PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mark Shields (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tdiaj Sango (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shields comes to the cage accompanied by "Walk" by Pantera. 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.

Shields
vs
Sango

175 cm
27
155 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

180 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mark Shields!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tdiaj Sango!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shields closes the distance and clinches up with Sango, looking for a takedown. Shields pushes Sango against the cage but Sango circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Shields showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sango.
Sango tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shields swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shields shoots for a takedown but Sango saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Shields takes one on the button.
Shields misses with a head kick.

Shields shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sango's guard.
Shields trying to control the position from guard on top but Sango is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shields throws a big right hand that misses.
Sango has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Shields wants to pass the guard but Sango is keeping the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sango holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shields accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sango keeping full guard, as Shields tries to pass.
Sango pulls Shields in to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tdiaj Sango hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Shields fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Sango to the ground. Shields is now in Sango's guard.
Sango trying to control the position here.
Shields won't allow Sango to get back to his feet.
Shields throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sango works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shields throws a big right hand that misses.
Shields throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sango works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Shields looking to pass the guard.
Sango wants to stand up but Shields is controlling him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shields accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shields 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.
Shields loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Shields gets to his feet - Sango follows without any prompting.
Sango tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shields swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sango tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Shields manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sango throws a left and a right that both miss

and Shields counters by clinching up.
Shields working hard to break the clinch.
Nice body punch from Sango.
Shields wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sango.

Shields manages to break the clinch.
A jab from Sango finds it's way through Shields's defenses.

Sango has Shields up against the cage in a clinch.

Sango manages to break the clinch.
Sango tries to clinch

and Shields holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sango looking to slow down the pace here.
Shields stops a takedown attempt from Sango.
Sango looks gassed!
Shields drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sango pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Shields. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sango moves into the clinch successfully.
Sango lands with a light punch inside.
Sango lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Shields misses with an elbow over the top.
Sango lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sango creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Shields drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sango pulls his leg out and moves away.
Shields shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sango defends it nicely.
Shields circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields closes the distance and clinches up with Sango, looking for a takedown. Shields pushes Sango against the cage but Sango circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sango lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shields circles away quickly and effectively.
Sango is looking to clinch but Shields is avoiding it.
Shields throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sango shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Shields defends it nicely.

Sango clinches with his opponent.
Sango keeps control of Shields as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Shields tries to score a body lock takedown but Sango shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
With the fighters up against the cage, Sango throws an elbow but misses.
Sango lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Sango lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Shields wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shields wants to improve his position but Sango is controlling well.
Well, if Sango is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sango tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shields swivels and escapes.
Shields looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sango is fending him off so far but Shields persists. Nope, Sango circles away and we're back to standing.
Sango wants to clinch up but Shields keeps it at a distance.

Sango gets a clinch.
Shields tries to land knees in the clinch but Sango avoids the damage to the body.
Sango digs a right hand into Shields's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Shields's gas tank.
Sango wants a takedown.
Sango lands a right hand.
Sango working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Sango lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Sango manages to pull guard.

Shields decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sango, up you get!
Shields takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sango tries to clinch but Shields is having none of it.

Sango tries to keep at a distance but Shields has taken the fight into the clinch.

Sango breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sango blocks a head kick by Shields.
Shields fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shields takes one on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sango moves into the clinch.
Sango lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Sango scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Sango manages to pull guard.

Shields drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sango manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Shields has Sango in his guard.
Sango postures up.

Sango stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Sango lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shields circles away quickly and effectively.
Sango tries to clinch up.
Shields throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sango tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shields swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shields slaps away a takedown attempt from Sango, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mark Shields has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tdiaj Sango.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sango jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shields shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sango as he jumps to the side.
Shields avoids a punch combination nicely.

Shields moves into range and clinches up with Sango.
A right hand to the body from Sango.
Sango lands with a left to the head.

Shields manages to break the clinch.
Sango tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Shields manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sango is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Shields rushes Sango and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Shields on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Sango breaks the clinch.

Shields gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sango softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Shields is looking to break free of the clinch but Sango has double underhooks.
Sango has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Shields is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Shields jumps guard but Sango stands there with Shields around his waist. Shields gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sango creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields is working for takedown but Sango is calmly controlling the position for now.
Shields tries to pull guard but Sango won't allow it.
Shields jumps guard but Sango stands there with Shields around his waist. Shields gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Sango breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sango lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Sango.
Sango moves in looking to clinch but Shields pushes him off.
Sango fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Shields avoids it really well and circles away.
Shields shoots for a double leg takedown but Sango sprawls well. He's pushed Shields's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sango misses with a double jab.
Shields lands with a kick to the temple. Sango shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Sango has taken the fight to the clinch.
Shields avoids the elbow strike from Sango, against the cage.
Shields is trying to force a seperation but Sango has the dominant position.
Shields jumps guard but Sango stands there with Shields around his waist. Shields gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Shields tries to pull guard but Sango won't allow it.
Sango using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shields has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sango creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sango lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Shields keeps control of Sango as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Shields breaks the clinch.
Shields keeps the fight on the outside.

Shields throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Sango tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Shields is in Sango's guard.

Sango is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Shields is aware though and is defending well.
Shields postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sango looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shields is one step ahead there.
Shields with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sango really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shields. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sango seems keen to control Shields's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tdiaj Sango showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Shields clinches up with Sango and pushes him back against the cage.
Sango scores with a hook to the body.

Sango breaks the clinch.

Sango rushes Shields and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sango works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Shields turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Shields misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Shields goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Sango rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Shields's guard! Nice work there by Sango!

Sango stands up from Shields's guard - Sango perhaps looking for a knockout.
Shields attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Sango stuffs the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Sango moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sango lands with a right to the head.
Shields goes for a takedown attempt but Sango pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sango shoots in but no luck this time.
Sango throws a combination that misses

and Shields counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sango blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shields.
Sango keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Shields thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sango's head.
Shields not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Shields is trying to control the action in half guard but Sango is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sango preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Shields lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Sango pushes Shields off and gets back to his feet.
Shields shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Shields. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sango scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Shields shoots for a double leg takedown but Sango sprawls well. He's pushed Shields's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Sango clinches.
Shields is trying to push Sango away but Sango has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Shields is trying to break the clinch but Sango has him pressed against the cage.
Sango looking to throw knees to the head but Shields is blocking nicely.
Sango working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Sango prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sango tries to land a knee to the head but Shields blocks with his arms.
Sango cracks Shields with a nice body shot.
Sango lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Shields backwards.
Shields is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sango is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sango lands with a right to the head.

Sango's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sango tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Shields manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sango tries to clinch but Shields is having none of it.

Sango gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Shields to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Shields is looking to work some ground and pound but Sango has wrist control.
Shields postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sango utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shields accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shields wants to pass the guard but Sango is keeping the position.

Sango is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields tries for a takedown but Sango manages to get underhooks.

Sango lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Shields tries to kick Sango off but Sango keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Shields makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Shields.

Shields is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sango must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Shields working for a triangle but Sango defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mark Shields.
I think Sango has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight for Tdiaj Sango!
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight for Tdiaj Sango!
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight for Tdiaj Sango!

Tdiaj Sango wins by unanimous decision!