PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jake Shields (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Van Pol (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.

Shields
vs
Pol

183 cm
34
170 lbs
26 - 22 - 0

175 cm
28
165 lbs
13 - 2 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Project Mayhem
BeastMode

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 26 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jake Shields!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Van Pol!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, John Mangel and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pol lands with a cross.

It looks like Jake Shields has been cut.
Pol tries a head kick but it misses.
Pol looks to throw the jab but Shields is out of range.
Shields changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Shields steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pol.
Pol throws a body shot but no joy.
Shields takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pol. Shields does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shields feinted with a counter takedown.
A head kick from Pol lands but Shields takes it in his stride.
Pol tries to clinch up but Shields circles away and keeps his distance.
Shields attempts a counter takedown but Pol avoids it well and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pol throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Shields counters with a single leg into guard. Pol didn't expect that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pol keeping moving, preventing Shields from controlling successfully.
Shields forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shields is working for a submission of some sort.
Pol is trying to stand back up but Shields is controlling him

Shields is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shields is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Shields won't allow Pol to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Shields won't allow Pol to sweep him here.
Shields with a flurry of punches that miss.
Shields is looking to work some ground and pound but Pol has wrist control.
Shields trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shields throwing strikes but missing.
Shields postures up in Pol's guard and throws a big left but Pol blocks it.
Pol bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Shields's guard.

Shields lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Shields trying to control the position from guard on top but Pol is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pol wants to stand up but Shields is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pol trying to control the position here.

Shields is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Pol is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Pol has escaped and now he's on top!

Pol must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pol trying to stand up but can't free himself from Shields's guard.
Pol sitting in guard here, content to control.

Shields looking for subs off his back but Pol has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shields looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Shields looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Pol works his way into full mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shields tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Poor strikes thrown by Pol there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Van Pol dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jake Shields's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pol throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Shields has been working on his balance at The Shield, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Pol.
Pol throws a leg kick that is checked

and Shields counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Pol felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Shields is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Pol!

Shields jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Pol manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Shields swings around for an armbar but Pol sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Shields's guard.
Pol wants to control from the top but Shields keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pol would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Pol wants to pass the guard but Shields is keeping the position.
Pol showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shields working for a triangle but Pol defends it easily.
Shields looking to control.
Pol wants to stand but Shields has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Jake Shields overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Shields is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pol is aware though and is defending well.
Pol wanted to stand there but Shields had control of the position.

Shields working for a triangle but Pol defends it easily.

That's two 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.
Pol content to stall in guard here.
Pol wants to get up but he can't break Shields's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Shields escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pol gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Pol forces his way into half guard.
Pol is trying to control the action in half guard but Shields is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields moves into full guard.

Shields working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pol doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pol manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Pol stands and steps away. Shields gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Pol fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pol throws a hook to the side of Shields's head but Shields sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shields attempts a counter takedown but Pol avoids it well and moves away.
Pol misses with a looping left.
Shields on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pol tries to clinch but Shields is having none of it.
Pol throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Shields checks a leg kick.
Pol connects with a high kick.
Pol keeps Shields at a distance using the push kick.
Pol throws a low kick but it's checked well by Shields.
Shields bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Good standup being displayed there by Pol as he connects with a hook.

Jake Shields's cut is getting worse.
Pol has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shields chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Pol can pounce on him.
Pol fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shields manages to avoid it.
Shields half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Van Pol showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jake Shields's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A head kick misses from Pol.
Pol throws a jab when Shields was well out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pol. Shields does a little dance to reset his feet.
Van Pol seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pol is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pol misses the shot to the body.
Shields drops down looking for a counter takedown but Pol sprawls and moves away.
Pol tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shields paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pol misses with an uppercut.
Shields half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Pol throws a hook to the side of Shields's head but Shields sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shields tries to counter with a takedown but Pol is quick to defend against it.
Pol wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pol throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shields half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Pol missing with a left hand there. Shields was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Shields drops down looking for a counter takedown but Pol sprawls and moves away.
Shields takes one to the side of the head.
Shields checks a leg kick.

Pol moves into the clinch.
Pol throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Shields drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pol pulls his leg out and moves away.
A swing and a miss from Pol.
Shields changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pol swings for the body but Shields moves out of range.
Shields drops down looking for a counter takedown but Pol sprawls and moves away.
Pol wants to clinch.
Pol looks to throw the jab but Shields is out of range.
Shields's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Pol connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Shields scrambles back to his feet.

Pol moves into the clinch.

Shields tightens his grip and picks Pol up, before dumping him to the ground. Pol manages to land in guard.
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!
Pol utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pol is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Shields drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Pol dives on top into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pol trying to control the position from guard on top but Shields is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Shields is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pol defends well.
Pol preventing the sweep.
Shields is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Pol gets to his feet. Shields looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pol tries to clinch up but Shields circles away and keeps his distance.

Pol moves into the clinch successfully.
A nice right hand lands inside from Pol.
Shields wants to take the fight to the mat but Pol manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Van Pol is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Pol misses with a body punch.
Pol holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Pol working aggressively here.
Shields takes a shot to the head.
Shields tries to score a body lock takedown but Pol shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Shields. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pol lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Shields.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Jake Shields has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pol misses with a body punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Van Pol comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pol winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Van Pol!