PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Shortman (ranked 5422 p4p, 4053 weight class) and Martins Verdins (ranked 167 p4p, 134 weight class). James Shortman has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Shortman
vs
Verdins

220 cm
25
300
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
295
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Shortman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Martins Verdins!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Russell Pearce and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shortman tries to clinch up
and Verdins counters with a left and a right that stings Shortman.
Verdins shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Shortman defends it nicely.
Shortman tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Verdins manages to circle out of the way.
Shortman tries to clinch there but Verdins circles away.
Shortman is looking to clinch but Verdins is avoiding it.
Shortman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Verdins wants to counter the offense by Shortman and move into the clinch position.

Verdins gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verdins prevents a body shot from Shortman.

Verdins escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Verdins keeps the fight on the outside.

Shortman tries to keep at a distance but Verdins has taken the fight into the clinch.
Shortman goes for a takedown in the clinch but Verdins prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verdins is struggling to control the position.
Verdins should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Verdins has hold of one of Shortman's legs. Shortman is fighting the takedown attempt but Verdins gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Verdins got a little sloppy there for a moment and Shortman has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Verdins has managed to get both his arms back between Shortman's legs - danger averted.
Verdins stays in close to Shortman's body and controls the position.
Verdins trying to control the position from guard on top but Shortman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Verdins has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at The Lions Den. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verdins pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shortman is keeping the position for now.
Shortman pulls Verdins in to control the position.
Shortman has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Verdins wants to control from the top but Shortman keeps moving.
Verdins stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shortman swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shortman wriggles free and stands up.

Shortman feints and as Verdins raises his hands in defense, Shortman changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Verdins wriggles free and stands up.
Shortman takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Verdins lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Verdins misses with a takedown attempt - Shortman sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Verdins.
James Shortman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Martins Verdins.

Shortman shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Shortman works his way into full mount!
Shortman sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Martins Verdins dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Shortman shoots in but Verdins avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Shortman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Verdins but Verdins pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Verdins wants to counter with a clinch but Shortman pushes him away.
Shortman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shortman drops his hands momentarily and Verdins takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

It looks like James Shortman has been cut.
Verdins is trying hard to land a takedown here. Shortman sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shortman throws a combination that misses
and Verdins counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shortman gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Verdins counters with a two punch combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Shortman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Verdins rushes Shortman and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Verdins breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shortman has his takedown stuffed
and Verdins cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Verdins closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Verdins drags the fight down to the ground.
Shortman stands up over Verdins, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Verdins has a closed guard, preventing Shortman from standing up.
Shortman showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Shortman postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shortman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shortman throwing strikes from guard but Verdins blocks nicely.
Shortman's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Shortman just misses with a punch to the body.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Shortman.
Shortman throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shortman takes a little break here. Verdins wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Shortman has control of an arm but Verdins manages to advance to Shortman's back!
Shortman wants to escape the position.
Shortman trying to control the position but Verdins manages to sink in the hooks.
Verdins doesn't have the hooks in and Shortman manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shortman trying to control the position from guard on top but Verdins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shortman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Verdins works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shortman is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Shortman trying to control the position from guard on top but Verdins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Verdins is trying to keep Shortman in close.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Shortman gets to his feet - Verdins follows without any prompting.
Verdins shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Shortman sprawls well. Shortman wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Verdins gets slowly back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Martins Verdins showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on James Shortman's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Shortman changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Verdins tries to avoid it but Shortman manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Verdins to the ground. Verdins escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Shortman defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Verdins.
Verdins keeps the fight on the outside.
Shortman shoots in looking for a takedown but Verdins manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Shortman's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Verdins has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Verdins misses with a jab, cross combination.
Verdins just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromShortman.
Shortman tries to score with a low kick but Verdins moves his leg out of the way.
Shortman shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Shortman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Verdins circles away from the clinch attempt.
Martins Verdins seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Shortman scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shortman is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Verdins doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Shortman.
Shortman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Verdins moves into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shortman is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Verdins really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shortman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Verdins wants to control but Shortman passes easily into half guard.

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.
Shortman content to control rather than advance.
Verdins throws a strike from the bottom but Shortman passes into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shortman controls the position from side control.
Shortman trying to control the action but Verdins is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shortman content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Verdins is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Shortman's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Shortman is looking to advance position but Verdins won't allow it.
Shortman missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

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.
Verdins is not content to let Shortman control the position.
Shortman looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Shortman not landing any meaningful shots this time.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Verdins thows a body kick. Shortman tries to catch it but that hurt him.
No joy there for Shortman, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shortman throws a body kick that misses

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

Shortman scrambles and gets back to his feet.
James Shortman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Martins Verdins is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Shortman misses with a combination
and Verdins counters with a one-two to the body.

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 James Shortman.
I think Verdins 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Martins Verdins!