PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Potter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kane Shaam (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.

Potter
vs
Shaam

194 cm
23
190 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

189 cm
25
200 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Potter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kane Shaam!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Tiny Johnson and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Potter will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Potter shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Shaam pinned against the cage. Shaam gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Shaam enables Potter to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Shaam manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Shaam is trying to keep Potter in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Potter looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Potter trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Shaam is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Potter is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potter is looking to advance position but Shaam has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Potter manages to control the position for a moment.
Shaam avoids the attempt from Potter to control.
Potter is squirming around, avoiding Shaam's attempts to control the action.
Shaam lands a couple of good shots and Potter has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Potter tries to roll but Shaam sticks to his back.
Shaam doesn't have the hooks in and Potter manages to turn into his guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shaam is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Potter has his feet on Shaam's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A nice leg kick lands there from Shaam.
Shaam tries a low kick but Potter avoids it.
Potter attempts a counter takedown but Shaam avoids it well and moves away.
Potter looks for a takedown but Shaam sprawls well.
Potter takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Potter moves out of range of the body kick.
Potter drops down looking for a counter takedown but Shaam sprawls and moves away.

Potter is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Shaam's half guard.

Shaam is defending against the submission attempts here by Potter.
Shaam holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaam avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Potter.
Shaam is trying to control but can't.
Potter is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Shaam reverses the position - he's now on top in Potter's guard.
Shaam throws a big right hand that misses.
Potter has control of Shaam's left arm, preventing Shaam from doing any damage.
Potter keeping moving, preventing Shaam from controlling successfully.
Potter wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Potter looking for a sweep. Not yet Potter, not yet.
Shaam with a flurry of punches that miss.
Shaam trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Potter trying to control the position.
Shaam forces his way into half guard.
Shaam thows a huge punch but Potter dodges it nicely.
Potter trying to hold on to Shaam's head to control him but Shaam postures up.
Potter keeps control of the position for the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kane Shaam will probably get the nod.
That's time! Potter's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Potter fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Shaam avoids it really well and circles away.
Potter lands a glancing blow to the side of Shaam's head.
Potter closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Shaam fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Potter has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Shaam lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Potter misses with a telegraphed body shot
enabling Shaam to counter with a crisp jab.
Shaam lands a high kick!
Shaam is looking to score with low kicks.
Potter tries to counter with a takedown but Shaam is quick to defend against it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Potter fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shaam is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Shaam swats away the attempt to clinch by Potter.
Potter lands a slapping body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potter 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.
Potter misses with a low kick.
Potter throws a leg kick that is checked
and Shaam counters with a leg kick.
Potter looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A low kick from Shaam misses

and Potter counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Potter.
Shaam is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Potter trying to control but Shaam is working from the bottom.
Shaam trying to control the position here.
We've been hearing good reports from Potter's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Potter in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Potter passes Shaam's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potter controlling the action here.
Potter lands strikes from half guard.
Potter is looking to pass Shaam's guard but actually Shaam recovers to full guard.
Potter trying to control the position from guard on top but Shaam is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shaam trying to control the position.
Potter looking to pass the guard.
Potter working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Shaam's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaam keeping moving, preventing Potter from controlling successfully.
Potter is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Potter passes Shaam's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Shaam trying to control here.
Potter prevents Shaam from improving his position.

Shaam is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Potter pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Potter tries to pass the half guard into mount. Shaam knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Potter is looking to take a break and control but Shaam is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Potter trying to mount his opponent but Shaam defends it.
Shaam trying to control but Potter postures up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Shaam gets caught flat footed, as Potter shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shaam looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Potter dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Potter drives through with a takedown into Shaam's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Shaam looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Potter postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Potter in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Shaam pushes a forearm under Potter's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Potter is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kane Shaam!
An out of breath Kane Shaam thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.