PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Shelby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Thomas Teller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Teller's choice of entrance music: Sail. The key to victory for Tommy Shelby has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Shelby
vs
Thomas Teller

175 cm
19
151 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

170 cm
26
143 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tommy Shelby!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Thomas Teller!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Teller thows a left - swing and a miss!
Shelby throws a shot from downtown. Teller moves away and avoids it.
Teller swings for the body but Shelby moves out of range.
Teller slips a jab from Shelby.
Shelby misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Teller.
A little jabbing left from Teller on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Teller avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Shelby swings for the body but Teller moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Teller waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shelby.
Shelby misses with a body shot.
A nice side step and Teller releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Shelby throws an off balance right hand
letting Teller counter with a right hand.
Shelby looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shelby moves away from the strike by Teller.
Shelby swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Shelby throws a wild body kick that Teller sees coming a mile off.
Teller's coach down at Team Butcher Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Teller's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Teller throws a body shot but no joy.
It looked like Shelby wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Shelby throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Teller.
Teller swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Shelby misses with a low kick.
Shelby swings for the body but Teller moves out of range.
Teller now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

Teller drives through and clinches with Shelby against the cage.
Teller keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Shelby's efforts to push away.
Teller tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Teller has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Shelby avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Shelby blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Shelby gets underhooks to prevent Teller's takedown attempt.

Teller breaks from the clinch.
Shelby fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Shelby swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Teller.
Shelby fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Teller manages to avoid it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Shelby. That's going to slow Teller down.
Shelby works Teller's body with a nice hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shelby connects with a body shot that sends Teller's belly button to the back.
Good standup being displayed there by Shelby as he connects with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shelby uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Teller has time to react.
Shelby misses with a wild body shot.
Shelby connects with a right hand. Teller shakes it off.
Teller drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A nice combination there by Shelby.
Teller shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tommy Shelby has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Thomas Teller.
The fighters circling - Teller throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
It looked like Shelby was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Shelby connects with a good right hand that stumbles Teller. Teller circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Good exchange - Shelby coming out on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Teller tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shelby paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shelby tries a head kick but it misses.
Shelby throws a jab when Teller was well out of range.
Teller looks to score with a jab to the body but Shelby is just out of range.
Shelby swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Shelby dips to his left and cracks Teller with an uppercut!
Teller ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Teller is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Shelby with a body shot.
Shelby dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Teller connects with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Shelby dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Teller moves into the clinch.
Teller swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Teller throws a punch but it's blocked by Shelby.
Teller is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Teller is trying to trip Shelby. He has hold of a leg but Shelby is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Teller persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Teller wants to control from the top but Shelby keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Teller accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Teller postures up and lands a big shot to Shelby's brow.
Teller trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Teller accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shelby being controlled here, momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Shelby throws an off balance right hand
and Teller counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Tommy Shelby is winning the standup battle so far.

Teller forces Shelby back against the cage and clinches.
Teller wants to break the clinch but can't.
Teller lands a nice uppercut.
Teller is trying to drag Shelby to the mat but Shelby just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shelby uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Shelby darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Shelby ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Teller moves away.
Teller looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Shelby scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Shelby throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A telegraphed right hand from Shelby misses the target.
Shelby fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Teller moves out of range of the body kick from Shelby.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Teller uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Shelby.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Teller! But no joy.
Shelby misses with a looping right.
Shelby swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Teller is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shelby will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Shelby lands with a kick to the ribs.
Teller swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tommy Shelby seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shelby lands with a cross.
Teller shoots in looking for a takedown but Shelby manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Teller's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Teller shoots in for a takedown but Shelby shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Tommy Shelby has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Thomas Teller.
Teller is trying hard to land a takedown here. Shelby sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Shelby lands with a cross.
Shelby digs a good hook to Teller's body.
Shelby scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Teller doesn't seem bothered though.
Shelby scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A slapping leg kick lands for Shelby.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Shelby dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A good leg kick by Shelby.
Shelby works Teller's body with a nice hook.
The crowd cheers as Shelby lands an impressive looking overhand right. Teller doesn't seem phased though.
Shelby throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shelby misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Teller.
Shelby connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Teller's hands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shelby throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Teller looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Shelby clobbers Teller with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Shelby throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Teller takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Shelby connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Teller takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Shelby pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Shelby tries to bum rush Teller with a series of wild strikes but Teller uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Teller fails with an attempt to clinch.
It looked like Shelby was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Teller.
Tommy Shelby is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shelby rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Teller counters with a nice uppercut.
Teller avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Teller bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Teller dodges the punch combination from Shelby.
Shelby looks to score with a jab to the body but Teller is just out of range.
Teller doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Teller tries to clinch but Shelby moves out of range.
Shelby lands with a hook. Teller tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shelby finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Teller looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Shelby throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shelby throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Teller closes the distance and clinches.
Shelby tries to break free but Teller pushes him back against the cage.
Teller wants a takedown.
Shelby gets underhooks to prevent Teller's takedown attempt.
Tommy Shelby is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Teller throws a punch but it's blocked by Shelby.
Teller lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Shelby backwards.
Teller tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Teller fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Teller misses with the head strike.
Teller can't find room to land a body shot as Shelby controls the action.
Shelby is trying to break free.
Teller is stalling here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Teller throws a punch but it's blocked by Shelby.
Teller blocks an uppercut.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Teller swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Teller is looking for a takedown.
Tommy Shelby has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Thomas Teller.
Teller tries to score a body lock takedown but Shelby shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A frustrated look appears on Teller's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Shelby trying to stall but Teller improves his position.
Shelby is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Teller can do to turn this around?
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Teller misses with a shot to the kidneys.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommy Shelby showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shelby, 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommy Shelby!