PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Terje Warholm (ranked 690 p4p, 109 weight class) and Andy Shifter (ranked 815 p4p, 125 weight class). Shifter has chosen Lützenkirchen- Nutcracker as his entrance music. Terje Warholm is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Warholm
vs
Shifter

180 cm
25
220 lbs
14 - 9 - 1

200 cm
24
216 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Urban Fighter
Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Terje Warholm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Andy Shifter!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Anthony Taglia and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shifter fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Warholm with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Shifter avoids the head kick by Warholm.
Shifter shoots in for a takedown but Warholm shows good takedown defense.
Warholm misses with the combination.
Warholm throws a sloppy head kick and Shifter moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Warholm!
Shifter with a lazy takedown attempt
and Shifter takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Terje Warholm has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andy Shifter.
Shifter moves out of range as Warholm strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Warholm slaps away a takedown attempt from Shifter, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Warholm scores with a jab to the body.
Shifter walks into a left hand.
Warholm scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Shifter avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Shifter is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Shifter manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Warholm on his heels. He'll look to pass Warholm's guard now, I'm sure.
Shifter pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Warholm is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shifter throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Warholm has control of Shifter's left arm, preventing Shifter from doing any damage.
Shifter pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Warholm is keeping the position for now.

Shifter drops back, looking for a kneebar! Warholm looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Warholm looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Warholm!

Shifter looking for a sweep but Warholm has passed into full mount! Oh no!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Warholm controlling the pace for now.
Shifter throwing hammer fists to the chest of Warholm. What's that going to do exactly?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shifter regains half guard.

Shifter looking for submissions off his back.
Shifter is pressing down on Warholm's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Shifter throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Warholm escapes and throws Shifter's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Shifter tries to bench press Warholm off him but Warholm keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Warholm wants to control but Shifter is keeping him busy.

Warholm decides to stand back up. Warholm steps back and let's Shifter get back to his feet.
Warholm misses with a body shot.
Warholm will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Warholm gets caught flat footed, as Shifter shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Shifter is trying to get back to half guard.
Shifter manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Terje Warholm dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Shifter shoots in for a takedown but Warholm shows good takedown defense.
Shifter fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Warholm avoids it really well and circles away.
A low kick from Warholm is predictable there

and Shifter counters with a shoot takedown. Warholm fights it but they end up in guard.
Warholm looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Shifter pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Warholm is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shifter is still trying to improve position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shifter throws a strike but Warholm rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Warholm pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shifter is keeping the position for now.
Our spies down at at London MMA Club inform us that Shifter has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Warholm trying to control but Shifter is working from the bottom.

Shifter has an active guard here but Warholm has managed to pass into half guard.
Warholm prevents Shifter from improving his position.

Shifter actively working from the bottom here.
Shifter is looking to improve his position.

Shifter looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two 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.

Shifter looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Shifter looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Warholm is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shifter is looking to get back to full guard here but Warholm has managed to pass to side control instead.
Shifter is trying to improve his position.
Shifter gets back to half guard.

Warholm is working for a kimura but Shifter is defending it quite comfortably.
Shifter is looking to improve his position.
Shifter is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Warholm jumps into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shifter looks to move to half guard but instead Warholm has passed into mount! Damn!
Shifter is looking to get to half guard.
Warholm controlling from mount.
Warholm looking to control but Shifter is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Shifter is desperately trying to improve his position but Warholm has a good base and remains in mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Terje Warholm dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A low kick from Warholm misses

and Shifter counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Warholm tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Shifter wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Shifter is trying to get an arm triangle but Warholm is defending well.
Warholm wants to control but Shifter postures up.

Shifter tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Shifter has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Shifter tries for a kimura but Warholm is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Warholm wants to control but Shifter postures up.

Shifter swings around for an armbar but Warholm sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Shifter's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Warholm wants to control from the top but Shifter keeps moving.

Shifter is looking for a triangle but Warholm pushes his legs off easily.
Warholm is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shifter can do to turn this around?

Shifter looking for subs off his back but Warholm has passed one foot through into half guard.
Andy Shifter has got the better of the ground game so far.

Shifter looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Shifter wants to get back to full guard but Warholm has passed into side control.
Warholm staying calm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shifter tries to buck Warholm off but Warholm is having none of it.
Shifter regains half guard.

Shifter looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Warholm tries to pass the half guard into mount. Shifter knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Shifter is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shifter actively working from the bottom here.

Shifter actively working from the bottom here.
Shifter works his way to full guard. Good work.
Warholm sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Shifter's guard.
Warholm is looking to take a break and control but Shifter is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Shifter looking for submissions off his back.
Shifter takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shifter is looking for a sweep. Warholm is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Shifter is refusing to be controlled, as Warholm sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shifter looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Warholm trying to pass the guard but Shifter defending well.

Shifter looking for a kimura from the bottom but Warholm passes into side control!
Terje Warholm is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shifter looks to move to half guard but instead Warholm has passed into mount! Damn!
Shifter working to try and regain half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shifter tries to improve his position but instead Warholm has taken his back!
Andy Shifter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Warholm biding his time, controlling Shifter.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Terje Warholm.
Well Warholm has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Terje Warholm!