PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pat Small (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Shields (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Small
vs
Shields

182 cm
32
178 lbs
25 - 7 - 0

183 cm
33
170 lbs
24 - 21 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

BeastMode
Project Mayhem

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Pat Small!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jake Shields!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Damien Edna and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shields defending well as Small loads up on a big left hand.
Shields tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Small thows a left - swing and a miss!
Shields feints the counter takedown.
Shields avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Shields changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Shields's coach down at The Shield was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Shields's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Small tries to land a leg kick but Shields saw it coming and moves away.
Shields walks into a jab.

It looks like Jake Shields has been cut.
Small throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Shields sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Shields is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Shields checks a leg kick.
Shields drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Small defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Small's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Small duly obliges.
Shields uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Small.
Shields is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Small moves into range and connects with a jab.
Shields on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Small drops Shields with a beautiful combination! Shields stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Small is looking for the KO!

Shields is rocked!

That has opened up Jake Shields's cut even more.
Shields slips a jab and a cross from Small.
Shields with the counter takedown but Small avoids it easily.
Shields is still on wobbly legs! Can Small finish him?
Pat Small is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Small takes a swing at Shields's ribcage but misses.
Shields seems to have recovered his senses.
Small lands with a thumping leg kick.
Small throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A combination from Small does no damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Small buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Small darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Small thuds his right hand into Shields's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Small fails to land with a series of punches.
Shields feints the counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Small listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

The cut above Jake Shields's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
A looping hook to the body misses from Small. Shields does a little dance to reset his feet.
Small throws a leg kick that is checked

and Shields counters with a nice double leg into side control. Small won't be happy with that.

Shields goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Small rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Shields's guard! Nice work there by Small!
Shields keeping moving, preventing Small from controlling successfully.
Small looking to pass the guard.
Shields will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields looking for a sweep. Not yet Shields, not yet.
Small not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Small trying to control the position from guard on top but Shields is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Shields looking for a guillotine here but Small defends easily.
Small preventing the sweep.

Shields working for submissions but it's allowed Small to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Shields looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Shields wants to control but Small is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Shields is trying to stand up here but Small is controlling him well.
Small perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Shields looking for submissions off his back.
Shields is refusing to be controlled, as Small sits in half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pat Small dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jake Shields's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Small misses with a hook.
Shields is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Sloppy strikes from Small. Those never looked like landing.
Small connects with a good right hand that stumbles Shields. Shields circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Pat Small is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Small fails to land with a series of punches.
Shields changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Small looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Shields blocks a low kick nicely.
Small fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Shields tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Small throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Shields.
Shields drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Small defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No joy there for Small, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Small throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Shields with the counter takedown but Small avoids it easily.
Small pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Small tries to clinch up

and Shields counters with a shoot takedown. Small fights it but they end up in guard.
Small is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shields can do to turn this around?
Small wants to stand but Shields is controlling the position.
Small avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Shields working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Shields is looking to work some ground and pound but Small has wrist control.
Shields trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Small wants to sweep but no luck.
Shields passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields throws a strike but Small avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Shields wants to control from the top but Small keeps moving.
Small wants to stand up but Shields is controlling him.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Shields wants to control from the top but Small keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Small is looking to score with low kicks.
Shields feints the counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Small misses with a leg kick

and Shields counters with a single leg into guard. Small didn't expect that.
Shields trying to control the position from guard on top but Small is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Small utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Shields thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Shields engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Shields stands and throws Small's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shields wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Small, who protects the arm well.

Shields thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Shields tries to advance to mount but Small denies him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Small tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jake Shields will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jake Shields's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Small lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Pat Small seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Small fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Shields looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Small throws a right and a left that both miss.
Shields drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Small defends it well.
Shields defending well as Small loads up on a big left hand.
Shields drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Small defends it well.
A solid leg kick lands there for Small.
Small throws a leg kick but Shields sees it coming and moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Small swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Shields drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Small defends it well.
Small lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Small thows a left - swing and a miss!
Shields drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Small defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Small swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Shields counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Small is working an open guard so Shields takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Small misses with a wild body shot.
Shields drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Small defends it well.
Small throws a hook but Shields blocks it.
Shields with the counter takedown but Small avoids it easily.
Small swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Shields counters with a takedown into side control.
Shields working the ground and pound from side control.
Small avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Shields.

Shields thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shields in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Shields seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Small tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Shields wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Shields is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Small knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Small tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Shields wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Shields scoring with punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields working away.
Small is trying to get back to half guard.

Shields tries for a kimura but Small is defending well.
Shields trying to control the position but Small is working away.
Shields throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Shields looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Small is avoiding damage well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Shields is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Small is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Small tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Shields is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Small is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Shields controls the position from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shields cracks Small with an elbow. That is naaassty.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake Shields comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Shields has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jake Shields!
A very excited looking Jake Shields made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.