PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Don Shaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hitman Hart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hart has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shaw
vs
Hart

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
23
183 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

CROWN

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Don Shaw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Hitman Hart!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Paul Tew and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shaw has Hart up against the cage in a clinch.

Shaw wants the takedown. Hart is fighting it off but Shaw persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Hart's guard against the cage.
Shaw is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Shaw wants to stand but Hart is controlling his posture from full guard.

Hart is looking for a triangle but Shaw pushes his legs off easily.
Shaw controls from within his opponent's guard.

Hart looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hart looks gassed!
Shaw content to stall in guard here.
Hart 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.
Shaw stays in close to Hart's body and controls the position.
Hart keeping moving, preventing Shaw from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hart throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Shaw is stalling in the full guard.

Hart throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Shaw trying to control but Hart is working from the bottom.
Shaw knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hart on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

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

Shaw shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Shaw slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Shaw stands up from Hart's guard - Shaw perhaps looking for a knockout.

Shaw feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shaw with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Hart has his foot on Shaw's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Shaw works his way back into a safe position though.

Hart looking for a guillotine here but Shaw defends easily.
Shaw advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaw is controlling the pace.
Shaw not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shaw is looking to advance position but Hart won't allow it.
Shaw is tying to control. Hart wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Shaw decides to stand up.

Shaw looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaw is tying to control. Hart wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Shaw decides to stand up.

Shaw clinches.
Shaw landing knees to the body.
Hart is pressed up against the cage. Shaw has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hart down to the mat. Hart avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Some wild striking there from Shaw.

Shaw looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Hart throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shaw is looking to work some ground and pound but Hart has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Shaw dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hitman Hart's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Shaw.
Shaw lands a nice forearm strike.
Shaw tries to advance to mount but can't.
Shaw is looking to take a break and control but Hart is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hart is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hart is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hart struggling a bit here.

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

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Shaw closes the distance and clinches.

Shaw has Hart pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Shaw pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Hart tumbling to the mat - Shaw dives into Hart's guard.
Shaw has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Hart throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Hart looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaw 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.

Hart is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hart keeping moving, preventing Shaw from controlling successfully.

Shaw gets to his feet - Hart follows without any prompting.
Don Shaw is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shaw fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Shaw forces Hart back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shaw breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Shaw drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Hart's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Shaw tries to move into full mount but can't pass Hart's legs.
Shaw working away.
Shaw controlling the position from side mount.
Hart is looking to reverse the position.
Shaw working away.
Hart is not content to let Shaw control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Shaw tries for a takedown but Hart sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Shaw looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Hart!
Hart keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Shaw controlling the pace for now.
Hart is squirming around, avoiding Shaw's attempts to control the action.
Hart tries to reverse the position but Shaw maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Shaw dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Hitman Hart's cut.
That's time! Shaw's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Shaw.
Hart taking a bit of punishment here - Shaw scoring with strikes.
Don Shaw overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hart tries to buck Shaw off but Shaw is having none of it.
Shaw controlling the position from side mount.
Hart is trying to buck Shaw off.
Hart is not content to let Shaw control the position.
You can see the frustration on Hart's face as Shaw controls the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hart takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Hart is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Shaw is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw trying to control but Hart is having none of it.
Hart tries to lock up and control but Shaw gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Shaw looking to control and managing it successfully.
Hart takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Shaw wants to finish this one by submission but Hart is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Shaw.
Shaw takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's two 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 tries to control but Hart wriggling away.
Shaw controlling from the full mount.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Don Shaw just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Shaw moves into the clinch successfully.
Shaw drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hart pulls his leg out and moves away.

Shaw clinches up with Hart and pushes him back against the cage.

Shaw drags the fight down to the ground.
Hart won't allow Shaw to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaw is working hard here to advance position.
Hart passes into half guard.

Hart seems to be working for a kimura but Shaw defends the submission attempt.

Hart is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Hart tries to pass to full mount but Shaw defends it.

Hart is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Shaw doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hart.
Hitman Hart has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hart missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Shaw looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Hart actively working from the bottom here.
Hart tries to get to full guard but Shaw has control of the leg.
Hart is in trouble now - Shaw has advanced to mount!
Hart can't escape the position.
Don Shaw is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shaw tries to control but Hart wriggling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Don Shaw showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shaw, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27

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