PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Arturs Shelby (ranked 6075 p4p, 0 weight class) and Duke Bravo (ranked 3813 p4p, 0 weight class). Arturs Shelby has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Shelby
vs
Bravo

201 cm
23
200 lbs
4 - 3 - 1

181 cm
25
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 4 - 3 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Arturs Shelby!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Duke Bravo!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Michael Johnstone and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shelby wants to clinch up but Bravo keeps it at a distance.

Bravo lands a big head kick that sends Shelby tumbling to the mat! Bravo takes a step backwards and waves Shelby back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Arturs Shelby has been cut.
Shelby tries to clinch up.
Bravo is looking for the big counter here.

Bravo gets a clinch.

Bravo wants the takedown. Shelby is fighting it off but Bravo persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Shelby's guard against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shelby pulls Bravo in close to prevent any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bravo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bravo trying to control the position from guard on top but Shelby is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bravo tries to free his leg and advance position but Shelby is retaining full guard.
Bravo wants to control from the top but Shelby keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bravo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Shelby has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bravo has managed to get both his arms back between Shelby's legs - danger averted.
Shelby bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bravo's guard.

Bravo keeping full guard, as Shelby tries to pass.
Bravo is looking to stand up but Shelby isn't so interested in that idea.

Bravo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Shelby gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shelby trying to control the position from guard on top but Bravo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shelby pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bravo is keeping the position for now.
Shelby wants to stand but Bravo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Shelby goes for a double leg but Bravo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bravo continues to drive forward.
Bravo is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Shelby tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bravo paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bravo clinches up against the cage.
Shelby tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Shelby jumps guard and drags Bravo to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Bravo landing some decent shots from guard.
Bravo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bravo looking to sit in guard and control but Shelby gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Bravo controlling the position.
Bravo keeping full guard, as Shelby tries to pass.
Shelby lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shelby throws a big elbow that misses.
Bravo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shelby trying to control but Bravo is working from the bottom.

Shelby stands and steps away. Bravo gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Shelby looks for a takedown but Bravo sprawls well.
Shelby has been working on his balance at Poseidon MMA, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Bravo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arturs Shelby. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bravo has taken the fight to the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duke Bravo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Arturs Shelby's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Shelby's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Shelby duly obliges.
Bravo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Shelby moves into the clinch.
Bravo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Bravo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Bravo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Shelby parries the strikes from Bravo easily there. Bravo is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Shelby to escape.
Bravo is looking to take a break and control but Shelby is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bravo wants to control for a moment but Shelby uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shelby moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Bravo looking to pass the guard.
Bravo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bravo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shelby pulls Bravo in close to his closed guard and prevents Bravo from doing any damage or advancing position.

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.
Bravo throws a big elbow that misses.
Bravo controls from within his opponent's guard.
Shelby looking for a sweep. Not yet Shelby, not yet.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Shelby controls Bravo momentarily but Bravo frees himself.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Bravo scores with a leg kick.
Arturs Shelby is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bravo slaps away a takedown attempt from Shelby, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bravo is looking for the big counter here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shelby shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bravo keeping moving, preventing Shelby from controlling successfully.

Shelby drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Bravo manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Shelby has Bravo in his guard.

Shelby really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bravo looking to sit in guard and control but Shelby gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bravo is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Bravo tries to score a body lock takedown but Shelby shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Bravo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shelby moves in looking to clinch but Bravo pushes him off.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shelby.
Shelby tries to close the distance and clinch but Bravo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shelby lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Bravo closes the distance looking to clinch
and Shelby counters with a one-two to the body.
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 Arturs Shelby will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Arturs Shelby's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Shelby shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bravo but Bravo pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Shelby throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Bravo tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Shelby is in Bravo's guard.

Bravo has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Shelby is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Shelby is looking to take this one to the mat.
Shelby jumps guard but Bravo turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arturs Shelby. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bravo lands a nice elbow.
Bravo tries a knee to the head but Shelby blocks it.
Bravo cracks Shelby with a nice body shot.
Bravo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Shelby is defending well for now.
Shelby fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Bravo pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shelby stopping the sweep attempt from Bravo.
Bravo trying to control the position.
Bravo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shelby trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bravo's guard.
Bravo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shelby trying to control the position from guard on top but Bravo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Shelby decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bravo, up you get!

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.
Shelby darts in looking for a takedown but Bravo gets double underhooks and turns Shelby into the cage.
Bravo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Shelby avoids it really well and circles away.

Shelby scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Bravo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bravo has one of Shelby's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Shelby trying to control the position but Bravo is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Bravo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Shelby looks up at the clock and then as Bravo takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Shelby smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Arturs Shelby overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Shelby tries for a kimura but Bravo is defending well.

Shelby thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Shelby decides to stand back up. Shelby steps back and let's Bravo get back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Shelby throws a leg kick

and Bravo counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Shelby!

Shelby throws Bravo to one side and escapes!
Shelby wants to clinch.
Bravo is looking for the big counter here.
Shelby fails with the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Duke Bravo.
I think Bravo 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Duke Bravo!