PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Larry Shaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bible Basher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shaw
vs
Basher

180 cm
22
171 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
21
169 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Larry Shaw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Bible Basher!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Ackerman and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Basher tries for a takedown but Shaw sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Shaw has his takedown stuffed

and Basher counters with a nice double leg into side control. Shaw won't be happy with that.
Shaw is looking to regain half guard here but Basher keeps moving and retains side control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Basher is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Shaw has escaped the position, nice work there.
Shaw striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Shaw manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Shaw flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Shaw is staying active underneath Basher, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Shaw wants to sweep but Basher has passed to side control!
Shaw is looking for a sweep.
Shaw might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Basher trying to control the position but Shaw is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Basher wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Shaw, who protects the arm well.
Shaw can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw is trying to get back to half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Basher feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Shaw not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Shaw throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Basher trying to control the position from guard on top but Shaw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shaw is on top in guard.
Shaw postures up.
Basher looks gassed!

Basher looking for a guillotine here but Shaw defends easily.
Shaw chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaw content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Shaw lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Shaw connects with a couple of short punches.
Shaw connects with a couple of short punches.
Shaw has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Basher throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Shaw slips nicely into half guard.
Shaw sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Basher on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Shaw looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Basher can do anything to dispel that myth.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Shaw connects with a nice short shot to Basher's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaw lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Basher on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Shaw lands a nice short elbow.

Shaw is looking for a kimura here.
Basher wants to control but Shaw is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shaw lands with a punch from half guard.
Shaw lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Shaw is tying to control. Basher wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Shaw working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Shaw landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Shaw is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Basher is refusing to be controlled, as Shaw sits in half guard.
Basher wants to control but Shaw is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Shaw working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Shaw.
Basher manages to work his way to half guard, despite Shaw's best efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Basher misses with a takedown

and Shaw counters with a nice double leg into side control. Basher won't be happy with that.
Shaw lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Basher down.
Basher is looking for a sweep.
Basher is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Shaw in side control lands a decent elbow.
Shaw controlling the position from side mount.
Basher tries to bench press Shaw off him but Shaw keeps the position.
Shaw lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Basher tries to buck Shaw off but Shaw is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Basher on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Basher regains half guard.
Basher on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Basher trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Shaw drops an elbow to the side of Basher's head.
Basher slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Shaw gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Basher shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Basher was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Basher trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Poor strikes thrown by Basher there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Shaw throwing hammer fists to the chest of Basher. What's that going to do exactly?
Basher blocks Shaw's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Shaw throwing hammer fists to the chest of Basher. What's that going to do exactly?
Shaw is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaw wants to try and get back to his feet.
Shaw is wriggling around trying to escape.
Basher wants to control the pace but Shaw is squirming around nicely.
Basher prevents Shaw from getting the reversal.
Shaw swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Shaw throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Shaw keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Shaw is squirming around, avoiding Basher's attempts to control the action.
Shaw is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Basher looking for a guillotine from mount but Shaw is having none of it.
Shaw flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Basher landing shots from mount.
Shaw regains half guard.
Basher trying to mount his opponent but Shaw defends it.
Shaw punching from the bottom.
Shaw striking from half guard on the bottom.
Shaw throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Basher manages to pass to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shaw regains half guard.
Shaw landing small, sideways elbows.
Basher wants to pass to mount but Shaw is defending the position.
Basher tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Shaw.
Shaw tries to get to full guard but Basher has control of the leg.
Shaw punching from the bottom.

Basher stands up out of the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry Shaw dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Basher shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Shaw counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Basher has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Shaw can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Basher looking for a sweep. Not yet Basher, not yet.
Shaw cracks Basher with a solid left hand.
Shaw is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Shaw lands a couple of digs.
Shaw preventing the sweep.
Shaw content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Shaw is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Shaw trying to control but Basher is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Basher has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Shaw can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Shaw wants to pass the guard but Basher is keeping the position.

Basher working for a triangle but Shaw defends it easily.
Shaw working some strikes from top position.

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.
Shaw keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Basher's head.
Shaw connects with a couple of short punches.
Shaw is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Shaw lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Shaw working some strikes from top position.
Basher avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Basher wants to sweep but no luck.
Shaw connects with a couple of short punches.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A punch combination from Basher misses.
Shaw fails with an attempt to clinch.

Shaw shoots in and bounces Basher off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Shaw is in close to Basher's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Basher looking for a sweep. Not yet Basher, not yet.
Basher is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Basher working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Shaw has passed into half guard!
Basher has hold of Shaw's hands but Shaw slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Shaw working over Basher with some ground and pound. Basher looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nice strikes from Shaw there.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Shaw connects with a nice short shot to Basher's temple.
Shaw looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Basher has one foot on Shaw's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Shaw drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Shaw lands a nice forearm strike.
Bible Basher has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Basher is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Shaw's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Shaw working over Basher with some ground and pound. Basher looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Basher makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Basher.
Shaw working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Basher's head.
Shaw is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Basher throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shaw accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shaw landing with the ground and pound.
Larry Shaw is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Basher doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Larry Shaw showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Shaw has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Larry Shaw!