PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jack Shields (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcelo Nogueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nogueira has chosen Perry Mason as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Jack Shields had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 171.8lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shields
vs
Nogueira

180 cm
21
182 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

177 cm
24
180 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Very confident

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jack Shields!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marcelo Nogueira!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Robert Twigg and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nogueira throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nogueira tries to clinch there but Shields circles away.
Shields throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nogueira's waist but Nogueira gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Shields off to one side.
Shields swats away the attempt to clinch by Nogueira.
Nogueira moves in looking to clinch but Shields pushes him off.
Shields avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nogueira shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Shields defends it nicely.
Nogueira swinging wildly here.
Shields throws a hook but Nogueira blocks it.

Nogueira gets a clinch.
Nogueira avoiding damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shields drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Shields has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Nogueira after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Shields. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nogueira gets underhooks to prevent Shields's takedown attempt.
Shields takes an elbow to the temple.
Nogueira lands an elbow inside that Shields shrugs off.
Nogueira lands a damaging elbow.
Nogueira tries to land knees in the clinch but Shields avoids the damage to the body.
Nogueira is pressed up against the cage. Shields has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nogueira down to the mat. Nogueira avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nogueira tries to clinch but Shields is having none of it.
Shields shoots for a double leg takedown but Nogueira sprawls well. He's pushed Shields's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira tries to close the distance and clinch but Shields swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shields blocks a head kick by Nogueira.

Nogueira has managed to clinch.

Nogueira manages to break the clinch.
Shields uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nogueira.

Nogueira has closed the distance and engaged Shields in a clinch.
Nogueira lands an elbow inside that Shields shrugs off.
Shields managing to block the knees to the body from Nogueira.

Nogueira manages to pull guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Nogueira working a defensive guard here.
Shields 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.
Shields wants to control from the top but Nogueira keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira trying to strike off his back.
Nogueira can't keep his opponent in guard - Shields advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Shields works his way into full mount!
Shields trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Shields controlling the pace for now.
Shields wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields controlling from the full mount.
Shields has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jack Shields wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Nogueira throws a leg kick but Shields moved away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nogueira stuffs the takedown attempt from Shields. Shields gets slowly back to his feet.
Shields circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marcelo Nogueira will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shields swats away the attempt to clinch by Nogueira.
Shields fails with the takedown.
Shields swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nogueira shoots for a takedown but Shields saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Shields avoids the head kick by Nogueira.
Nogueira shoots in for a takedown but Shields shows good takedown defense.

Nogueira closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nogueira throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nogueira is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Shields drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nogueira pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira throws a right hand that Shields ducks under and follows up with a left that Shields also avoids with ease.
Shields tries for a takedown but Nogueira sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Shields. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shields fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nogueira avoids it really well and circles away.
Nogueira tries to clinch but Shields moves out of range.
Nogueira tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shields swivels and escapes.
Nogueira tries to close the distance and clinch but Shields swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nogueira fails in his attempt to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Shields is defended easily by Nogueira.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields throws a leg kick but Nogueira checks it.
Shields avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Marcelo Nogueira seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nogueira will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nogueira tries a low kick but Shields avoids it.
Marcelo Nogueira is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Nogueira darts in and clinches Shields up against the cage.
Nogueira tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Shields has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Nogueira avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Nogueira has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Shields after a bit of a struggle.
Shields is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Nogueira to keep the fight standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice elbow from Nogueira.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira avoiding damage.
Shields has Nogueira pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nogueira manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Shields has Nogueira pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nogueira manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nogueira tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nogueira lands an elbow inside that Shields shrugs off.
Nogueira lands an elbow that stopped Shields in his tracks for a moment.

Nogueira breaks from the clinch.
Nogueira misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Nogueira finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Nogueira rushes Shields and presses him up against the cage.
Nogueira is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields goes for a takedown attempt but Nogueira pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Nogueira moves into the clinch successfully.
A short right from Nogueira on the inside.

Nogueira pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shields moves away from the strike by Nogueira.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shields avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nogueira tries to clinch up but Shields circles away and keeps his distance.
Nogueira is looking to clinch but Shields is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcelo Nogueira showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Shields has closed the distance and engaged Nogueira in a clinch.
Nogueira lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Jack Shields has been cut.
Shields on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Nogueira breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nogueira shoots in and drives through. Shields sprawls well.
Nogueira lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shields circles away quickly and effectively.
Nogueira misses with a head kick.
Nogueira shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shields but Shields pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shields closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nogueira circles away.
Shields tries for a takedown but Nogueira sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nogueira fails with an attempt to clinch.
Shields fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Shields. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira tries to clinch up but Shields circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nogueira looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Nogueira has managed to clinch.
Nogueira using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shields has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Nogueira.
Marcelo Nogueira seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Nice elbow from Nogueira.
Shields has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Nogueira is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Shields is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira misses with a knee to the head.
Nogueira lands an elbow inside.
Shields drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Nogueira gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Shields is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nogueira trying to land knees to the body.
Nogueira is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Shields pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Nogueira breaks from the clinch.
The fighters circling - Nogueira throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nogueira fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shields changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nogueira looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Shields is looking to take a break and control but Nogueira is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nogueira is trying to get back to half guard.
Shields passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Nogueira!
Shields trying to control but Nogueira is having none of it.
Shields sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Marcelo Nogueira is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Jack Shields has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Nogueira closes the distance and pushes Shields back into the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Nogueira breaks the clinch.
Jack Shields has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nogueira misses with a takedown attempt - Shields sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

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 Jack Shields.
I think Nogueira 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcelo Nogueira!
In his post fight interview, Marcelo Nogueira started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.