PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Edison Shaffer (ranked 25226 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julius Vaitkevicius (ranked 5085 p4p, 476 weight class). Julius Vaitkevicius will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Shaffer
vs
Vaitkevicius

157 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Edison Shaffer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Julius Vaitkevicius!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Chris Edwards and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vaitkevicius throws a sloppy head kick
and Shaffer counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Vaitkevicius throws a head kick that misses.
Vaitkevicius fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vaitkevicius throws a head kick that Shaffer semi-blocks.
Vaitkevicius tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Shaffer counters with a one-two to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shaffer darts in looking for a takedown but Vaitkevicius gets double underhooks and turns Shaffer into the cage.

Vaitkevicius closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Shaffer did well to prevent Vaitkevicius getting side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vaitkevicius wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shaffer keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaffer tries to get to full guard but Vaitkevicius has control of the leg.

Vaitkevicius is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Shaffer has managed to free his arm - good work.

Vaitkevicius is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Shaffer is just riding it out for now. Vaitkevicius eventually gives up the hold.
Vaitkevicius looks winded!
Shaffer gets back to full guard.

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.

Shaffer is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Vaitkevicius trying to control but Shaffer is working from the bottom.

Shaffer throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vaitkevicius seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Vaitkevicius wants to get up but he can't break Shaffer's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Shaffer will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Vaitkevicius gets to his feet - Shaffer follows without any prompting.

Vaitkevicius looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shaffer looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Shaffer thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Shaffer trying to strike off his back.
Shaffer is trying to keep Vaitkevicius in close.
Shaffer might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shaffer manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Vaitkevicius manages to get himself to full guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Julius Vaitkevicius will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Vaitkevicius is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Shaffer's half guard.
Shaffer works his way to full guard. Good work.
Shaffer doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Vaitkevicius looking to sit in guard and control but Shaffer gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shaffer stands and steps away. Vaitkevicius gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Shaffer shoots in and drives through. Vaitkevicius sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Vaitkevicius enables Shaffer to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Vaitkevicius manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Vaitkevicius is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Shaffer dives into side control.
Vaitkevicius is breathing heavily.

Shaffer working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Vaitkevicius is looking to regain half guard here but Shaffer keeps moving and retains side control.
Vaitkevicius trying to remain calm as Shaffer controls from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vaitkevicius tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Shaffer easily slips into full mount!
Shaffer raining down shots from the mount!
Shaffer lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shaffer tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaffer putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Shaffer lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Shaffer controlling the pace for now.
Shaffer lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Vaitkevicius hang on?
Shaffer controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaffer unloading with bombs!
Shaffer landing strikes, looking to finish!
Shaffer has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Shaffer with a couple of short strikes.
Shaffer looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shaffer punishing his opponent with strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vaitkevicius is in a horrible position here. Shaffer smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Vaitkevicius is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edison Shaffer dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Shaffer closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Vaitkevicius quickly recovers to half guard.
Vaitkevicius is still in real trouble! Can Shaffer finish him?
Shaffer content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Vaitkevicius seems to have recovered his senses.
Vaitkevicius wants to improve his position but Shaffer is controlling well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vaitkevicius pushes Shaffer off looking to stand but Shaffer dives back in and keeps control.

Shaffer is working for a kimura but Vaitkevicius is defending it quite comfortably.
Vaitkevicius takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaffer lands with a punch from half guard.
Shaffer is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vaitkevicius can do to turn this around?

Shaffer decides to stand up.
Shaffer shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Shaffer tries a head kick but it misses.
Shaffer really is a fat lump.
Vaitkevicius tries a head kick but it misses.
Shaffer is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaffer with a poor takedown
and Vaitkevicius counters with a series of strikes. Shaffer will be more careful next time no doubt.
Shaffer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Shaffer seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Vaitkevicius throws a sloppy head kick and Shaffer moves out of range easily.
Shaffer swats away the attempt to clinch by Vaitkevicius.
Shaffer dives in for a single leg takedown but Vaitkevicius sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edison Shaffer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shaffer shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vaitkevicius as he avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaffer fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vaitkevicius avoids it really well and circles away.
Vaitkevicius stuffs the takedown attempt from Shaffer. Shaffer gets slowly back to his feet.
Vaitkevicius follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Shaffer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Shaffer seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Julius Vaitkevicius seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vaitkevicius throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Vaitkevicius misses with a low kick.
Shaffer seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Vaitkevicius misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Vaitkevicius shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Shaffer is trying to defend but Vaitkevicius finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Shaffer manages to get to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shaffer is striking from the bottom but Vaitkevicius uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julius Vaitkevicius comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vaitkevicius has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julius Vaitkevicius!