PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alex Shafer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Joseph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shafer comes to the cage accompanied by Big Shit Poppin. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Shafer
vs
Joseph

170 cm
25
160 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

168 cm
26
169 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alex Shafer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, John Joseph!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Robert Douchet and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shafer throws a series of punches but Joseph avoids them all with ease.
John Joseph seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Joseph throws a head kick that misses.
Joseph misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Shafer.
Joseph tries a head kick but it misses.
Joseph looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Joseph throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Joseph.
Shafer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Shafer shoots in and gets a takedown into Joseph's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Joseph trying to keep a closed guard but Shafer is proving a slippery customer.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Shafer's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Shafer has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Shafer's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Shafer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Joseph works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Joseph manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Joseph pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shafer shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Joseph as he avoids it easily.
Shafer blocks a head kick by Joseph.

Shafer gets a double leg takedown into Joseph's guard.
Shafer landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shafer trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Joseph wants to get back to his feet but Shafer is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Shafer postures up.
Joseph wants to stand but Shafer is controlling the position.
Shafer postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shafer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shafer wants to control from the top but Joseph keeps moving.

Joseph working for a triangle but Shafer defends it easily.
Joseph wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shafer with a flurry of punches that miss.
Shafer working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Shafer works over Joseph with some ground and pound from guard.
Shafer postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Joseph kicks Shafer off and gets to his feet.
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!
Shafer fails to land the takedown.
Joseph tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shafer ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Joseph throws a body kick that misses.
Danga de danga de dang - Shafer scores with a four punch combination!
Joseph stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Shafer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shafer moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Shafer misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shafer shoots for a takedown but Joseph saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Joseph tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shafer paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Shafer fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Joseph sprawls well initially but Shafer persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Shafer thows a huge punch but Joseph dodges it nicely.
Joseph pushes Shafer off looking to stand but Shafer dives back in and keeps control.
Joseph wants to get back to full guard.
Joseph is looking to escape.
Joseph wants to improve his position but Shafer is controlling well.
Shafer prevents Joseph from standing back up.
Shafer is keen to just control but Joseph is a slippery customer.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Shafer lands a nice short elbow.
Shafer thows a huge punch but Joseph dodges it nicely.
Joseph is looking to escape.
Shafer not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Shafer 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.
Shafer stops Joseph from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shafer is thwarting Joseph's attempts to control the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Joseph is trying to stand.
Joseph is not content to let Shafer control the position.
Ground and pound from Shafer.
Shafer missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Shafer sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Joseph defending well though.
Shafer is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Shafer throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Shafer tries to pass the half guard into mount. Joseph knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Joseph pushes Shafer off looking to stand but Shafer dives back in and keeps control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shafer is looking to take a break and control but Joseph is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Joseph blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shafer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Shafer dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Joseph wants to clinch up but Shafer keeps it at a distance.
Joseph leaves Shafer with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Alex Shafer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shafer closes the distance and clinches up with Joseph, looking for a takedown. Shafer pushes Joseph against the cage but Joseph circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Joseph pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Left hook, right uppercut from Shafer.
Joseph misses with a head kick.
Joseph pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shafer lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Shafer blocks the body kick.
Shafer fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Shafer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shafer throws a combination. Joseph tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Joseph throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Shafer counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Joseph lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Alex Shafer has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shafer throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Joseph throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Shafer throws a series of punches but Joseph avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shafer throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
John Joseph is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Joseph moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Joseph gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Shafer to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Joseph has momentary wrist control but Shafer slips an elbow through the middle.
Shafer not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Joseph is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Shafer trying to control the position from guard on top but Joseph is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Joseph wants to sweep here but Shafer controlling him for the moment.
Shafer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Joseph wants to stand but Shafer is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Alex Shafer just wasn't active enough.
Shafer lands a jab.
Joseph scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Joseph throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A head kick misses from Joseph.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Joseph closes the distance but Shafer moves to the side

and Shafer counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Shafer is looking to break free of the clinch but Joseph has double underhooks.

Joseph manages to break the clinch.
Shafer bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Joseph's head.
Joseph throws a head kick but Shafer moves out of range.
Shafer shoots in for a double leg but Joseph sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Joseph tries to clinch but Shafer moves out of range.
Shafer shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Joseph as he jumps to the side.
The fighters circling - Joseph throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Joseph as Shafer shoots in.
Shafer fails with an attempt to clinch.
John Joseph seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Joseph's corner calls for a 1-2. Joseph obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Joseph throws a hook but Shafer blocks it.
Shafer avoids the head kick by Joseph.
Shafer shoots in but no luck this time.

Joseph closes the distance and clinches.

Joseph pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shafer tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Joseph manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Shafer scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Shafer throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Shafer throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Joseph was covering up waiting for the punch and Shafer finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Shafer wants to control from the top but Joseph keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Joseph is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shafer gets to his feet. Joseph looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
A nice inside leg kick there by Joseph. That's going to slow Shafer down.
Joseph looks to land a body kick but Shafer moved away.
Joseph misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shafer fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Joseph avoids it really well and circles away.
Shafer scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Joseph doesn't seem bothered though.
Joseph throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Shafer on the side of the head.
Shafer connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Joseph is looking to clinch but Shafer is avoiding it.
Joseph tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shafer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Joseph tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shafer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shafer has a takedown stuffed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but John Joseph will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Alex Shafer's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Shafer throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Joseph wants to clinch but Shafer slips to the side
and Shafer cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Joseph wants to clinch.
Shafer shoots in and drives through. Joseph sprawls well.

Joseph lands a big head kick that sends Shafer tumbling to the mat! Joseph takes a step backwards and waves Shafer back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Shafer is rocked!
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!

Shafer moves into the clinch.
Oh Shafer is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Joseph breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shafer misses with the combination.

Shafer shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Joseph trying to hold on to Shafer's head to control him but Shafer postures up.
Joseph controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Joseph can do anything to dispel that myth.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shafer prevents Joseph from standing back up.
Shafer missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Joseph is pressing down on Shafer's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Joseph pushes Shafer off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Joseph fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shafer shoots for a double leg takedown but Joseph sprawls well. He's pushed Shafer's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shafer drops his hands momentarily and Joseph needs no second invitation. He sets himself and throws a perfect high kick, that clips Shafer just on the top of the head. Shafer drops like a sack of potatoes to the canvas, out cold! Oooooooh yeah! Stick a fork in Shafer - he's done!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:07 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). John Joseph!
Alex Shafer spoke after the fight, saying 'This goes to show that I have a lot of ground to cover. I'll be back and better than ever. '.