PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Emmett Rosario (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Meryl Shaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Emmett Rosario has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Rosario
vs
Shaw

167 cm
19
140 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

160 cm
18
134 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Emmett Rosario!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Meryl Shaw!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shaw instigates a clinch.
Shaw tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rosario smiles and moves away.
Rosario misses with a takedown attempt - Shaw sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Shaw doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rosario counters with a series of strikes. Shaw will be more careful next time no doubt.

Shaw forces Rosario back against the cage and clinches.
Rosario jumps guard but Shaw turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Rosario has Shaw pushed against the cage.
Shaw is pushing Rosario up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Shaw wants to break free but Rosario has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rosario gets control of Shaw's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rosario will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Rosario keeping full guard, as Shaw tries to pass.
Shaw is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rosario looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shaw trying to control the position from guard on top but Rosario is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rosario trying to keep a closed guard but Shaw is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
The fighters circling - Shaw throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Shaw throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Shaw cracks Rosario with a right hand to the side of the head.
Rosario shoots and misses
and Shaw counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Emmett Rosario. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rosario dips to his left and cracks Shaw with an uppercut!
Rosario throws a series of punches but Shaw moves out of range.
Shaw misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Shaw shoots in for a takedown but Rosario shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Shaw takes the fight into the clinch.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaw misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Shaw gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rosario as Shaw tries to tie him up.
Shaw tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rosario's elbow.
Shaw goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rosario prevents it.

Shaw escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rosario tries to keep at a distance but Shaw has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rosario will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Shaw up against the cage.
Shaw is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rosario gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Shaw looks winded!
Shaw is trying to break the clinch but Rosario has him pressed against the cage.
Rosario wants to break the clinch but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rosario scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Shaw is trying to pull guard but Rosario has him pressed against the cage.
Shaw is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Meryl Shaw dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rosario rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Shaw moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rosario misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Shaw scores with a takedown into Rosario's guard.
Shaw is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Shaw chips away with some ground and pound.
Shaw looking to pass the guard.
Rosario keeping moving, preventing Shaw from controlling successfully.
Shaw looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rosario has control of Shaw's left arm, preventing Shaw from doing any damage.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Shaw trying to control but Rosario is working from the bottom.

Emmett Rosario has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Shaw changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rosario tries to avoid it but Shaw manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rosario to the ground. Rosario escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Shaw throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Shaw avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rosario looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Shaw is fending him off so far but Rosario persists. Nope, Shaw circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaw darts in looking for a takedown but Rosario gets double underhooks and turns Shaw into the cage.
Shaw is breathing heavily.
Rosario lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Shaw backwards.
Shaw tries to break the clinch but Rosario is controlling the position.
Shaw can't get the takedown.
Emmett Rosario has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Meryl Shaw.
Shaw wants to take the fight to the mat but Rosario manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Shaw is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Shaw wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rosario is working Shaw over against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaw tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Rosario breaks the clinch.
Shaw throws a poor cross that misses
and Rosario counters with a three punch combo that has Shaw backing up. Shaw nods at Rosario to acknowledge the strikes.

Rosario shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Shaw's guard.
Shaw has momentary wrist control but Rosario slips an elbow through the middle.
Rosario landing some decent shots from guard.
Shaw working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rosario.
Rosario 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.
Rosario postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rosario lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rosario with a flurry of punches that miss.

Shaw working for a triangle but Rosario defends it easily.
Rosario in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rosario is in close to Shaw's body, working some short punches and elbows.
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!
Rosario postures up and lands a big shot to Shaw's brow.
Shaw avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rosario is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rosario throws a strike but Shaw rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rosario is pulling down on Shaw's head. It's preventing any offense from Shaw, at least for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Shaw tries a low kick but Rosario avoids it.
Rosario lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Rosario.
Shaw swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Some wild striking there from Shaw.
Rosario shoots in for a double leg but Shaw sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Shaw shoots in for a double leg but Rosario sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Shaw takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rosario throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw throws a lazy head kick
and Rosario counters with a leg kick.
Rosario shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Shaw sprawls well. Shaw wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rosario gets slowly back to his feet.
Meryl Shaw seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shaw fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rosario dives in for a single leg takedown but Shaw sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Emmett Rosario. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rosario tries to circle away but Shaw has him pinned against the cage.
Rosario looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rosario escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rosario shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Shaw sprawls well. Shaw wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rosario gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Shaw as Rosario shoots in.
Shaw will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Shaw drives through and clinches with Rosario against the cage.
Rosario keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Shaw's efforts to push away.

Shaw breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rosario tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shaw swivels and escapes.
Rosario takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Shaw gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Shaw manages to break the clinch.

Rosario gets the takedown into side control.
Rosario working the ground and pound.
Shaw holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Shaw sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Rosario missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shaw is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rosario pulls his head out easily.
Rosario thows a huge punch but Shaw dodges it nicely.
Rosario landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rosario stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Shaw to get to his feet.

Rosario rushes Shaw and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rosario is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shaw wants to break the clinch but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Emmett Rosario.
I think Rosario has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Emmett Rosario!