PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sparky Anderson (ranked 418 p4p, 53 weight class) and Harold Shipman (ranked 1377 p4p, 175 weight class). Shipman has chosen Amazing as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Anderson
vs
Shipman

183 cm
36
162 lbs
35 - 22 - 1

165 cm
29
152 lbs
12 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing
Urban Fighter

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 35 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Sparky Anderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Harold Shipman!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, William Peck and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shipman scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Shipman tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Shipman has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Anderson is looking to regain half guard here but Shipman keeps moving and retains side control.
Anderson defending against the ground and pound.

Shipman working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Anderson is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Shipman is controlling him well.
Anderson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anderson pushes Shipman away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Shipman gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Anderson wants to control but Shipman postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shipman lands some shots froms side control.
Anderson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Shipman has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The ground and pound from Shipman seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Shipman tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Shipman looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Anderson is avoiding damage well.
Shipman misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Shipman works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Shipman throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Anderson can't do much from the bottom here.
Shipman looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Anderson is avoiding damage well.
Shipman postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Shipman has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Anderson is trying to get back to half guard.
Anderson takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Anderson can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson parries the strikes from Shipman easily there. Shipman is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Anderson to escape.

Shipman goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Anderson rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Shipman's guard! Nice work there by Anderson!
Shipman keeping moving, preventing Anderson from controlling successfully.
Shipman wants to sweep but no luck.

Shipman has his foot on Anderson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Anderson works his way back into a safe position though.
Shipman looking for a sweep. Not yet Shipman, not yet.
Anderson postures up.

Shipman wriggles free and stands up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Shipman fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Anderson to the ground. Shipman is now in Anderson's guard.
Anderson trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shipman stops Anderson from standing up.
Shipman working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Anderson's head.
Shipman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Shipman content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Shipman working some strikes from top position.
Shipman won't allow Anderson to get back to his feet.
Shipman cracks Anderson with a solid left hand.
Shipman with a nice head shot there.

Anderson is rocked!
Anderson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Shipman is controlling him.
Anderson wants to sweep but no luck.
Anderson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Anderson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson is trying to keep Shipman in close.
Shipman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Shipman postures up in Anderson's guard and throws a big left but Anderson blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shipman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shipman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shipman prevents Anderson from getting back to his feet.
Shipman throws a strike but Anderson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Anderson postures up.

Shipman looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Anderson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Anderson throws the left hand but Shipman avoids the punch easily.
Anderson throws a leg kick but Shipman checks it.
Shipman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Anderson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Anderson looks to score with a jab to the body but Shipman is just out of range.
Shipman steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Anderson.
Anderson stuffs the takedown.
Anderson throws a hook but Shipman avoids it easily.
Shipman tries to clinch but Anderson moves out of range.
Shipman fails with the takedown
and Anderson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shipman lands with a cross.
Shipman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shipman with a poor takedown
and Anderson counters with a straight right hand.
Sparky Anderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harold Shipman.
Shipman shoots in for a takedown but Anderson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Shipman has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shipman lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Anderson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Shipman's corner calls for a 1-2. Shipman obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Anderson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Anderson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Shipman!

Shipman bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shipman lands with an overhand left.
Anderson throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Shipman shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Anderson's guard.
Shipman throwing strikes from guard but Anderson blocks nicely.
Shipman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shipman has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shipman postures up in Anderson's guard and throws a big left but Anderson blocks it.
Anderson trying to keep a closed guard but Shipman is proving a slippery customer.
Shipman throwing strikes but missing.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Anderson holds on and takes a little breather.
Shipman working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Anderson's head.
Shipman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Anderson has control of Shipman's left arm, preventing Shipman from doing any damage.
Shipman landing some decent shots from guard.
Shipman passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Shipman misses with a head shot. Anderson uses the momentum to regain guard.
Shipman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Anderson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Shipman is looking to work some ground and pound but Anderson has wrist control.
Anderson controlling Shipman's posture.
Shipman with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Anderson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Shipman trying to control but Anderson postures up.
Harold Shipman has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson trying to control from half guard but Shipman is working away.
Shipman is pressing down on Anderson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Anderson postures up.

Shipman is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Anderson is aware though and is defending well.

Shipman had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Anderson defends it easily.
Shipman looking for a sweep. Not yet Shipman, not yet.
Anderson advances to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Harold Shipman will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Anderson gets tackled into the cage by Shipman. Shipman maintains the clinch.
Shipman has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Anderson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Anderson displaying some good clinch control by pressing Shipman up against the cage.
Anderson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Shipman.
Shipman has Anderson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Anderson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sparky Anderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harold Shipman.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Anderson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shipman prevents Anderson from breaking the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Anderson breaks the clinch.
Anderson is looking to score with low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shipman tries to clinch
and Anderson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Shipman takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

Shipman closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Shipman tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Shipman working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Shipman takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shipman looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Anderson is avoiding damage well.
Shipman grinds an elbow into Anderson's temple.
Anderson is looking to reverse the position.
Shipman creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Anderson sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
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Sparky Anderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Anderson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Shipman scoring with punches from side control.
Oh Anderson is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
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!
Anderson takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Anderson struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shipman works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Shipman lands a strong strike to the head of Anderson. That's dazed him! Shipman looking to finish here. Anderson is waving his arms around trying to block but he's hurt badly - Shipman lands more strikes and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Harold Shipman!
During a confident post fight interview, Harold Shipman thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.