PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Don Shaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oliver Strong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shaw comes to the cage accompanied by Body Head Bangerz - Can't Be Touched. 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.

Shaw
vs
Strong

185 cm
24
182 lbs
11 - 6 - 1

180 cm
27
180 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Resistance

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 1, fighting out of London, Don Shaw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Oliver Strong!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Colin Fotheringham and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shaw closes the distance and clinches up with Strong, looking for a takedown. Shaw pushes Strong against the cage but Strong circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Shaw has a takedown stuffed.
Strong misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shaw.

Shaw clinches.
Shaw wants to break free but Strong has control.
Strong pushes Shaw back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Shaw throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Strong blocks it with crossed arms.
Shaw using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Strong tries to work over Shaw's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Strong tries to pull guard but Shaw holds him up against the cage and eventually Strong drops back down to his feet.
Shaw tries a body shot but Strong blocks it.
Shaw is trying to break free.
Shaw tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Strong avoids it.
Shaw tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Strong avoids it.

Shaw breaks the clinch.
Shaw takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Shaw misses with a takedown attempt - Strong sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Don Shaw. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shaw throws a low kick but it's checked well by Strong.

Shaw closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Strong quickly recovers to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strong is looking for a sweep. Shaw is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Shaw is working for a submission of some sort.
Strong tries to roll over but Shaw keeps him under control.
Strong moves into full guard.
Strong looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shaw is one step ahead there.

Strong is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Strong looking for a sweep. Not yet Strong, not yet.

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.
Shaw trying to control the position from guard on top but Strong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Strong working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Shaw doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Shaw manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shaw throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Strong works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shaw wants to pass the guard but Strong is keeping the position.
Shaw trying to control the position from guard on top but Strong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Strong looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shaw is one step ahead there.
Shaw not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaw stopping the sweep attempt from Strong.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Shaw working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Shaw stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Strong swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Strong preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Shaw avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strong wants to sweep here but Shaw controlling him for the moment.

That's four 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.
Shaw slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Strong sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Shaw is trying to control the action in half guard but Strong is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Strong wants to improve his position but Shaw is controlling well.

Strong looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Strong is trying to get back to full guard.
Strong is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Shaw scores with a couple of nice shots.
Shaw working the head and body with strikes.
Shaw missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Shaw dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Shaw throws out a leg kick but Strong moves out of range and Shaw only half commits.
Strong takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Nice body punch from Strong.
A head kick from Shaw lands but Strong takes it in his stride.

Shaw closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Strong's guard.
Shaw won't allow Strong to sweep him here.
Shaw is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Shaw throws a big right hand that misses.
Shaw looking to pass the guard.
Strong keeping moving, preventing Shaw from controlling successfully.
Shaw stopping the sweep attempt from Strong.
Shaw passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw is keen to just control but Strong is a slippery customer.
Shaw passes to side control.
Shaw wants to lay and pray for a moment but Strong keeps working.
Strong keeps Shaw under control for a moment.
Strong gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's two 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.
Shaw thows a huge punch but Strong dodges it nicely.
Shaw slips a nice elbow through Strong's hands, connecting with Strong's forehead.
Shaw throwing shots but Strong is blocking nicely.
Shaw tries to pass the half guard into mount. Strong knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are battling for position here. Strong manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Strong 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.
Shaw wants to control from the top but Strong keeps moving.

Strong is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Strong looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Strong is breathing heavily.
Strong bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Shaw's guard.
Shaw is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Strong loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Strong wants to control from the top but Shaw keeps moving.
Strong trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shaw is trying to control the position but Strong postures up.
Strong pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shaw is keeping the position for now.

Shaw looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Shaw 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Shaw is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Strong has his hands clasped together but Shaw extends an breaks Strong's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Shaw.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Don Shaw!