PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Speed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Emeka Shakur (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Speed's entrance music is Amon Tobin / El Cargo. A fine choice. Shakur has chosen Tatanka - Africa as his entrance music. Daniel Speed could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Emeka Shakur's chin.

Speed
vs
Shakur

200 cm
30
241 lbs
32 - 11 - 0

195 cm
38
255 lbs
38 - 15 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!
Heisenberg

Heisenberg
Australian Xtreme Elite Supplements 160Q

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 32 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Daniel Speed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 38 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Emeka Shakur!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Speed lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Shakur at a distance.
Speed blocks a jab.
Speed takes a swing at Shakur's ribcage but misses.
Shakur's jab looks to have found its range, popping Speed under the eye.
Shakur goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Daniel Speed has been cut.
Speed ducks under a wild hook from Shakur.
Speed throws a lazy right hand but Shakur sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Speed connects with an inside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Shakur clinches with his opponent.
Shakur lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Speed working aggressively here.
Shakur lands a left hand that snaps the head of Speed backwards.
Shakur tries to throw a body punch but Speed avoids it by throwing Shakur back against the cage.
Shakur lands with a short head shot on the inside.
We've been hearing reports that Speed has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Shakur lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A head punch on the inside from Shakur fails to land.
Speed scores with a nice hook to the head.
Speed has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Shakur after a bit of a struggle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shakur lands with a right to the head.
Shakur softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Shakur lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Shakur tries a body shot but Speed blocks it.
Speed is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Shakur blocks an uppercut.
Shakur misses with a punch to the body.
Speed trying to control the position but instead, Shakur has worked for underhooks and has pushed Speed into the cage.
Shakur is looking to break free of the clinch but Speed has double underhooks.
Speed swings wildly with an uppercut but Shakur uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shakur struggles to land a body shot inside as Speed controls his hands.
Shakur lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Speed blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Shakur swings wildly with an uppercut but Speed uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shakur throws a head punch that misses.
Shakur struggles to land a body shot inside as Speed controls his hands.
Shakur has a couple of punches blocked by Speed.
Shakur doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Shakur doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Shakur lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shakur swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shakur misses with a punch to the body.
Speed blocks a body shot from Shakur.
Shakur has a couple of punches blocked by Speed.
Speed lands a shot to the body.
Shakur prevents a takedown attempt there.
A short body shot lands from Speed as the two fighters clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shakur swings wildly with an uppercut but Speed uses good head movement to avoid it.
Speed has a couple of punches blocked by Shakur.
Speed lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

It looks like Emeka Shakur has been cut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shakur.
Speed throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Shakur fails to land.
Speed lands with a light punch inside.
Speed swings wildly with an uppercut but Shakur uses good head movement to avoid it.
Speed scores with a shoulder strike.
Shakur can't find room to land a body shot as Speed controls the action.
Shakur lands a shot to the body.
Speed blocks a body shot from Shakur.
Shakur working aggressively here.
Shakur tries to throw a body punch but Speed avoids it by throwing Shakur back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Shakur working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Speed blocks an uppercut.
Shakur lands a nice shot to the body.
Shakur blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Speed prevents a body shot from Shakur.
Speed's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Speed gets through Shakur's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Shakur misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Shakur is trying to force a seperation but Speed has the dominant position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A short right from Shakur.
Speed tries to work over Shakur's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Shakur tries to work over Speed's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right from Speed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emeka Shakur dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Shakur lands a right hook to the body.
Shakur tries a head kick but it misses.
Speed chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Speed looks for the body kick but Shakur saw that one coming.
Shakur moves out of range of the body kick.
Speed throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Shakur moves into the clinch.
Shakur scores with a shot to the side of Speed's head.
Shakur tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Speed's elbow.
Speed lands with a left to the head.
Shakur prevents a body shot from Speed.
Shakur misses with a hook from the clinch.
Speed tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Shakur scores with a shoulder strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Speed digs a right hand into Shakur's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Shakur's gas tank.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speed has a couple of punches blocked by Shakur.
Shakur pushes Speed back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Speed tries to work over Shakur's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Shakur misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Shakur misses with a hook from the clinch.
Shakur lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Speed backwards.

Daniel Speed's cut is getting worse.
Shakur throws a head punch that misses.
A right hand to the body from Shakur.
A short uppercut from Shakur.
Speed lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Shakur backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shakur lands a left hand.
Speed blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Speed fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Speed misses with a short punch on the inside.
Shakur misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Speed swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shakur lands a shot to the body.
Speed blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Speed doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Shakur works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Shakur misses with a hook from the clinch.
Shakur tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Speed's elbow.
Shakur tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Shakur lands a body punch in the clinch.
Shakur swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shakur tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Speed lands a shoulder strike.
Shakur throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Speeds head.
Shakur makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Daniel Speed's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shakur.
Shakur misses with a punch to the body.
Shakur tries to work over Speed's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Speed goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A right hook to the body lands for Speed.
Speed digs a right hand into Shakur's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Shakur's gas tank.
Speed misses with a body punch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Speed.
Shakur misses with a punch to the body.
Speed is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Shakur is defending well.
Good body shot from Speed.
Shakur tries a body shot but Speed blocks it.
Speed can't find room to land a body shot as Shakur controls the action.
Speed blocks a body shot from Shakur.
Shakur misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Speed tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Shakur's elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A hook to the body from Speed.
Shakur misses with the head strike.
Speed pushes Shakur back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shakur.
Speed is looking to take this one to the mat.
Shakur is trying to break free.
Shakur presses Speed against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Shakur struggles to land a body shot inside as Speed controls his hands.
Emeka Shakur seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Shakur tries to throw a body punch but Speed avoids it by throwing Shakur back against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Speed scores with a nice short uppercut.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shakur struggles to land a body shot inside as Speed controls his hands.

Speed drags the fight down to the ground.
Shakur is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Emeka Shakur will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Speed takes a jab right on the kisser.
Speed uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Shakur.
Shakur takes one on the button.
Speed lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Shakur avoids the head kick by Speed.
A solid leg kick lands there for Shakur.
Speed walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shakur stuns Speed with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Shakur swings widly with a right hand

and Speed counters with a single leg into guard. Shakur didn't expect that.
Speed wants to control from the top but Shakur keeps moving.
Shakur is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shakur 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speed postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Speed missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shakur is on top in guard.
Shakur won't allow Speed to sweep him here.
Speed trying to keep a closed guard but Shakur is proving a slippery customer.
Shakur wants to pass the guard but Speed is keeping the position.
Shakur looking to sit in guard and control but Speed gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Emeka Shakur is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Speed missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Speed working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Shakur controlling Speed's posture.
Shakur has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Speed has passed into side control.
Speed wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shakur keeps working.
Speed cracks Shakur with a big right hand but Shakur just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speed is trying to ground and pound but Shakur uses the momentary lack of control by Speed to regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Speed lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Speed throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Shakur is trying to stand back up but Speed is controlling him
Shakur trying to hold on to Speed's head to control him but Speed postures up.
Speed wants to free his trapped foot but Shakur is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Speed with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Daniel Speed has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Speed wants to slow Shakur down by chopping away at his legs.
Shakur tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Speed defending well as Shakur loads up on a big left hand.
Speed throws a sloppy head kick and Shakur moves out of range easily.
Speed misses with a hook. Shakur ducked under it nicely.
Speed misses with a leg kick
and Shakur counters with a nice low kick that buckles Speed's knee momentarily.
Shakur uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Speed has time to react.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Speed avoids a kick to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Speed cracks the inside of Shakur's front leg.
Speed checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Speed showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shakur 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emeka Shakur!
An out of breath Emeka Shakur thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.