PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between La Tigre Munanaposa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Shields (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Munanaposa's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, I'm an Adult Now. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Jason Shields was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Tigre Munanaposa
vs
Shields

171 cm
27
135 lbs
11 - 13 - 0

167 cm
35
130 lbs
12 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, La Tigre Munanaposa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jason Shields!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Ryoma Takatsuka and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Munanaposa tries for a takedown but Shields circles away easily
enabling Shields to counter with a crisp jab.

Munanaposa gets the takedown into side control.
Munanaposa tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Munanaposa wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Shields, who protects the arm well.

Munanaposa wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Shields, who protects the arm well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shields is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Munanaposa has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The strikes coming from Munanaposa are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
We've been hearing that Munanaposa has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Munanaposa tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Munanaposa has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Munanaposa is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Shields knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Munanaposa thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Shields felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Munanaposa tries to advance to mount but can't.

Munanaposa looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

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.

Munanaposa wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Shields, who protects the arm well.
Shields is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Shields is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Munanaposa looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Shields is not content to let Munanaposa control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Munanaposa taking a breather here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Shields misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Munanaposa closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Shields throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Shields throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
La Tigre Munanaposa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Munanaposa shoots and misses
and Shields connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Munanaposa fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for La Tigre Munanaposa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shields defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Munanaposa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Munanaposa.
Shields paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shields pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Munanaposa feinted with a counter takedown.
Munanaposa has a takedown stuffed.
Shields fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Munanaposa.
Munanaposa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Shields circles away.
Munanaposa is looking to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Munanaposa is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Shields.
Munanaposa shoots in for a takedown but Shields shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A combination from Shields does no damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jason Shields will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Munanaposa fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shields throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Shields throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jason Shields seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Munanaposa takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Munanaposa looks for a takedown but Shields sprawls well.
Munanaposa closes the distance and clinches up with Shields, looking for a takedown. Munanaposa pushes Shields against the cage but Shields circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Shields lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for La Tigre Munanaposa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Munanaposa throws a right and a left that Shields avoids nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Shields. No joy for Munanaposa on that attempt.
Shields is looking for the big counter here.
Shields keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shields explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Shields lands with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Shields. No joy for Munanaposa on that attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Munanaposa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Shields's waist but Shields gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Munanaposa off to one side.
Shields now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Shields misses with a head kick.
Munanaposa changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shields tries to avoid it but Munanaposa manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shields to the ground. Shields escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Jason Shields is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sloppy strikes from Shields. Those never looked like landing.
Nice takedown defense from Shields. No joy for Munanaposa on that attempt.
Shields throws a fast counter high kick but Munanaposa manages to duck under it in time.
Munanaposa shoots and misses
and Shields counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Shields cracks Munanaposa with a right hand to the side of the head.
Shields lands a jab-cross combination.
Shields throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shields scores with a kick to the midsection.
Shields rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Munanaposa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Munanaposa moves out of range as Shields throws a body kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Munanaposa shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Shields as he avoids it easily.
Shields throws a counter combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Munanaposa fails with a takedown attempt.
Shields slaps away a takedown attempt from Munanaposa, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Shields throws a head kick but Munanaposa moves out of range.
Shields misses with a combination

and Munanaposa counters with a nice double leg into side control. Shields won't be happy with that.
Munanaposa trying to control the action but Shields is working from the bottom.
Munanaposa tries to move to mount but Shields blocks the move with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Munanaposa wants to control but Shields is keeping him busy.

Munanaposa tries for a kimura but Shields is defending well.
Shields is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Munanaposa is controlling him well.
Shields is not content to let Munanaposa control the position.
Shields is working to avoid the ground and pound but Munanaposa connects with a decent elbow.

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.

Munanaposa goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Shields has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Munanaposa but great work by Shields.

Shields goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Munanaposa has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Shields but great work by Munanaposa.
Munanaposa tries to advance to mount but Shields denies him.

Munanaposa is trying to get an arm triangle but Shields is defending well.
Shields wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Munanaposa is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Shields has escaped the position, nice work there.

Shields explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Shields showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Munanaposa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Munanaposa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Shields counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Shields tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shields pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shields has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Munanaposa shoots for a double leg takedown but Shields sprawls well. He's pushed Munanaposa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shields unleashes a big counter combination but Munanaposa bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Shields throws a head kick but Munanaposa moves out of range.
Shields throws a body punch but Munanaposa moves out of range.

Munanaposa shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Shields is trying to defend but Munanaposa finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Shields is trying to escape back to his feet but Munanaposa uses the scramble to pass into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shields is trying to get back to his feet.
Shields takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Munanaposa is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Shields knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Munanaposa thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Munanaposa is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Shields is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Munanaposa moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shields is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Munanaposa asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Munanaposa tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Munanaposa working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Shields wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Munanaposa trying to control the action but Shields is working from the bottom.
Munanaposa prevents Shields from escaping the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
La Tigre Munanaposa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Shields sneaks out the side door and pushes Munanaposa away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Shields misses with an uppercut.
Shields throws the kick towards the body but Munanaposa avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields leaves Munanaposa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
As Munanaposa backs off Shields throws a huge counter combo but Munanaposa manages to avoid it all.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for La Tigre Munanaposa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Munanaposa fails with the takedown.

Munanaposa rushes Shields and presses him up against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Munanaposa just misses with a elbow thrown towards Shields's brow.

Shields works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Munanaposa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Munanaposa is working hard here to advance position.
Munanaposa trying to keep a closed guard but Shields is proving a slippery customer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shields wants to get up but he can't break Munanaposa's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Shields throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jason Shields comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shields winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Shields!
Jason Shields looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'I want to fight the champ'.