PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tyron James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aldo Shupe (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.

James
vs
Shupe

187 cm
23
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tyron James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Aldo Shupe!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Paul Gruel and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shupe keeps the fight on the outside.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Shupe.
Shupe in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
James can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Shupe is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but James is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on James's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James regains half guard there - taking advantage of Shupe's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Shupe not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shupe is looking to stall here but James recovers full guard.
Shupe trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
James 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.
James has control of Shupe's left arm, preventing Shupe from doing any damage.
Shupe trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shupe with a nice head shot there.
Shupe trying to control but James is working from the bottom.

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.

James has his foot on Shupe's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Shupe works his way back into a safe position though.
Shupe connects with a couple of short punches.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now James is on top in guard.

James wants to control from the top but Shupe keeps moving.

Shupe has an active guard here but James has managed to pass into half guard.

Shupe is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but James pulls his head out easily.
Shupe wants to control but James passes into side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Shupe knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Shupe is looking to reverse the position.
Shupe keeps trying to improve his position.
James working the ground and pound.
Shupe tries to improve position but can't.
Shupe really doesn't want to stay on the ground with James. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

James is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Shupe knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shupe is looking for a sweep.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Shupe can do anything to dispel that myth.

James tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no James has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
James is breathing heavily.
Shupe wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shupe is looking for a sweep.
Shupe tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyron James 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.

James just misses with a punch to the body.
James moves to clinch but Shupe breaks away

and Shupe counters with a shoot takedown. James fights it but they end up in guard.

James has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Shupe has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
James trying to land knees to the body.
James is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shupe can do to turn this around?
James tries to land knees in the clinch but Shupe avoids the damage to the body.
Shupe keeps control of James as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Shupe lands a right hand that snaps the head of James backwards.

Shupe is trying to trip James. He has hold of a leg but James is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Shupe persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

James has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Shupe off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
James misses with a left hand
and Shupe counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Shupe moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Tyron James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shupe lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but James circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shupe pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces James back to the cage. Shupe follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
James tries to clinch but Shupe moves away
and Shupe counters with a left and a right that stings James.
Shupe throws a head kick that half lands.
James throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Shupe's waist but Shupe gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing James off to one side.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Shupe moves into the clinch.

Shupe breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
James tries to clinch but Shupe moves out of range.
James is looking to clinch but Shupe is avoiding it.
James wants to clinch
and James takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
James fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shupe closes the distance and pushes James back into the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Shupe jumps into guard, dragging James to the mat.
James advances to half guard.

Shupe is defending against the submission attempts here by James.

Shupe looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Shupe controlling the position for now.
James seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shupe looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

James postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Shupe to stand up.

Shupe pushes James up against the cage in a clinch.

Shupe gets control of James's arms and successfully pulls guard. Shupe will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells James's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Shupe doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
James landing some decent shots from guard.
Shupe with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing James can't handle though.
James trying to control but Shupe is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shupe is looking for a triangle here but James uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

James decides to stand back up. James steps back and let's Shupe get back to his feet.
Shupe goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
James wants to clinch.
James tries for a takedown but Shupe circles away easily
and Shupe counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aldo Shupe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Shupe closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming James to the mat! James manages to get full guard.

James manages to escape and get back to his feet.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Shupe.
As James backs off Shupe throws a huge counter combo but James manages to avoid it all.
James tries to clinch but Shupe is having none of it.
James swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Shupe counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
James closes the distance looking to clinch
and Shupe counters with a two punch combo.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Shupe avoids the head kick by James.
A shot to the liver by James. Beautiful body shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shupe lands with a short head shot on the inside.
James goes for a takedown in the clinch but Shupe prevents it.

James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Shupe throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. James tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Shupe is in James's guard.

James pushes Shupe off and gets back to his feet.
James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
James slips a jab and a cross from Shupe.
James fires out a quick counter leg kick but Shupe just manages to avoid it.
Tyron James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice sprawl there from Shupe as James shoots in.
Shupe throws a counter combo.
Shupe pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Shupe takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Shupe manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Shupe keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.

Shupe throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! James escapes and throws Shupe's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Shupe struggling a bit here.
Shupe is trying to get back to half guard.
Shupe can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shupe is trying to get back to half guard.
James wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shupe keeps working.
Shupe struggling a bit here.
James wants to control but Shupe is keeping him busy.

James has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Aldo Shupe seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Shupe fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with James, pushing him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Shupe throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Jamess head.

Shupe pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Shupe clinches with his opponent.

Shupe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shupe keeps the fight on the outside.
Despite the aggression on Shupe's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

James clinches up with Shupe and pushes him back against the cage.
Shupe lands with a left to the head.
James is pressed up against the cage. Shupe has hold of a leg and is looking to drag James down to the mat. James avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

James fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Shupe to the ground. James is now in Shupe's guard.

Shupe has an active guard here but James has managed to pass into half guard.
James seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Aldo Shupe.
I think Shupe has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aldo Shupe!