PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between TJ Garbrandt (ranked 4005 p4p, 203 weight class) and Xherdan Shaqiri (ranked 8498 p4p, 389 weight class). Garbrandt comes to the cage accompanied by Queen - We Will Rock You. TJ Garbrandt could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Xherdan Shaqiri's chin.

Garbrandt
vs
Shaqiri

172 cm
25
135 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

170 cm
24
130 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, TJ Garbrandt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Xherdan Shaqiri!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shaqiri scores with a one two! Garbrandt had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Garbrandt misses with a left hand
and Shaqiri counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Shaqiri with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Garbrandt misses with a jab, cross combination.
Shaqiri throws a solid leg kick but Garbrandt takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Shaqiri.

Shaqiri drives through with a takedown into guard.
Garbrandt on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Garbrandt tries to get out of the position.
Shaqiri wants to control from the top but Garbrandt keeps moving.
Garbrandt keeping full guard, as Shaqiri tries to pass.
Garbrandt keeping moving, preventing Shaqiri from controlling successfully.

Garbrandt is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Garbrandt working for a triangle but Shaqiri defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garbrandt controls Shaqiri momentarily but Shaqiri frees himself.
Shaqiri is looking to work some ground and pound but Garbrandt has wrist control.
Shaqiri wants to stand but Garbrandt is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Garbrandt has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Holding Cell in the buildup to the fight.
Garbrandt checks a leg kick nicely.

Shaqiri scores with a takedown into Garbrandt's guard.

Garbrandt working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Shaqiri doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Shaqiri manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaqiri pushing down on Garbrandt's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Garbrandt wants to improve his position but Shaqiri is controlling well.
Shaqiri looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Shaqiri is trying to control the action in half guard but Garbrandt is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Shaqiri stalling.
Garbrandt trying to hold on to Shaqiri's head to control him but Shaqiri postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garbrandt is concentrating on defense, preventing Shaqiri from advancing position.
Garbrandt trying to control here.

Garbrandt is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Shaqiri pulls his head out easily.
Shaqiri not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Shaqiri is thwarting Garbrandt's attempts to control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Shaqiri is keen to just control but Garbrandt is a slippery customer.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garbrandt looking to control.

Garbrandt is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Shaqiri is aware though and is defending well.
Shaqiri trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Garbrandt is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Shaqiri is aware though and is defending well.
Shaqiri trying to control the position from guard on top but Garbrandt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shaqiri throwing strikes but missing.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Garbrandt keeping moving, preventing Shaqiri from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shaqiri looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xherdan Shaqiri dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shaqiri throws a wild body kick that Garbrandt sees coming a mile off.
Garbrandt lands with a shot to the body.

Shaqiri scores with a takedown into Garbrandt's guard.

Garbrandt looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Shaqiri passes into half guard.
Garbrandt is looking for a sweep. Shaqiri is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garbrandt has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shaqiri is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaqiri prevents Garbrandt from improving his position.
Garbrandt trying to control from the bottom.

Garbrandt is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Shaqiri pulls his head out easily.

Garbrandt is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Shaqiri pulls his head out easily.
Shaqiri not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Garbrandt is refusing to be controlled, as Shaqiri sits in half guard.
Garbrandt wants to improve his position but Shaqiri is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Garbrandt wants to get back to full guard but Shaqiri has mounted him!
Shaqiri is trying to control here but Garbrandt has managed to regain half guard.
Shaqiri wants to take a breather but Garbrandt is having none of it.

Shaqiri decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Shaqiri tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Garbrandt paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shaqiri moves to clinch but Garbrandt breaks away
and Garbrandt counters with a nice body shot.
Shaqiri tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Garbrandt manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Garbrandt lands a body shot.
Garbrandt lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shaqiri circles away quickly and effectively.
Shaqiri tries to counter by closing the distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garbrandt throws a looping overhand right but Shaqiri ducks down to avoid it.
Garbrandt lands with a straight right. Shaqiri didn't see that one coming.
Shaqiri tries to clinch there but Garbrandt circles away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Shaqiri.
Shaqiri tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Xherdan Shaqiri has got the better of the ground game so far.
Garbrandt trying to remain calm as Shaqiri controls from the top position.
Garbrandt is looking to regain half guard here but Shaqiri keeps moving and retains side control.
Shaqiri laying and praying for a moment but Garbrandt takes advantage and regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garbrandt gets back to full guard.
Shaqiri trying to control the position from guard on top but Garbrandt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Garbrandt seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Xherdan Shaqiri will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Garbrandt scores with a sloppy right hand. Shaqiri should have avoided that one.
Shaqiri will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Garbrandt swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Garbrandt is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Shaqiri.
Shaqiri swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Garbrandt counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Shaqiri goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Shaqiri drives through with a takedown into Garbrandt's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Shaqiri throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shaqiri wants to get up but he can't break Garbrandt's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Garbrandt looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Garbrandt throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garbrandt working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shaqiri.

Garbrandt is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Garbrandt is pulling down on Shaqiri's head. It's preventing any offense from Shaqiri, at least for the moment.

Garbrandt escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Shaqiri gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Garbrandt throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Shaqiri connects with a body shot that sends Garbrandt's belly button to the back.

Shaqiri gets a takedown into half guard.
Shaqiri has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Shaqiri not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Garbrandt is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Shaqiri missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaqiri prevents Garbrandt from improving his position.
Garbrandt wants to control but Shaqiri is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Garbrandt is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Shaqiri pulls his head out easily.
Shaqiri not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shaqiri throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Garbrandt works his way to full guard. Good work.
Shaqiri trying to control the position from guard on top but Garbrandt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Garbrandt is trying to control the position but Shaqiri postures up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Garbrandt keeping full guard, as Shaqiri tries to pass.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Xherdan Shaqiri is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Shaqiri has Garbrandt up against the cage in a clinch.

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

Shaqiri looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Garbrandt!
Garbrandt wants to control but Shaqiri postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Shaqiri decides to stand back up. Shaqiri steps back and let's Garbrandt get back to his feet.
Shaqiri misses with a combination
and Garbrandt cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xherdan Shaqiri comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shaqiri winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xherdan Shaqiri!