PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sharven Sheven (ranked 3805 p4p, 409 weight class) and Iron Dong Pao (ranked 3852 p4p, 422 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sheven
vs
Dong Pao

187 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

188 cm
25
185 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sharven Sheven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Iron Dong Pao!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, John Kavanagh and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sheven takes one to the chin there.
Pao throws a jab but it's blocked by Sheven.
As Pao backs away, Sheven returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

Pao decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Pao throwing shots but Sheven is blocking nicely.
Sheven is controlling Pao's trapped leg to prevent Pao from advancing to side control.
Pao prevents Sheven from improving his position.
Pao scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sheven wants to control but Pao is keeping busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pao trying to control the action but Sheven is working from the bottom.
Sheven is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheven preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Sheven slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Pao must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pao trying to control but Sheven is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Pao tries to work over Sheven's front leg with a kick but Sheven checks it.
Sheven jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Pao misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Sheven connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

It looks like Iron Dong Pao has been cut.
Pao pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Sheven feinted there with a counter leg kick.

Pao clinches up against the cage.

Pao breaks from the clinch.
Sheven stuffs the takedown attempt from Pao. Pao gets slowly back to his feet.
Sheven jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Pao.
Iron Dong Pao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pao throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sheven quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Pao swings for the body but Sheven moves out of range.
Sheven keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
It looked like Sheven wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pao changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sheven looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sheven is not content to let Pao control the position.
Sheven is trying to improve his position.
Sheven is not content to let Pao control the position.
Sheven dodges the ground and pound from Pao.
Pao trying to control the action but Sheven is working from the bottom.
Pao content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sheven is trying to control Pao's posture but Pao avoids it.
Pao cracks Sheven with a big right hand but Sheven just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Sheven tries to bench press Pao off him but Pao keeps the position.
Pao connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Sheven some visible discomfort.
Pao working the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pao misses with the ground and pound.
Pao scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Sheven to see if he's OK.
Pao working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iron Dong Pao dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Iron Dong Pao's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Pao throws a chopping leg kick but Sheven manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Sheven changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Pao with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sheven counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Pao thinking.
A big left from Pao misses.
Pao throws a lazy right hand but Sheven sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Pao throws a low kick but Sheven moves out of range easily.
Pao lands with a cross.
Sheven looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Pao misses with a two punch combination.

Pao fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Sheven to the ground. Pao is now in Sheven's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pao is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Pao cracks Sheven with a solid left hand.
Pao loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheven working a defensive guard here.

Sheven looking for a guillotine here but Pao defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sheven is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pao defends well.
Pao wants to pass the guard but Sheven is keeping the position.
Pao scoring with punches to the head and body.
Pao wants to control from the top but Sheven keeps moving.
Sheven not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Pao is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Sheven has his foot on Pao's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pao works his way back into a safe position though.
Pao is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Pao won't allow Sheven to sweep him here.
Sheven working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pao.
Pao scoring with some ground and pound.
Pao is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Pao lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Pao keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sheven's head.
Pao working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheven displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Pao.
Pao just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromSheven.
Pao lunges at Sheven with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sheven's hand.
Pao feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sheven's calf.
Pao scores with a jab to the head.

Pao shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Pao was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Pao working away.
Sheven manages to work his way to half guard, despite Pao's best efforts.
Pao has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sheven looking for submissions off his back.
Pao lands with a punch from half guard.
Pao is looking to advance position but Sheven won't allow it.
Sheven is looking for a sweep. Pao is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pao is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Sheven trying to hold on to Pao's head to control him but Pao postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sheven keeping control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iron Dong Pao showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Iron Dong Pao's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Sheven takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Pao shoots and misses
and Sheven counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sheven defending well as Pao loads up on a big left hand.
Sheven was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Pao thows a leg kick but Sheven checks it

and Sheven counters with a single leg into guard. Pao didn't expect that.
Sheven stopping the sweep attempt from Pao.
Pao keeping full guard, as Sheven tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pao 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.
Pao pulls Sheven in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pao keeping moving, preventing Sheven from controlling successfully.
Pao is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Sheven controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Pao looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice defenses there by Sheven.
Sheven was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Pao throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Sheven counters with a body kick.
Pao lands a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheven takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Pao lands with a cross.
Pao misses with a takedown attempt
and Sheven connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sheven moves out of range of the strikes.
Sheven half committed to a counter leg kick.
Sharven Sheven has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pao fails with the takedown
letting Sheven counter with a right hand.
Sharven Sheven has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iron Dong Pao.
Pao shoots in but no luck this time.

Pao closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sheven goes for a takedown attempt but Pao pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pao closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sheven to the mat! Sheven manages to get full guard.
Pao scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sheven looking for a sweep. Not yet Sheven, not yet.
Pao throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sheven works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pao makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Pao lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Pao passes Sheven's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sheven is staying active underneath Pao, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sheven gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sheven looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Pao is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Pao trying to control the position from guard on top but Sheven is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sheven wants to sweep but no luck.
Iron Dong Pao is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Pao is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Iron Dong Pao has got the better of the ground game so far.

Sheven throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Pao escapes and throws Sheven's legs to the side, diving into side control!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sheven is throwing a few token shots, despite Pao being in side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Iron Dong Pao.
Well Pao has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Iron Dong Pao!
In his post fight interview, Iron Dong Pao started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.