PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Justin Shields (ranked 4256 p4p, 4103 weight class) and Ryu Takahara (ranked 524 p4p, 520 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shields
vs
Takahara

183 cm
18
190
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
20
190
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Hates pizza

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Justin Shields!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ryu Takahara!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Paul Tew and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shields misses with a combination

and Takahara counters by clinching up.

Takahara works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Shields wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Takahara manages to pass to side control.

We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Still in half guard, Takahara seems content to control.
Takahara tries to pass the half guard into mount. Shields knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shields wants to improve his position but Takahara is controlling well.

Takahara is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Shields defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahara prevents Shields from improving his position.
Takahara content to control rather than advance.
Shields is looking to control Takahara's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shields avoid being mounted?
Takahara seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Shields wants to control but Takahara is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Shields tries to get to full guard but Takahara has control of the leg.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Shields might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Takahara fails with a takedown attempt.
Shields appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields with a hook.
Shields lands a body shot.
Shields is trying hard to land a takedown here. Takahara sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Shields thuds a left hand into Takahara's body.

Takahara dives in and scores a takedown into Shields's guard.
Takahara looks winded!
Takahara slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Takahara trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shields controls Takahara momentarily but Takahara frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahara has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Shields is proving hard to escape from.
Shields managing to control the position.
Takahara is in close to Shields's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Takahara 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.
Takahara takes a shot to the body in his stride.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Shields throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Takahara counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Shields is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Takahara pulls his head out easily.
Takahara working the head and body with strikes.
Takahara has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Shields is trying to control but Takahara passes into side control!
Takahara is trying to ground and pound but Shields uses the momentary lack of control by Takahara to regain half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takahara tries to stand but can't do so whilst Shields controls his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shields is looking to improve his position.
Takahara lands strikes from half guard.
Shields is looking to get back to full guard here but Takahara has managed to pass to side control instead.
Shields is trying to improve his position.
Takahara scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Shields to see if he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Takahara easily slips into full mount!

Shields has left one of his arms exposed and Takahara doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Shields screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ryu Takahara!