PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kobi Shelton (ranked 911 p4p, 39 weight class) and Hamid Sourian (ranked 1572 p4p, 77 weight class). Sourian is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Number One. Hamid Sourian has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Kobi Shelton's chin.

Shelton
vs
Sourian

158 cm
26
142 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

169 cm
26
142 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kobi Shelton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hamid Sourian!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Santiago Holmes and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sourian fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sourian blocks a jab.
Sourian throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Shelton counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Sourian manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Shelton blocks an uppercut.
Shelton blocking some punches.
Shelton trying to control the position but instead, Sourian has worked for underhooks and has pushed Shelton into the cage.
Shelton effectively controlling the action here.
Sourian misses with some punches.
Sourian swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sourian misses with some punches.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Shelton takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Shelton is trying to push Sourian away but Sourian has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A bit of stalling here from Shelton.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shelton is trying to maintain a safe position but Sourian gets an underhook and turns Shelton into the cage.
Shelton displaying some good clinch control by pressing Sourian up against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Kobi Shelton.
Sourian missing with a left hand there. Shelton was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Shelton has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Shelton throws a right hand that misses
and Sourian counters with a nice uppercut.

Sourian gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sourian misses with a body punch.

Sourian has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Shelton is trying to keep an underhook but Sourian manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Shelton avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sourian.
Sourian is looking to take a break and control but Shelton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shelton moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sourian is looking to work some ground and pound but Shelton has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sourian is looking to pass into half guard but Shelton pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Shelton is in guard.

Sourian is pulling down on Shelton's head to control his posture.
Sourian has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shelton landing some decent shots from guard.
Shelton distracts Sourian with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shelton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shelton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sourian is keeping the position for now.
Sourian wants to sweep but no luck.
Shelton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sourian looking to control.
Sourian might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Shelton haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Shelton wants to control from the top but Sourian keeps moving.
Sourian has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Shelton postures up.

Sourian looking for a guillotine here but Shelton defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shelton distracts Sourian with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shelton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sourian wants to sweep but no luck.
Shelton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Shelton preventing the sweep.
Sourian controls Shelton momentarily but Shelton frees himself.
Shelton trying to control the position from guard on top but Sourian is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sourian tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sourian controlling the position.
Sourian is trying to keep Shelton in close.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shelton is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Shelton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shelton 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.
Sourian keeping full guard, as Shelton tries to pass.
Shelton wants to control from the top but Sourian keeps moving.
Shelton makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Shelton preventing the sweep.
Shelton has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Shelton in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Shelton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sourian utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shelton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sourian is trying to keep Shelton in close.
Shelton wants to control from the top but Sourian keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hamid Sourian will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Shelton tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sourian defends well and Shelton ends up having to push Sourian into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Sourian gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Shelton blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Shelton is trying to stall.
Sourian misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Sourian working aggressively here.
Sourian swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shelton blocks an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A left hand lands to the body for Sourian.
Shelton displaying some good clinch control by pressing Sourian up against the cage.
Shelton is trying to force a seperation but Sourian has the dominant position.
Shelton blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sourian tries for a takedown but Shelton manages to get underhooks.
Sourian looking for a takedown.
Sourian misses with a body punch.
Shelton taking a breather.
Shelton blocking some punches.
Shelton gets underhooks to prevent Sourian's takedown attempt.
Kobi Shelton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hamid Sourian.
Sourian tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sourian tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A shot in the inside from Sourian.

Sourian jumps guard.
Kobi Shelton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shelton tries to free his leg and advance position but Sourian is retaining full guard.
Sourian has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Shelton has passed into side control.
Shelton lands an elbow.
Sourian can't do much from the bottom here.
Sourian is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sourian keeps trying to improve his position.
Sourian gets back to half guard.
Shelton missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sourian wants to control but Shelton is keeping busy.
Shelton is looking to take a break and control but Sourian is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shelton missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sourian wants to control but Shelton is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Shelton is trying to control. Sourian wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sourian has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shelton is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shelton throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sourian has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shelton is working away from the top position though.
Sourian is trying to get back to full guard.
Shelton looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Shelton working Sourian over with strikes.
Sourian gets full guard.
Sourian looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shelton is one step ahead there.
Shelton postures up.
Shelton working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sourian trying to control the position.
Shelton sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sourian's guard.
Sourian trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shelton sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sourian defending well though.
Sourian is looking to improve his position.
Shelton winds up and cracks Sourian with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Shelton is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sourian manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Shelton trying to control the position from guard on top but Sourian is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shelton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Shelton preventing the sweep.
Sourian controls Shelton momentarily but Shelton frees himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shelton works over Sourian with some ground and pound from guard.
Sourian looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Our spies down at at ELITE Island Gym - 19 Elite Coaches inform us that Sourian has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Shelton throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kobi Shelton will probably get the nod.
That's time! Shelton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Shelton throws a hook but Sourian blocks it.
A jab from Sourian misses.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sourian enables Shelton to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sourian manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sourian trying to control the position.
Sourian pulls Shelton in close to his closed guard and prevents Shelton from doing any damage or advancing position.
Shelton postures up.
Sourian is looking to sweep but instead, Shelton has passed into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sourian works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sourian trying to keep a closed guard but Shelton is proving a slippery customer.
Shelton missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Shelton scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sourian working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shelton.
Shelton postures up.
Shelton is fighting to break Sourian's control of his arms but Sourian is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Sourian working for a triangle but Shelton defends it easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sourian is on top in guard.

Shelton keeping moving, preventing Sourian from controlling successfully.
Sourian is in close to Shelton's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Shelton escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sourian gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Shelton trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sourian chips away with some ground and pound.
Sourian postures up in Shelton's guard and throws a big left but Shelton blocks it.
Sourian loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sourian scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sourian keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Shelton's head.
Sourian looking to sit in guard and control but Shelton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sourian is trying to control the position but Shelton postures up.

Sourian looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Shelton won't allow Sourian to get back to his feet.
Sourian tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Shelton scoring with some ground and pound.
Sourian not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shelton content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Shelton connects with a couple of short punches.
Shelton looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Sourian is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sourian takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Shelton avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Shelton wants to control from the top but Sourian keeps moving.
Sourian trying to control the position.
Sourian keeping moving, preventing Shelton from controlling successfully.

That's four 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.
Sourian is trying to keep Shelton in close.
Shelton lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Shelton throws a big right hand that misses.
Shelton sitting in guard here, content to control.
Shelton preventing the sweep.
Sourian bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Shelton's guard.

Sourian throws a big right hand that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sourian working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sourian loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sourian postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shelton tries to land a sweep but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kobi Shelton showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shelton has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kobi Shelton!
Kobi Shelton bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.