PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andrij Bakajovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cristen Shaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bakajovic
vs
Shaw

185 cm
25
292 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

210 cm
26
300 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Good knees
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andrij Bakajovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Cristen Shaw!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Gwen Towbar and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bakajovic with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Shaw to counter with a crisp jab.
Nice takedown defense from Shaw. No joy for Bakajovic on that attempt.
Shaw throws a counter combo.
No joy there for Shaw, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bakajovic tries to clinch but Shaw moves out of range.

Bakajovic clinches with his opponent.
Bakajovic missing with knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shaw prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrij Bakajovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bakajovic lands a knee to the body.
Shaw is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw is trying to break the clinch but Bakajovic is controlling him.
The referee calls for Bakajovic to work.
Bakajovic looking for a takedown.
Shaw is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Bakajovic is trying to drag Shaw to the mat but Shaw just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Shaw pulls Bakajovic into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakajovic wants to control from the top but Shaw keeps moving.
Bakajovic stands up over Shaw, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Shaw thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Bakajovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Shaw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bakajovic avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Shaw is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Shaw working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bakajovic doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bakajovic manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Shaw looks winded!
Bakajovic working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Shaw's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakajovic with a nice head shot there.

Shaw looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Shaw being controlled here, momentarily.
Bakajovic's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Bakajovic scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Bakajovic has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bakajovic keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Shaw's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Shaw looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bakajovic is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Bakajovic works over Shaw with some ground and pound from guard.
Bakajovic controlling from the top position.
Further stalling from Bakajovic.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bakajovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Shaw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bakajovic working some strikes from top position.
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 Andrij Bakajovic will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bakajovic has closed the distance and engaged Shaw in a clinch.
Bakajovic is looking for a takedown.
The referee is keeping an eye on Bakajovic - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Bakajovic using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Shaw wants to get back to striking at distance but Bakajovic won't allow it.

Shaw breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Shaw tries to keep at a distance but Bakajovic has taken the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bakajovic tries a knee to the head but Shaw blocks it.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakajovic is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Bakajovic is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Shaw is defending well.
Bakajovic tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bakajovic utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Shaw is breathing heavily.
Bakajovic throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Shaw blocks it with crossed arms.
Bakajovic tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Shaw takes a knee to the side of the body.
Bakajovic looking to throw knees to the head but Shaw is blocking nicely.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Bakajovic takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakajovic trying to land knees to the body.
Bakajovic with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Bakajovic scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Cristen Shaw has been cut.
Bakajovic is trying to drag Shaw to the mat but Shaw just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrij Bakajovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bakajovic will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Shaw up against the cage.

Bakajovic lands a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakajovic seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Bakajovic trying to control but Shaw is working from the bottom.
Bakajovic knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shaw on the ground.
Bakajovic is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Bakajovic working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Shaw's head.

Bakajovic got a little sloppy there for a moment and Shaw has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bakajovic has managed to get both his arms back between Shaw's legs - danger averted.

Shaw is looking for a triangle but Bakajovic pushes his legs off easily.
Shaw can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bakajovic controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bakajovic lands a couple of elbows.
Bakajovic's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Bakajovic postures up and lands a big shot to Shaw's brow.
Bakajovic slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Bakajovic avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bakajovic controls from within his opponent's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Bakajovic has closed the distance and engaged Shaw in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrij Bakajovic dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Cristen Shaw's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Bakajovic tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shaw paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shaw looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Shaw looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bakajovic shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bakajovic throws a head kick but Shaw moves out of range.
Bakajovic is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
As Bakajovic backs off Shaw throws a huge counter combo but Bakajovic manages to avoid it all.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bakajovic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shaw swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shaw unleashes a big counter combination but Bakajovic bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Bakajovic shoots in for a takedown but Shaw shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrij Bakajovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bakajovic ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shaw moves away.
Bakajovic moves in looking to clinch but Shaw pushes him off.

Bakajovic moves into range and clinches up with Shaw.
Shaw wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bakajovic has him pressed against the cage.
Shaw is trying to break the clinch but Bakajovic is controlling him.
Andrij Bakajovic has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Shaw escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shaw keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bakajovic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shaw lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Bakajovic changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Shaw looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Shaw bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
A looping hook to the body misses from Bakajovic. Shaw does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cristen Shaw has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaw defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bakajovic.
Shaw is looking for the big counter here.
Andrij Bakajovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bakajovic tries to clinch up.
As Bakajovic backs off Shaw throws a huge counter combo but Bakajovic manages to avoid it all.
Bakajovic finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Shaw is looking for the big counter here.
Shaw avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shaw throws a counter combo.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Shaw enables Bakajovic to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Shaw manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Bakajovic is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shaw can do to turn this around?

Shaw has his foot on Bakajovic's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bakajovic works his way back into a safe position though.
Bakajovic might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Shaw takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Shaw is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bakajovic wants to control from the top but Shaw keeps moving.
Bakajovic not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Shaw throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Bakajovic sitting in guard here, content to control.
Bakajovic has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Shaw is proving hard to escape from.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Shaw has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bakajovic can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bakajovic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shaw swivels and escapes.
Andrij Bakajovic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Bakajovic moves into the clinch successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cristen Shaw comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bakajovic 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrij Bakajovic!