PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thybault Paredes (ranked 4717 p4p, 415 weight class) and Joe Shahen (ranked 3870 p4p, 362 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Paredes
vs
Shahen

175 cm
19
162 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

168 cm
26
165 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Freebok (85% Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thybault Paredes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joe Shahen!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Roger Salmon and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paredes scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Shahen doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Paredes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Paredes fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Nice uppercut there from Paredes.
Paredes lands a jab to Shahen's midsection.
Paredes swings for the body but Shahen moves out of range.
Paredes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shahen manages to avoid it.
Shahen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Paredes scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Shahen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Paredes lands with a nice body punch.
Paredes has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
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!
Shahen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Paredes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Paredes changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paredes cracks Shahen with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Shahen tries to keep at a distance but Paredes has taken the fight into the clinch.
Paredes just leaning against Shahen, taking a breather.
Shahen is trying to break the clinch but Paredes is controlling him.

Shahen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Paredes connects with a crisp jab.
Paredes throws out a powerful jab.
Shahen tries to move into range but Paredes moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Shahen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The crowd cheers as Paredes lands an impressive looking overhand right. Shahen doesn't seem phased though.
Paredes clobbers Shahen with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Shahen walks into a stiff left hand from Paredes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Paredes closes the distance and clinches.
Paredes stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
The referee calls for Paredes to work.
Shahen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Shahen is looking to break free of the clinch but Paredes has double underhooks.
Shahen is trying to break free.
Paredes keeps control of Shahen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Shahen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Paredes.
Shahen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Paredes tries to throw a body punch but Shahen avoids it by throwing Paredes back against the cage.
Paredes softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Shahen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Paredes lands a left hand that snaps the head of Shahen backwards.
Shahen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Shahen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Paredes lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paredes scores with a shot to the side of Shahen's head.
Shahen has Paredes pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Paredes manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Good body shot from Paredes.
Paredes has Shahen pressed against the cage, preventing Shahen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Paredes lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Shahen manages to break the clinch.
Paredes throws a body punch but Shahen moves out of range.
Paredes scores with a punch to the head.
Paredes connects with a single shot there.
Thybault Paredes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Paredes connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Paredes jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Jab, jab by Paredes - just one landing.
Paredes fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
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!
Paredes lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paredes scores with a body shot.
Paredes's jab looks to have found its range, popping Shahen under the eye.
Paredes with a nice cross.
Shahen misses with the body kick
and Paredes counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shahen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Paredes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Shahen is rocked!
Shahen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Shahen is still on wobbly legs! Can Paredes finish him?
Paredes is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Paredes scores with a shot to the body.
Shahen misses with a combination
and Paredes makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Shahen seems to have recovered his senses.
Shahen looks winded!
Paredes scores with a hook.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Paredes scores with a jab to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thybault Paredes dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Paredes paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Paredes lands with a cross.
Paredes connects with the punch.
Paredes fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Paredes tests Shahen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Shahen doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Shahen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shahen swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Shahen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Shahen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Paredes scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Shahen has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Paredes lands a lovely overhand right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shahen misses with an uppercut. Paredes saw that one coming.
Paredes's jab looks to have found its range, popping Shahen under the eye.
Shahen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Paredes connects with a body shot that sends Shahen's belly button to the back.
Paredes lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Shahen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Paredes circles away quickly and effectively.
Paredes connects with a good right hand that stumbles Shahen. Shahen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Shahen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Paredes cracks Shahen with an open hand slap.
Thybault Paredes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paredes lands a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Paredes clobbers Shahen with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shahen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
It seemed like Shahen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Paredes throws a shot to the body.
Paredes fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Paredes lands a nice shot that snaps Shahen's head back.
Paredes cracks a nice hook into Shahen's ribs.
Shahen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Paredes rushes Shahen and presses him up against the cage.
Shahen is looking to break free of the clinch but Paredes has double underhooks.
Paredes lands a left hand.
Paredes is stalling here.
Shahen is trying to break free.
Come on Paredes - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shahen takes a shot to the head.
Paredes lands a left hand.
Shahen takes a shot to the head.

Shahen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Paredes has Shahen up against the cage in a clinch.
Paredes scores with a nice hook to the head.
Paredes lands a nice shot to the body.

Shahen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Paredes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shahen can do to turn this around?
Shahen tries to move into range but Paredes moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Shahen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Shahen is breathing heavily.
Shahen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Good shot there by Paredes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Paredes connects with a body shot that sends Shahen's belly button to the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paredes scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Paredes lands with a cross.
Paredes lands a right hook to the body.
Paredes throws a nice looking combination but Shahen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Shahen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Paredes finds it's way round the side to connect with Shahen's head.
Paredes scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Paredes lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Shahen at a distance.
Paredes connects with a right hand. Shahen shakes it off.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Paredes moves into the clinch.
Paredes lands a hook to the side of the head.

Shahen breaks the clinch.
Paredes throws a good cross that connects.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thybault Paredes dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Paredes digs a good body shot into Shahen's ribs.
Paredes takes a swing at Shahen's ribcage but misses.
Paredes uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Paredes fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Shahen on the side of the head.
Paredes connects with a body shot.
Nice straight punches there by Paredes. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Paredes.
Shahen gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Paredes cracks a nice hook into Shahen's ribs.
Paredes lands with a good body shot.

Paredes clinches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice left hand lands by Paredes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shahen is trying to force a seperation but Paredes has the dominant position.
A short left from Paredes.

Shahen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Paredes connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Shahen misses with a kick to the body
and Paredes counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Shahen thinking.
Paredes listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheers as Paredes lands an impressive looking overhand right. Shahen doesn't seem phased though.
Nice straight punches there by Paredes. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Paredes.

Paredes moves into the clinch.
Shahen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The referee calls for Paredes to work.
Paredes lands a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paredes scores with a shot to the side of Shahen's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shahen is trying to force a seperation but Paredes has the dominant position.
Shahen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Paredes has him pressed against the cage.
Paredes presses Shahen against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Paredes lands a nice uppercut.
Shahen is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Paredes is defending well.
Shahen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Paredes throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Shahens head.
Paredes pushes Shahen against the cage. Paredes is working some dirty boxing. Paredes pushes off with a quick right hook! Shahen goes down! Shahen tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! Paredes moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Thybault Paredes!
A relieved looking Thybault Paredes thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.