PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cristen Shaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benjamin Baller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Shaw
vs
Baller

210 cm
26
300 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

150 cm
25
300 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Cristen Shaw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Benjamin Baller!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Frank Dennis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shaw closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Shaw tries to move to mount but Baller blocks the move with his legs.
You can see the frustration on Baller's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Baller manages to get back to half guard.
Baller wants to get back to full guard.
Baller keeps trying to improve his position.
Baller is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Baller can do anything to dispel that myth.
Baller works his way to full guard. Good work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Baller is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Shaw is aware though and is defending well.
Baller is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Baller lands a nice short elbow.
Baller is trying to control. Shaw wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baller not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Baller wants to take a breather but Shaw is having none of it.

Shaw looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Baller trying to control from half guard but Shaw is working away.
Baller passes to side control.
Baller looks up at the clock and then as Shaw takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Baller smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Shaw tries to bench press Baller off him but Baller keeps the position.
Baller trying to control the action but Shaw is working from the bottom.
Baller moves into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baller can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Shaw is looking to escape.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Baller working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Shaw sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Shaw is breathing heavily.
Baller is trying to control. Shaw wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Baller drops an elbow to the side of Shaw's head.
Shaw makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Shaw.
Baller pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shaw is keeping the position for now.
Shaw working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baller landing some decent shots from guard.
Baller stands and throws Shaw's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Baller works to advance to full mount. Shaw defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Baller cracks Shaw with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Baller landing strikes from the mount.
Baller tries to control but Shaw wriggling away.
Baller controlling his opponent.
Baller landing strikes from the mount and Shaw is in trouble!
Shaw is squirming around, avoiding Baller's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've been informed that Baller has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Baller controlling from mount.
Baller dominating with strikes here.
Baller is landing with some decent strikes but Shaw is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Baller wants to control the pace but Shaw is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baller working Shaw over with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benjamin Baller dominated that round.
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.

Baller shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Shaw's guard.
Shaw not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Shaw keeping moving, preventing Baller from controlling successfully.
Benjamin Baller has got the better of the ground game so far.
Baller is working Shaw over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Shaw is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Baller is controlling him.
Baller has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Baller content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Baller scoring with punches to the head and body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shaw keeping moving, preventing Baller from controlling successfully.
Baller must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Baller trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baller lands a couple of elbows.
Shaw is trying to control the position but Baller postures up.
Baller passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Baller trying to control the position but Shaw is working away.
Baller taking a breather here.
Baller working the ground and pound.
Shaw is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Baller wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shaw keeps working.
Shaw on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Baller tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baller wants to control but Shaw is keeping him busy.
Baller advances to mount.
Baller breaks from Shaw's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Baller lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Baller looking to control and managing it successfully.
Baller landing strikes from the mount and Shaw is in trouble!
Baller pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Baller trying to control but Shaw is having none of it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baller connects with a bit shot that sees Shaw covering up! More strikes from Baller and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Baller is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Benjamin Baller!