PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marvin Shuster (ranked 2637 p4p, 2686 weight class) and Joseph Moses (ranked 378 p4p, 387 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Shuster
vs
Moses

190 cm
25
220
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
215
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marvin Shuster!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joseph Moses!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Luis Engracia and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Moses enables Shuster to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Moses manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Shuster stands and steps away. Moses gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Shuster drives through with a takedown into guard.

Moses has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Shuster off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Moses instigates a clinch.
Shuster pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Shuster lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Moses has one foot on Shuster's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Moses dives in for a single leg takedown but Shuster sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Moses fails to land the takedown.

Shuster drives through with a takedown into Moses's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moses doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Shuster knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Moses on the ground.
Moses is trying to keep Shuster in close.
Moses wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Moses is trying to control the position but Shuster postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shuster won't allow Moses to get back to his feet.
Shuster controlling from the top position.
Moses trying to control the position here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Shuster is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Moses trying to control the position.
Shuster stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Moses swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Moses shoots and misses

and Shuster counters by moving into the clinch.
Marvin Shuster has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joseph Moses.
Moses fails to pull guard.

Shuster escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Moses tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Shuster darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Shuster winds up and cracks Moses with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shuster controlling the pace.
Shuster working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Moses makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Moses.
Shuster has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Shuster wanted to stand there but Moses had control of the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Shuster trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Shuster trying to control but Moses is working from the bottom.
Moses is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Shuster stands up and waves to Moses to follow him.

Shuster shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Moses wants to improve his position but Shuster is controlling well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marvin Shuster dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Shuster has closed the distance and engaged Moses in a clinch.
Shuster is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Moses can do to turn this around?

Moses jumps guard.
Marvin Shuster overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Moses holds on and takes a little breather.
Moses trying to keep a closed guard but Shuster is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Shuster gets to his feet. Moses looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moses throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shuster leaves Moses with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Moses blocks the body kick.

Shuster forces Moses back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Come on Shuster - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Shuster breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Moses tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shuster sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Moses somewhat.

Moses shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Moses was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
My spies in Rio Grappling Club inform me that Moses has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Moses scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Shuster to see if he's OK.
Moses is looking to take a break and control but Shuster is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shuster is trying to improve his position.
Shuster tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Moses easily slips into full mount!
Shuster is wriggling around trying to escape.
Shuster wants to control but Moses is having none of it.

Moses is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Moses shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Shuster defends it nicely.
Marvin Shuster has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joseph Moses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Moses gets the takedown into side control.
Shuster wants to control but Moses postures up.

Moses stands up.
Shuster walks into a jab.

Shuster shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Moses napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Moses bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Moses throws a combination. Shuster tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Marvin Shuster has been cut.
Shuster stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Shuster wants it to stay on the feet.
Shuster was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Shuster closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Moses sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Shuster content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Shuster working the head and body with strikes.
Shuster is thwarting Moses's attempts to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Moses showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Marvin Shuster's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Shuster shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Moses's guard.
Shuster postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Moses utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Moses looking to control.
Moses wants to sweep but no luck.
Shuster stops Moses from standing up.

Shuster stands up and waves to Moses to follow him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moses shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Shuster sprawls well. Shuster wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Moses gets slowly back to his feet.

Shuster pushes Moses up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shuster tries to throw a body punch but Moses avoids it by throwing Shuster back against the cage.
Shuster fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Shuster jumps guard and drags Moses to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Moses 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.
We've been hearing good reports from Shuster's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Moses trying to control the position from guard on top but Shuster is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shuster looking to hit a scissor sweep but Moses is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shuster is pulling down on Moses's head to control his posture.

Moses gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Shuster throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Moses tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Shuster is in Moses's guard.
Shuster lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Moses is trying to control the position but Shuster postures up.
Shuster tries to free his leg and advance position but Moses is retaining full guard.

Moses is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moses is looking to stand back up but Shuster counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Moses.
Moses trying to control but Shuster postures up.
Moses works his way to full guard. Good work.
Shuster scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Shuster wants to control from the top but Moses keeps moving.
Moses will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

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.
Shuster postures up.
Shuster slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Shuster manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Moses on his heels. He'll look to pass Moses's guard now, I'm sure.

Moses scrambles and gets back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joseph Moses comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joseph Moses!