.
Shields throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shields connects with a couple of short punches.
Shields working some strikes from top position.
Shields lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Shields missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stephens utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shields throwing strikes from guard but Stephens blocks nicely.
Shields scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shields accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shields throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Shields postures up in Stephens's guard and throws a big left but Stephens blocks it.
Shields works over Stephens with some ground and pound from guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shields loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
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 throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shields accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shields might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
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 postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Stephens is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Shields connects with a couple of short punches.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shields accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields is looking to work some ground and pound but Stephens has wrist control.
Shields working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Shields throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stephens works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shields with a flurry of punches that miss.
Shields is looking to work some ground and pound but Stephens has wrist control.
Shields distracts Stephens with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Shields postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Shields works over Stephens with some ground and pound from guard.
Shields working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Shields stands up over Stephens, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes 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.
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.
Shields loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shields pushing down on Stephens's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
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.
Stephens looks winded!
Shields missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Stephens avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Shields.
Shields thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stephens has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shields is working away from the top position though.
Shields working Stephens over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stephens lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Stephens.
Stephens tried to score with a low kick but Shields checks it.
Shields tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stephens keeps the fight on the outside.

Stephens gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Shields throwing strikes but missing.
Stephens has momentary wrist control but Shields slips an elbow through the middle.
Shields with a nice head shot there.
Shields working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stephens's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shields throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
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.
Shields throws an elbow that misses. Stephens uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Shields's guard. Nice move by Stephens!
Stephens wanted to stand there but Shields had control of the position.
Shields is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shields manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stephens manages to get himself to full guard.
Shields loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stephens working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shields.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Shields loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Shields throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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.
Shields works over Stephens with some ground and pound from guard.
Stephens is breathing heavily.
Shields scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shields missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Shields throws a big right hand that misses.
Shields with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Shields scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Shields throws a big elbow that misses.
Shields throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stephens works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stephens wants to sweep here but Shields controlling him for the moment.
Shields is in close to Stephens's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Shields is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stephens can do to turn this around?
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 couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Shields lands a couple of digs.
Shields cracks Stephens with a solid left hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shields throws a big elbow that misses.
Shields throwing strikes from guard but Stephens blocks nicely.
Shields landing with the ground and pound.
Shields with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shields is working Stephens over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Shields 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.

Jason Shields dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Stephens misses with a body kick.
A head kick misses from Stephens.
Stephens defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Shields.
Stephens ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shields moves away.
Jason Shields is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shields shoots for a takedown but Stephens saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Both fighters circling a little - Stephens finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Stephens displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Shields.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Shields. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stephens gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Shields to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Shields throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jason Shields overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shields connects with a couple of short punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stephens avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Shields is looking to work some ground and pound but Stephens has wrist control.
Shields throws a big right hand that misses.
Shields loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stephens working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shields.
Shields lands a couple of elbows.
Shields landing with the ground and pound.
Shields with a flurry of punches that miss.
Israel Stephens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stephens works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shields is looking to work some ground and pound but Stephens has wrist control.
Stephens looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shields is one step ahead there.
Shields throwing strikes from guard but Stephens blocks nicely.
Stephens working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shields.
Shields cracks Stephens with a solid left hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shields content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens trying to control the position here.
Stephens avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
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 elbows.
Shields postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Shields working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stephens's head.
Shields scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields throws a big right hand that misses.
Shields with a flurry of punches that miss.
Shields throws a big elbow that misses.
Shields lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stephens has momentary wrist control but Shields slips an elbow through the middle.
Shields lands a couple of elbows.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shields accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shields with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Shields landing with the ground and pound.
Shields with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

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