PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Calvin Shields (ranked 2191 p4p, 4045 weight class) and Walter Waters (ranked 230 p4p, 369 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shields
vs
Waters

172 cm
25
150
2 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
150
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Calvin Shields!
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, Walter Waters!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Michael Johnstone and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Shields.
Waters avoids the body shot from Shields.
Shields lands a right hook to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Waters. No joy for Shields on that attempt.
Shields misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Waters moves into the clinch.
Shields's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Shields goes for a takedown in the clinch but Waters prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Calvin Shields. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shields wants to take the fight to the mat but Waters manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Waters.
Shields is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Waters gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Waters scores with a shot to the side of Shields's head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Waters.
Waters digs a right hand into Shields's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Shields's gas tank.
Shields is looking for a takedown.
Waters misses with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Waters creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Waters misses with a hook from the clinch.
Waters has a couple of punches blocked by Shields.
Waters lands an uppercut.
Shields is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Waters fails to land.
Waters lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Waters scores with a shot to the side of Shields's head.
A short left from Waters.
Waters lands with a short shot to the head.
Shields tries for a takedown but Waters manages to get underhooks.
Shields blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Waters - that landed with a thud.
Waters lands a right hand that snaps the head of Shields backwards.
Waters pushes Shields back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Shields tries to score a body lock takedown but Waters shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Shields takes a shot to the head.
Shields wants a takedown.
Shields is breathing heavily.
Waters lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Shields backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Waters lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Waters digs a right hand underneath Shields's ribcage. Shields let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Waters scores with a shot to the side of Shields's head.
Waters scores with a shot to the side of Shields's head.
Waters gets through Shields's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Waters lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Shields wants to take the fight to the mat but Waters manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Waters scores with a shoulder strike.
Waters lands a left hand that snaps the head of Shields backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Waters working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Waters lands with a left to the head.
Waters lands a right hand.
Waters working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Waters scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Waters makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Waters gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Shields.
Waters working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Waters gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Shields.
Waters throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Shieldss head.
Waters lands with a left to the head.
Waters stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Shields is trying to drag Waters to the mat but Waters just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Waters lands a hook that snaps the head of Shields backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Waters creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Shields is rocked!
Waters misses with the head strike.
Oh Shields is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Shields.
Waters working aggressively here.
Waters throws a punch but it's blocked by Shields.
Shields seems to have got his legs back now.
Waters throws a head punch that misses.
Waters lands with a left to the head.
Waters prevents a takedown attempt there.
Waters lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Waters has a couple of punches blocked by Shields.
A hook to the body from Waters.
Waters lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Waters gets through Shields's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Waters lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Waters lands with a short shot to the head.
Waters swings wildly with an uppercut but Shields uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice body punch from Waters.
Waters gets underhooks to prevent Shields's takedown attempt.
Shields has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Waters after a bit of a struggle.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Waters lands a nice uppercut.
Shields is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Waters gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Waters lands a shoulder strike.
Waters lands a left hand.
Waters lands a left hand that snaps the head of Shields backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Waters misses with the head strike.
Waters is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Waters lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Shields backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Waters.
Waters misses with a punch on the inside.
Waters lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Shields backwards.
Waters is defending well against a takedown attempt.
We've been informed that Waters has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Waters lands a body shot.
Waters pushes Shields back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shields has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Waters after a bit of a struggle.
Waters lands a hook to the side of the head.
Waters lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Waters lands a body shot.
Shields drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Waters gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Waters lands a nice uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shields is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Waters gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Shields's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Waters lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Shields backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Waters creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Waters prevents a takedown attempt there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Walter Waters dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shields shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Waters but Waters pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shields shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Waters but Waters pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shields fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Calvin Shields. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Shields.
Shields throws an off balance right hand
and Waters counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shields fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Waters is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Shields looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shields moves out of range of the strikes.
Shields thuds a left hand into Waters's body.
Shields closes this distance looking for a takedown but Waters circles away.
Waters tries to close the distance and clinch but Shields swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Waters fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shields throws the left hand but Waters avoids the punch easily.

Shields shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Waters's guard.
Shields postures up in Waters's guard and throws a big left but Waters blocks it.
Waters can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Shields controls the pace.
Waters is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Shields is controlling him.
Waters keeping moving, preventing Shields from controlling successfully.
Shields postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Shields is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Waters stuffs the takedown attempt from Shields. Shields gets slowly back to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Shields.
Waters tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Shields 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields lands punches and elbows.
Can Waters hold on?! Shields is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Waters tries to escape the position.
Shields missing with punches from the back.
Shields punches the canvas rather than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields punches Waters on the ear.
Shields scores with punches and elbows.
Shields scores with punches to the body.
Shields connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Waters to escape the position.
Shields is riding his opponent, not letting Waters buck him off.
Waters has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shields scores with punches and elbows.
Shields punishes Waters with strikes from the back mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Calvin Shields dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Shields misses with a looping left.
Shields shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Waters pinned against the cage. Waters gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Shields fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Calvin Shields seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Waters stuffs the takedown attempt from Shields. Shields gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Calvin Shields. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Shields shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Waters is refusing to be controlled, as Shields sits in half guard.
Shields controlling the action here.
Calvin Shields overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shields's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Shields thows a huge punch but Waters dodges it nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Waters keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Shields throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Shields lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Shields wants to pass the guard but Waters is defending well.
Shields throwing shots but Waters is blocking nicely.
Shields takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Shields is controlling the pace.
Shields seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Waters does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Shields is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Shields seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Waters does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields scores with a nice right hand.
Shields shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Waters as he jumps to the side.
Waters is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Shields with a body shot.
Waters scores with a jab. Shields acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Walter Waters seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Shields bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Shields working the head with strikes.
Shields is looking to take a break and control but Waters is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shields content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Waters really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shields. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Shields is looking to take a break and control but Waters is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shields slows the pace down.

And that's the end of the fight!
Calvin Shields showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shields 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 28:28
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!