PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Shelter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Cummins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shelter
vs
Cummins

172 cm
22
154 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
160 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Anderson Shelter!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Cummins!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Sam Margolis and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cummins throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cummins throws a head kick but Shelter moves out of range.
Shelter misses with a takedown attempt - Cummins sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cummins tries to clinch but Shelter moves out of range.
Shelter swats away the attempt to clinch by Cummins.
Cummins tries to clinch up.
Shelter looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cummins is fending him off so far but Shelter persists. Nope, Cummins circles away and we're back to standing.

Shelter throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Cummins was covering up waiting for the punch and Shelter finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Shelter prevents Cummins from getting back to his feet.
Cummins keeping moving, preventing Shelter from controlling successfully.
Cummins wants to stand and escape but Shelter is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shelter stands up from Cummins's guard - Shelter perhaps looking for a knockout.
Cummins throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Cummins tests Shelter's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Shelter fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Shelter. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Shelter drives through and clinches with Cummins against the cage.

Shelter turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Shelter manages to end up in side control.

Shelter wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cummins, who protects the arm well.

Shelter is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cummins is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Cummins wants to get back to his feet but Shelter drags him back down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shelter throws an elbow but Cummins slips to the side and avoids it well.

Shelter is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cummins knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Shelter moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Shelter is looking to take a break and control but Cummins is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Cummins's face as Shelter controls the position.
Cummins is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Shelter is controlling him well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cummins can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shelter looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Cummins is avoiding damage well.
Cummins is trying to buck Shelter off.

Shelter wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cummins, who protects the arm well.
Shelter working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Shelter is looking to take a break and control but Cummins is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cummins is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Shelter has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Shelter trying to control the action but Cummins is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Shelter misses with a two punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cummins throws a combination. Shelter tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Shelter throws a right and a left that both miss.
Shelter fails with a takedown attempt.
Cummins wants to clinch.

Shelter closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Shelter wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cummins, who protects the arm well.
Shelter prevents Cummins from escaping the position.
Shelter grinds an elbow into Cummins's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cummins doesn't manage to clinch there - Shelter circles away.
Shelter closes the distance and clinches up with Cummins, looking for a takedown. Shelter pushes Cummins against the cage but Cummins circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cummins doesn't manage to clinch there - Shelter circles away.

Cummins gets a clinch.
Shelter avoids the elbow strike from Cummins, against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Cummins throws an elbow but misses.
Shelter tries to break the clinch but Cummins is controlling the position.
Cummins is looking to break free of the clinch but Shelter has double underhooks.

Cummins breaks from the clinch.
Cummins wants to clinch up but Shelter keeps it at a distance.

Shelter scores with a takedown into Cummins's guard.

Shelter stands and steps away. Cummins gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cummins throws a one two combo.

Shelter shoots in and bounces Cummins off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Cummins wants to get back to his feet but Shelter is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cummins keeping moving, preventing Shelter from controlling successfully.
Shelter lands a couple of digs.

Shelter drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Shelter jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Shelter trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cummins utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cummins avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Shelter prevents Cummins from getting back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cummins looks to clinch

and Shelter counters with a single leg into guard. Cummins didn't expect that.
Cummins is breathing heavily.
Shelter prevents Cummins from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shelter tries to free his leg and advance position but Cummins is retaining full guard.

Shelter stands up and waves to Cummins to follow him.
Nice takedown defense from Cummins. No joy for Shelter on that attempt.
Shelter avoids a punch combination nicely.
Shelter shoots in for a takedown but Cummins shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Shelter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cummins looks to land a combination. Shelter sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Cummins's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Cummins duly obliges.
Cummins fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shelter manages to avoid it.

Shelter darts in and clinches Cummins up against the cage.
Shelter jumps guard but Cummins stands there with Shelter around his waist. Shelter gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Shelter pulls guard effortlessly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shelter working for a triangle but Cummins defends it easily.

Shelter has his foot on Cummins's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cummins works his way back into a safe position though.
Shelter pulls Cummins in close to his closed guard and prevents Cummins from doing any damage or advancing position.
Shelter tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Shelter looking for a guillotine here but Cummins defends easily.
Shelter not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cummins would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Anderson Shelter overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shelter not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Shelter striking off his back but it's not causing Cummins any problems.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Shelter throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cummins wants to clinch.
Cummins tries to clinch but Shelter moves away

and Shelter counters by clinching up.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Cummins.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Shelter 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.

Cummins throws a combination. Shelter tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Cummins closes the distance but Shelter moves to the side

and Shelter counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Shelter.
Shelter throwing strikes but missing.
Cummins keeping moving, preventing Shelter from controlling successfully.
Shelter scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Shelter with a nice head shot there.
Shelter 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.

Shelter drops back looking for a leg! Cummins is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cummins manages to kick Shelter off! Shelter jumps back into Cummins's guard.
Shelter 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cummins wants to stand up but Shelter is controlling him.
Cummins takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shelter scoring with punches to the head and body.
Cummins keeping moving, preventing Shelter from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cummins tries to close the distance and clinch but Shelter swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mark Cummins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A nice leg kick lands there from Cummins.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Shelter closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cummins circles away.
Shelter throws out a loose jab but Cummins uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cummins looks to clinch

and Shelter counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Shelter.
Shelter prevents Cummins from breaking the clinch.
Cummins is trying to force a seperation but Shelter has the dominant position.
Shelter fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cummins tries to break free but Shelter pushes him back against the cage.
Shelter keeps control of Cummins as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Shelter changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cummins fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Shelter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cummins tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Shelter counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Cummins!

Shelter working for a submission but Cummins is keeping him at bay.
Cummins is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cummins is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Shelter controlling from mount.

Shelter is going olschool here, as he tries to force Cummins to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Cummins shrugs it off.
Cummins is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
BOOM! Shelter connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Shelter scoring with strikes but Cummins is staying in there.
Shelter controlling his opponent.
Shelter landing punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cummins is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Shelter landing strikes from the mount.
Shelter with a couple of short strikes.

Shelter is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Cummins has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Cummins!
Cummins preventing the sweep.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shelter is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Shelter clearly takes that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cummins scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Shelter shoots in for a takedown but Cummins shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Cummins as Shelter shoots in.
Shelter showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cummins.
Cummins pushes Shelter away with a front kick.
Cummins tries to clinch there but Shelter circles away.
Anderson Shelter is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cummins throws a series of strikes that have Shelter backpedaling.
Cummins pushes Shelter away with a front kick.
Cummins keeps the fight on the outside.
Cummins darts in trying to clinch

and Shelter counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cummins won't be happy with that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cummins taking punishment in the form of punches.
Shelter trying to control the action but Cummins is working from the bottom.
An elbow from Shelter crashes against the mat.
Shelter working the ground and pound but Cummins is defending the strikes.
Shelter prevents Cummins from escaping the position.
Shelter lands a decent elbow from side control.
Cummins trying to remain calm as Shelter controls from the top position.

Shelter working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Cummins is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Shelter asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's two 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.
Shelter in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Shelter trying to control the position but Cummins is working away.
Cummins takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Shelter throws a strike aimed at the side of Cummins's head but Cummins avoids it well.
Cummins wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Shelter throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A punch combination from Cummins misses.
Cummins stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Shelter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Cummins as Shelter shoots in.
Cummins wants to clinch but Shelter slips to the side

and Shelter counters with a shoot takedown. Cummins fights it but they end up in guard.
Shelter's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Cummins is looking to stand up but Shelter isn't so interested in that idea.
Shelter trying to control but Cummins is working from the bottom.
Cummins wants to stand and escape but Shelter is having none of it.
Shelter controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shelter works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Cummins is looking to escape.

Shelter is looking for a kimura but Cummins is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Shelter to get the leverage.

Shelter is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Shelter is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cummins sees it coming and defends easily.
Cummins looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Shelter had his way with Mark Cummins in that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Shelter closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cummins to the mat! Cummins manages to get full guard.
Shelter forces his way into half guard.
Shelter thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Shelter working Cummins over with strikes.
Cummins is staying active underneath Shelter, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cummins is trying to stand up here but Shelter is controlling him well.

Shelter is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cummins sees it coming and defends easily.
Shelter is keen to just control but Cummins is a slippery customer.
Cummins wants to get back to his feet.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Shelter working Cummins over with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shelter looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Cummins with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Cummins avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Shelter.
Shelter seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cummins does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Shelter maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Cummins could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Shelter has cracked it and Cummins is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Shelter!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:39 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Anderson Shelter!
Anderson Shelter is the new lightweight champion!