PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bryan Habana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hai Shang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Habana
vs
Shang

191 cm
30
200 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

192 cm
28
198 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bryan Habana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hai Shang!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Roger Salmon and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shang throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Habana.
Shang misses with a takedown attempt - Habana sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A head kick misses from Habana.
Habana on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Shang lands a slapping body shot.
We've been told by Habana's head coaches at Brown House that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Habana bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Shang looks for a takedown but Habana sprawls well.
Habana chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Habana throws a half hearted mid kick.
Shang throws the kick towards the body but Habana avoids it.
Habana is looking to counter with head kicks.
Habana connects with a leg kick. Shang looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Habana clinches with his opponent.
Shang manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Habana misses with an elbow over the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shang looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Shang creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Shang misses with a hook to the ribs.
Shang using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Habana has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Habana using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shang has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Shang trying to land knees to the body.
Habana has Shang pressed against the cage, preventing Shang from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Shang stalling.
Habana lands a body shot in the clinch.
Shang pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Shang tries a knee to the head but Habana blocks it.
Shang blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Shang tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Shang avoids the elbow strike from Habana, against the cage.
Habana throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Habana.
Habana is trying to stall.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Habana.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Habana's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shang thuds his shin into the meat of Habana's side.
Habana misses with a leg kick.
Shang lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Shang looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Habana is fending him off so far but Shang persists. Nope, Habana circles away and we're back to standing.
Bryan Habana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hai Shang.
Shang shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Shang takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shang goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Habana throws a solid leg kick but Shang takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Habana.
Shang takes a jab right on the kisser.
Shang chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Shang blocks a low kick nicely.
Habana with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Shang shoots in but Habana avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Shang ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Habana moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shang looks to throw a body kick
and Habana counters with a left and a right that stings Shang.
Shang with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Shang circles away from the clinch attempt.
Habana stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Habana wants it to stay on the feet.
Habana dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Shang. That did some damage!
Shang connects with a single shot there.
Habana throws a low kick, looking for Shang's leg but Shang calmly moves out of range.
Habana wants to clinch but Shang slips to the side
and Shang counters with a nice low kick that buckles Habana's knee momentarily.
Habana throws out a leg kick but Shang moves out of range and Habana only half commits.
Shang throws a leg kick
and Habana counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Shang throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Shang throws a hook but Habana avoids it easily.
Habana tries to land a front kick but Shang steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Habana misses with an attempted mid kick.
Habana tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shang fakes the leg kick and cracks Habana in the body.
Shang feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Habana's calf.
Habana throws a nice outside leg kick.
Habana checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Habana turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Habana throws a head kick that misses.
Habana fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Shang.
Shang tries to bum rush Habana with a series of wild strikes but Habana uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bryan Habana is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A slapping leg kick lands for Habana.
Shang swats away the attempt to clinch by Habana.
Shang finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Shang misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Habana.
Shang buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Habana throws a right hand that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bryan Habana will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Shang keeps the fight on the outside.
Shang fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Shang lands with a right hand.
Habana thumps Shang with a low kick.
Habana uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Shang.
Shang just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice defenses there by Habana.
Shang swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Habana misses with a low kick as Shang jumps back.
Habana tries to close the distance and clinch but Shang swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Habana is looking to chop away at Shang's legs.
Shang throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Shang throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Habana pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Shang back to the cage. Habana follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Shang on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Habana scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Shang misses with a hook.
Habana tried to counter with a leg kick but Shang avoided it.
Habana misses with a jab, cross combination.
Shang misses with a low kick.
Habana misses with a head kick.
Shang is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Habana with a body shot.
Habana tries to clinch but Shang moves away
and Shang counters with a nice leg kick.
Shang lands with a shot to the body.
Habana throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Shang. That's going to slow Habana down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shang lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Habana shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Shang is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Bryan Habana is winning the standup battle so far.
Shang will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
As Shang backs away, Habana returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Shang lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shang checks the leg kick.
Shang tries a quick counter leg kick but Habana is wise to it.
Shang ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Habana moves away.
Habana dips to his left and cracks Shang with an uppercut!
Habana misses with a body kick.
Shang tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Habana lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Habana tries to clinch there but Shang circles away.
Shang digs a good hook to Habana's body.
Shang goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Habana misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shang walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Habana checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Habana uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shang.
Shang misses the shot to the body.
Habana throws the kick towards the body but Shang avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shang fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Habana is looking to clinch but Shang is avoiding it.
Shang throws a head kick that Habana semi-blocks.
Shang misses with a head kick.
Habana is looking to counter with head kicks.
Habana looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Habana misses the shot to the body.
Habana on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Habana misses with a body kick.
Habana throws a hook but Shang avoids it easily.
Habana is looking to clinch but Shang is avoiding it.
Shang is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Habana rather than just go for the knockout.
Shang misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Habana pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shang lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Habana circles away quickly and effectively.
Habana tries to clinch but Shang is having none of it.
Shang scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Habana doesn't seem bothered though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Habana.
Shang checks the leg kick nicely there.
Habana takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shang looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Shang darts in looking for a takedown but Habana gets double underhooks and turns Shang into the cage.
Shang misses with a low kick.
Shang's jab looks to have found its range, popping Habana under the eye.
Habana throws a head kick that misses
and Shang counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Habana is lucky that one didn't land flush.
An inside leg kick from Shang misses.
Habana lands with a slapping head kick.
Shang's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Shang throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Shang tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Habana was well out of range. Poor timing from Shang.
Habana lands a jab to the nose.
Shang tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Habana was well out of range. Poor timing from Shang.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hai Shang showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Shang avoids the body shot from Habana.
Habana lands a nice leg kick that just misses Shang's sensitive parts.
A bone on bone clash there as Shang blocks the leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Habana. Shang does a little dance to reset his feet.
Habana scores with a kick to the body.
Shang tries a head kick but it misses.
Habana connects with a leg kick. Shang looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Shang scores with the left hand. Habana knows he should have avoided that one.

Habana forces Shang back against the cage and clinches.
A short uppercut from Habana.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Habana misses with an elbow strike.
Shang misses with an elbow over the top.
Shang avoids the elbow strike from Habana, against the cage.
Habana blocking some punches.
Habana is pushing Shang up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Shang throws a punch but it's blocked by Habana.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Habana lands an elbow that stopped Shang in his tracks for a moment.
Shang blocks an elbow strike from Habana.
Shang connects with a nasty looking knee right to Habana's face.
Shang misses with an elbow over the top.
Shang tries to break the clinch but Habana is controlling the position.
Habana avoids a wild elbow strike from Shang.
Habana tries to throw a body punch but Shang avoids it by throwing Habana back against the cage.
Shang tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Habana avoids it.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shang obliges.
Shang throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Shang comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Shang is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Habana is defending well for now.

Shang manages to break the clinch.
Shang connects with a body shot that sends Habana's belly button to the back.
Habana scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A nice leg kick lands there from Shang.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Habana tries to clinch there but Shang circles away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shang tries to clinch up but Habana circles away and keeps his distance.
Habana misses with a body kick.
Shang turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Shang moves out of range of the body kick.
Shang slips under a jab from Habana.
Shang lands a jab to Habana's midsection.
A nice leg kick lands there from Habana.
Habana misses with a leg kick.
Shang tries to score with a low kick but Habana moves his leg out of the way.
Shang on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Habana. Habana obviously looking to wear him down.
Shang lands a nice looking body shot.

Shang moves into the clinch successfully.
Shang will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Habana up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shang pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Habana takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Habana slips a jab from Shang.
Habana chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Habana looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Habana checks a low kick from Shang.
Shang dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Habana. That did some damage!
Shang misses with a looping right.
Shang throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Habana cracks the inside of Shang's front leg.
Shang thows a leg kick but Habana checks it
and Habana counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Shang is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Shang throws out a leg kick but Habana moves out of range and Shang only half commits.
Shang tries to work over Habana's front leg with a kick but Habana checks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shang ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Habana moves away.
Habana is looking to counter with head kicks.
Shang looks for the body kick but Habana saw that one coming.
Shang takes a swing at Habana's ribcage but misses.
Shang fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Habana manages to avoid it.
Shang tries a low kick but Habana avoids it.
Habana explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Habana fakes the leg kick and cracks Shang in the body.
Shang takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Habana throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Shang takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A swing and a miss from Habana.
Nice sprawl there from Habana as Shang shoots in.
Habana buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Shang tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Habana was well out of range. Poor timing from Shang.
Habana blocks the body kick.

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 Bryan Habana.
I think Habana 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!