PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gatete Omondi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don Shipman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Don Shipman will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Omondi
vs
Shipman

193 cm
25
273 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

180 cm
19
225 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gatete Omondi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Don Shipman!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shipman throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Shipman drives through with a takedown into guard.
Shipman preventing the sweep.
Shipman wants to pass the guard but Omondi is keeping the position.
Shipman wanted to stand there but Omondi had control of the position.
Shipman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Omondi could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Shipman wants to stand but Omondi is controlling his posture from full guard.
Shipman preventing the sweep.
Omondi seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Omondi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shipman is one step ahead there.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Shipman connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shipman lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Shipman darts in and clinches Omondi up against the cage.
Omondi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shipman is trying to break free.
Omondi is trying to drag Shipman to the mat but Shipman just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Shipman using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Omondi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Shipman tries to work over Omondi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Shipman drags the fight down to the ground.
Omondi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Omondi trying to control but Shipman is working from the bottom.
Omondi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shipman swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Omondi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Omondi tries to free his leg and advance position but Shipman is retaining full guard.
Omondi won't allow Shipman to get back to his feet.
Shipman tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shipman has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Omondi tries for a takedown but Shipman sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Shipman closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Omondi's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shipman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Omondi is pulling down on Shipman's head to control his posture.
Omondi wants to sweep here but Shipman controlling him for the moment.
Shipman wanted to stand there but Omondi had control of the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Shipman decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Omondi, up you get!
Omondi blocks a head kick by Shipman.
Omondi on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Omondi is breathing heavily.
Omondi doesn't manage to clinch there - Shipman circles away.

Shipman scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shipman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Omondi keeps working.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shipman tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Omondi sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Omondi is looking for a sweep. Shipman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Shipman working Omondi over with strikes.
Omondi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Shipman tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Shipman throwing shots but Omondi is blocking nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Shipman is working for a submission of some sort.
Shipman looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Omondi with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Shipman dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shipman clinches up with Omondi and pushes him back against the cage.

Omondi gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Omondi trying to control the action but Shipman is working from the bottom.
Omondi wants to pass the guard but Shipman is defending well.
Don Shipman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Omondi is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Omondi lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Omondi wants to control but Shipman is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Omondi seems to be looking for submissions.
Omondi passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Shipman!

Omondi looking to secure an arm triangle but Shipman defends it well.
Shipman is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Shipman is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Omondi unloads with some shots from mount but Shipman bucks and avoids them well.
Omondi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Omondi seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Shipman for as long as he can get away with.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shipman blocking the ground and pound.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Shipman. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Omondi looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Omondi is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Shipman to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Shipman shrugs it off.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shipman keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Omondi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Shipman is looking to escape.
Shipman has given up his back.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Omondi's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Omondi has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Shipman has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shipman avoids the strikes from Omondi.

Omondi is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Omondi wants to control but Shipman is keeping busy.

Omondi looking for the choke but no joy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Omondi throwing sloppy strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shipman trying to get back to his feet but Omondi is in full control for now.
Shipman trying to control the action but Omondi just sinks the hooks in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gatete Omondi dominated that second 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!

Shipman connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Shipman lands a nice looking body kick.

Omondi takes the fight into the clinch.
Omondi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Shipman gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Shipman won't allow Omondi to sweep him here.
Shipman would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Omondi controls Shipman momentarily but Shipman frees himself.
Shipman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Omondi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shipman wants to stand but Omondi is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Omondi is adopting a defensive guard.
Omondi has a closed guard, preventing Shipman from standing up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Shipman is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Omondi's half guard.
Shipman prevents Omondi from improving his position.
Omondi is working hard here to advance position.
Shipman tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Omondi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shipman seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Omondi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Omondi is trying to get back to full guard.
Shipman tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Omondi.
Shipman seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Omondi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Don Shipman was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Omondi has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Shipman.

Shipman shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shipman wants to stand up but Omondi has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Shipman stalling away here and it's allowed Omondi to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shipman would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Omondi is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Omondi wants to sweep here but Shipman controlling him for the moment.
Omondi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Shipman must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Omondi 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.

Shipman drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Omondi dives on top into guard.
Omondi won't allow Shipman to get back to his feet.
Omondi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shipman keeping full guard, as Omondi tries to pass.
Shipman keeping moving, preventing Omondi from controlling successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Shipman looking for a sweep. Not yet Shipman, not yet.
Shipman really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Omondi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Omondi controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Gatete Omondi has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Omondi fails in his attempt to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shipman throws a one two combo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Omondi.

And that's the end of the fight!
Don Shipman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Shipman 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Don Shipman!