PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Earnie Shavers (ranked 4084 p4p, 3100 weight class) and Jan Nowak (ranked 503 p4p, 410 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Shavers
vs
Nowak

190 cm
33
247
9 - 10 - 0

195 cm
21
245
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Earnie Shavers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jan Nowak!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Andrew Berry and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nowak on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Nowak closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Shavers did well to prevent Nowak getting side control.
Shavers tries to roll over but Nowak keeps him under control.
Nowak trying to pass the guard but Shavers defending well.
Shavers is trying to get back to full guard.
Nowak content to control rather than advance.
Shavers is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nowak sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Nowak looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Let's hope that Nowak has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shavers is pressing down on Nowak's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Shavers looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shavers is working hard here to advance position.
Shavers has Nowak pulled in close to control his posture.
Shavers continues to stall.
Nowak trying to control the position from guard on top but Shavers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nowak is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Shavers tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Nowak trying to control the position from guard on top but Shavers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nowak fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nowak darts in looking for a takedown but Shavers gets double underhooks and turns Nowak into the cage.
Shavers lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Shavers gets caught napping as Nowak dives in and scores a takedown. Shavers manages to retain guard.
Shavers is pulling down on Nowak's head to control his posture.
Nowak wants to control from the top but Shavers keeps moving.
Shavers wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Shavers has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
More hug and hope from Shavers.
Nowak sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Shavers is trying to keep Nowak in close.
Shavers is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Nowak is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nowak is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nowak shoots in for a takedown but Shavers shows good takedown defense.
Shavers wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Earnie Shavers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jan Nowak.
Nowak on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Nowak shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Shavers defends it nicely.

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.

Nowak scores with a takedown into Shavers's guard.
Nowak stays in close to Shavers's body and controls the position.
Shavers keeping moving, preventing Nowak from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shavers is on top in guard.

We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nowak can do anything to dispel that myth.
Nowak keeping full guard, as Shavers tries to pass.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Shavers.
Shavers throws a quick inside leg kick.
Shavers thuds a left hand into Nowak's body.
Nowak fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A good leg kick by Shavers.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nowak shoots in looking for a takedown but Shavers manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Nowak's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Shavers sizes up Nowak with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Shavers jabs Nowak to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Shavers scores with a jab to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shavers keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Earnie Shavers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jan Nowak.
Shavers listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Nowak shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Shavers sprawls well. Shavers wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nowak gets slowly back to his feet.
Nowak tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Nowak closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shavers connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Nowak misses with a takedown attempt - Shavers sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Shavers dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nowak looks to land a combination but Shavers avoids it well.
Shavers wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Nowak changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shavers tries to avoid it but Nowak manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shavers to the ground. Shavers escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Shavers with the inside leg kick.
Shavers fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nowak.
Nowak shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Shavers counters with a straight right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shavers keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Shavers seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nowak shoots in for a takedown but Shavers shows good takedown defense.
Shavers is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nowak can do to turn this around?
Nowak shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Shavers as he jumps to the side.
Shavers tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nowak swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A right-left combo lands from Shavers.
Nowak takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Shavers comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Shavers tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nowak swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shavers lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Shavers scores with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nowak gets the takedown into side control.
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!
Shavers gets back to half guard.
Jan Nowak has got the better of the ground game so far.
Shavers gets back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nowak trying to control but Shavers is working from the bottom.
Shavers is pulling down on Nowak's head to control his posture.
Shavers wants to sweep but no luck.
Shavers looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Earnie Shavers dominated that second round.
That's time! Shavers's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Nowak drops his hands momentarily and Shavers takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Shavers stuffs the takedown attempt from Nowak. Nowak gets slowly back to his feet.
Shavers changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Shavers tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nowak was well out of range. Poor timing from Shavers.
Nowak feints the counter takedown.
Shavers is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shavers turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Shavers gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Nowak is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shavers is controlling Nowak's posture.
Nowak 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.
Shavers tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nowak trying to control but Shavers is working from the bottom.
Nowak trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shavers is controlling Nowak's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Earnie Shavers is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Shavers feints and then cracks Nowak's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Nowak down.
Nowak shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Shavers fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nowak, pushing him back against the cage.
Nowak has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Shavers is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nowak is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Shavers pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Earnie Shavers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jan Nowak.
Shavers can't find room to land a body shot as Nowak controls the action.
Shavers stops a takedown attempt from Nowak.
Shavers just leaning against Nowak, taking a breather.
Shavers goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Shavers stalling in the clinch.
Shavers is working Nowak over against the cage.
Nowak takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Jan Nowak has been cut.
Shavers taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shavers escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Nowak gets a takedown into half guard.
Shavers is looking to improve his position.
Nowak wants to pass the guard but Shavers is defending well.
Shavers is trying to get back to full guard.
Shavers is refusing to be controlled, as Nowak sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nowak not doing much here.
Shavers slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Nowak looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Earnie Shavers showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shavers 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 James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Earnie Shavers!
Earnie Shavers thanked the fans post fight for their support.