PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hiyness Da Prince (ranked 2515 p4p, 2993 weight class) and Henry Shorts (ranked 295 p4p, 339 weight class). Henry Shorts is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Da Prince
vs
Shorts

192 cm
21
215
3 - 1 - 0

183 cm
21
220
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hiyness Da Prince!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Henry Shorts!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Daniel Bishop and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Da Prince scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Shorts fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Da Prince avoids it really well and circles away.

Shorts drives through with a takedown into Da Prince's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Shorts is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Da Prince seems keen to control Shorts's posture.
Shorts working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Da Prince is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shorts with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shorts throwing strikes but missing.
Da Prince has control of Shorts's left arm, preventing Shorts from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shorts controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Shorts in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Da Prince knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shorts on the ground.
Da Prince wants to sweep but no luck.
Da Prince looking to control.
Shorts preventing the sweep.
Shorts postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Shorts has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Da Prince 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.
Shorts postures up.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Shorts working his ground and pound in the gym.
Da Prince keeping moving, preventing Shorts from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Shorts stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Da Prince swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Da Prince preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shorts postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Da Prince has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Da Prince working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shorts postures up in Da Prince's guard and throws a big left but Da Prince blocks it.
Shorts preventing the sweep.
Shorts makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Da Prince on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Da Prince tries to get out of the position.
Shorts is working Da Prince over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Da Prince has control of Shorts's left arm, preventing Shorts from doing any damage.
Da Prince wants to sweep but no luck.
Da Prince manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Shorts manages to get himself to full guard.

Shorts tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Da Prince content to stall in guard here.
Shorts has control of Da Prince's left arm, preventing Da Prince from doing any damage.
Shorts keeping moving, preventing Da Prince from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Prince 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.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Shorts holds on and takes a little breather.
Shorts keeping moving, preventing Da Prince from controlling successfully.
Da Prince is stalling in the full guard.
Shorts is pulling down on Da Prince's head to control his posture.
Da Prince is stalling in the full guard.
Da Prince looking to sit in guard and control but Shorts gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Shorts lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Shorts content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Da Prince 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.
Da Prince trying to keep a closed guard but Shorts is proving a slippery customer.
Shorts makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Shorts landing some decent shots from guard.
Shorts chips away with some ground and pound.
Da Prince 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Shorts's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Shorts working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Shorts is in close to Da Prince's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Shorts dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Da Prince tries to bum rush Shorts with a series of wild strikes but Shorts uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Da Prince throws a big shot that misses.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Shorts.
Da Prince taking punishment in the form of punches.
Shorts working away.
Shorts tries to move into full mount but can't pass Da Prince's legs.
Da Prince tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Shorts wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Shorts landing strikes.
Shorts wants to lay and pray for a moment but Da Prince keeps working.
You can see the frustration on Da Prince's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Check out the look on Shorts's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Shorts has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Da Prince tries to improve position but can't.
Shorts lands a few punches from side control.
Shorts landing strikes.
Shorts controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Prince tries to bench press Shorts off him but Shorts keeps the position.
Shorts is putting a hurting on Da Prince here, landing some big shots from side control.
Da Prince tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Shorts wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Da Prince is working to avoid the ground and pound but Shorts connects with a decent elbow.
Da Prince prevents Shorts from improving position.
Da Prince takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Shorts in side control lands a decent elbow.
Shorts wants to control but Da Prince is keeping him busy.
Da Prince is trying to control Shorts's posture but Shorts avoids it.
Da Prince on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Da Prince takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Shorts landing a few strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shorts is working Da Prince over with some ground and pound from side control.
Shorts tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Da Prince is looking to regain half guard here but Shorts keeps moving and retains side control.
Da Prince sneaks back into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Prince tries to get to full guard but Shorts has control of the leg.
Da Prince is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Shorts scores with a couple of nice shots.
Shorts looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Da Prince with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Da Prince is staying active underneath Shorts, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Da Prince is looking for a sweep. Shorts is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Da Prince wants to control but Shorts is keeping busy.
Shorts is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Da Prince has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shorts is working away from the top position though.
Henry Shorts has got the better of the ground game so far.
Da Prince is looking for a sweep. Shorts is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Shorts landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Shorts lands with a punch from half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Da Prince is trying to stand up here but Shorts is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Prince desperately trying to maintain half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Shorts connects with a nice short shot to Da Prince's temple.
Da Prince trying to control from the bottom.
Shorts lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Shorts scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Shorts is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Shorts.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Shorts lands a nice short elbow.
Shorts wants to free his trapped foot but Da Prince is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Da Prince is looking for a sweep. Shorts is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Shorts looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Da Prince with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Shorts trying to control the pace.
Shorts is trying to control. Da Prince wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shorts trying to pass the guard but Da Prince defending well.
Shorts winds up and cracks Da Prince with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Da Prince has hold of Shorts's hands but Shorts slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Shorts is looking to take a break and control but Da Prince is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Da Prince works his way to full guard. Good work.
Shorts with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Da Prince wants to sweep here but Shorts controlling him for the moment.
Shorts keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Da Prince's head.
Da Prince not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Da Prince is really struggling to control Shorts but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Da Prince has Shorts pulled in close to control his posture.
Shorts lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Da Prince has his hands on Shorts's head, controlling the position.
Shorts trying to control the position from guard on top but Da Prince is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Shorts showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Da Prince throws a hook but Shorts avoids it easily.
Nice defenses there by Shorts.
Da Prince stuffs the takedown attempt from Shorts. Shorts gets slowly back to his feet.
Da Prince misses with a looping right.
Da Prince is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Shorts.
Shorts drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Da Prince defends it well.
Shorts throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Da Prince's waist but Da Prince gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Shorts off to one side.
Da Prince fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Shorts tries for a takedown but Da Prince sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hiyness Da Prince has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry Shorts.
Da Prince connects with a single shot there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Da Prince gets caught napping as Shorts dives in and scores a takedown. Da Prince manages to retain guard.
Da Prince looking to control.
Da Prince has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shorts tries to free his leg and advance position but Da Prince is retaining full guard.
Shorts stands up over Da Prince, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Da Prince is adopting a defensive guard.
Shorts throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shorts is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Shorts won't allow Da Prince to sweep him here.
Shorts trying to control the position from guard on top but Da Prince is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shorts lands a couple of elbows.
Shorts distracts Da Prince with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Shorts scoring with some ground and pound.
Da Prince 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.
Shorts trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Shorts won't allow Da Prince to sweep him here.
Hiyness Da Prince has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Prince is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Shorts's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Shorts won't allow Da Prince to sweep him here.
Shorts scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Shorts wants to control from the top but Da Prince keeps moving.
Shorts throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Da Prince works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shorts works over Da Prince with some ground and pound from guard.
Da Prince bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Shorts's guard.

Shorts is pulling down on Da Prince's head. It's preventing any offense from Da Prince, at least for the moment.
Shorts manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Da Prince manages to get himself to full guard.

Shorts works over Da Prince with some ground and pound from guard.
Shorts is stalling in the full guard.
Shorts scoring with some ground and pound.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shorts in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Shorts stands up over Da Prince, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Da Prince looking for a sweep. Not yet Da Prince, not yet.
Shorts landing with the ground and pound.
Da Prince looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shorts is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Da Prince is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Shorts is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Shorts works his way to full guard. Good work.
Shorts is controlling Da Prince's posture.

Da Prince drops back, looking for a kneebar! Shorts looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Shorts looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Shorts!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da Prince wants to control but Shorts postures up.
Da Prince gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Shorts winds up and cracks Da Prince with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Da Prince is trying to get back to full guard.
Shorts lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Shorts is nestled in close to Da Prince, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Shorts working Da Prince over with strikes.
Da Prince on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Shorts lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Shorts winds up and cracks Da Prince with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Shorts stalling.
Nice strikes from Shorts there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henry Shorts comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shorts winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henry Shorts!
An out of breath Henry Shorts thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.