PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Feihck Tiote (ranked 565 p4p, 69 weight class) and Soul Shadow (ranked 1321 p4p, 160 weight class). Shadow is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Shadow and Soul - Red. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Tiote
vs
Shadow

181 cm
22
164 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

180 cm
20
163 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Riner Clothing and Laundry (85%)

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Feihck Tiote!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Soul Shadow!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tiote defending well as Shadow loads up on a big left hand.

Tiote instigates a clinch.

Tiote jumps into guard, dragging Shadow to the mat.
Shadow stands and throws Tiote's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Tiote manages to work his way to half guard, despite Shadow's best efforts.
Shadow trying to control the action but Tiote is working from the bottom.
My spies in Sweat inform me that Shadow has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shadow is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tiote manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shadow looking to pass the guard.
Tiote wants to sweep here but Shadow controlling him for the moment.
Tiote seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Shadow's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Shadow stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tiote swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Shadow looking to sit in guard and control but Tiote gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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.
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.
Tiote controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Shadow escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tiote gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Shadow is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Shadow controlling the pace.
Shadow stalling away here and it's allowed Tiote to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shadow trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Shadow got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tiote has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Shadow has managed to get both his arms back between Tiote's legs - danger averted.
Shadow passes Tiote's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Tiote is controlling Shadow's trapped leg to prevent Shadow from advancing to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tiote tries to get to full guard but Shadow has control of the leg.

Shadow is looking for a kimura but Tiote is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Shadow to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tiote is controlling Shadow's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Shadow wants to take a breather but Tiote is having none of it.
Shadow wants to pass to mount but Tiote is defending the position.
Tiote is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tiote makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tiote.
Shadow stands and throws Tiote's legs to the side, diving into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Soul Shadow will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Tiote throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Shadow counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Tiote shoots in and drives through. Shadow sprawls well.
Shadow is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Tiote with a body shot.
Shadow misses with a head kick.
Tiote moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
An inside leg kick from Shadow misses.
Shadow has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tiote wants to clinch
and Shadow connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tiote fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shadow lands with a good body shot.
Shadow stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Feihck Tiote. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shadow throws a front kick that sends Tiote stumbling back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiote moves to clinch but Shadow breaks away
and Shadow counters with a thumping low kick.
Shadow throws a sloppy head kick and Tiote moves out of range easily.
Shadow dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tiote takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Soul Shadow is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shadow just misses with a punch to the body.
Shadow connects with a right hand. Tiote shakes it off.
Shadow fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Tiote is out of range.
Tiote tries for a takedown but Shadow circles away easily
and Shadow counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Tiote drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tiote throws a big right hand that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tiote wants to control from the top but Shadow keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tiote scoring with punches to the head and body.
Shadow tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tiote wants to control from the top but Shadow keeps moving.

Shadow has his foot on Tiote's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tiote works his way back into a safe position though.

Shadow had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tiote defends it easily.

Shadow throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shadow 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.
Shadow keeping moving, preventing Tiote from controlling successfully.

Shadow looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Tiote has picked Shadow up and slammed him! Shadow can't keep hold of the triangle and Tiote manages to pass to side control!
Tiote tries to advance position but instead Shadow slips a leg back in to half guard.
Tiote wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shadow keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Shadow gets full guard.
Feihck Tiote overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tiote trying to control but Shadow is working from the bottom.
Tiote looking to pass the guard.
Shadow keeping moving, preventing Tiote from controlling successfully.
Tiote slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shadow is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Soul Shadow showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Shadow closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tiote.
Shadow fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tiote's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tiote.
Shadow misses with a hook from the clinch.
Shadow swings wildly with an uppercut but Tiote uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tiote blocks an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shadow.
Come on Shadow - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Shadow throws a head punch that misses.
Shadow misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiote tries to pull guard but Shadow forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Shadow struggles to land a body shot inside as Tiote controls his hands.

Tiote successfully pulls guard.
Shadow wants to control from the top but Tiote keeps moving.
Shadow preventing the sweep.
Shadow trying to control the position from guard on top but Tiote is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tiote keeping full guard, as Shadow tries to pass.
Shadow trying to control but Tiote is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Shadow might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Tiote haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Shadow wants to stand but Tiote is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Shadow as Tiote shoots in.
Shadow throws a leg kick but Tiote sees it coming and moves out of range.
Soul Shadow seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tiote steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Shadow.
Tiote darts in looking for a takedown but Shadow gets double underhooks and turns Tiote into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Feihck Tiote. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tiote tries to clinch but Shadow moves away
and Shadow counters with a left and a right that stings Tiote.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shadow swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Tiote shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Shadow is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Shadow slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Soul Shadow is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tiote working some strikes from top position.
Shadow wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tiote is trying to get an arm triangle but Shadow is defending well.
Tiote wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shadow keeps working.
Shadow regains half guard there - taking advantage of Tiote's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Tiote looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Shadow looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Soul Shadow comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shadow 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Soul Shadow!
Soul Shadow seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.