PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Shelby (ranked 2211 p4p, 261 weight class) and Kyle Lewis (ranked 2697 p4p, 321 weight class). Lewis has chosen DMX - Slippin as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Shelby
vs
Lewis

190 cm
27
184 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

178 cm
27
199 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

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 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tommy Shelby !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kyle Lewis!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lewis bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Shelby is trying to buck Lewis off.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lewis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shelby keeps working.

Lewis goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Shelby has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Lewis but great work by Shelby .
Lewis tries to improve position but can't.
Shelby in the domination position with Lewis hanging on.

Shelby decides to stand back up. Shelby steps back and let's Lewis get back to his feet.
Shelby tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lewis shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Shelby as he avoids it easily.
Shelby throws a push kick but Lewis slaps the foot to one side.
No joy there for Shelby , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lewis checks a leg kick.

Shelby gets caught napping as Lewis dives in and scores a takedown. Shelby manages to retain guard.
Shelby on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Shelby tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lewis controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Shelby is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shelby controlling Lewis's posture.
Lewis won't allow Shelby to sweep him here.
Shelby keeping full guard, as Lewis tries to pass.
Lewis sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Lewis trying to control the position from guard on top but Shelby is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.

Shelby is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Shelby pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've been told by Shelby 's head coaches at Iron mikes mma that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Lewis throws a right and a left that Shelby avoids nicely.
Lewis fails to land the takedown.
Shelby misses with a low kick.
Lewis's coach down at Death Valley Training Facility was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Lewis's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Lewis will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tommy Shelby has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyle Lewis.

Lewis gets a double leg takedown into Shelby 's guard.
Shelby controls Lewis momentarily but Lewis frees himself.
Shelby keeping moving, preventing Lewis from controlling successfully.
Shelby not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lewis controls from within his opponent's guard.
Lewis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shelby trying to control the position here.
Shelby will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Lewis pushes down on Shelby 's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ground and pound from Lewis.

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.
Shelby is looking to control Lewis's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shelby avoid being mounted?
Lewis controlling the action here.
Lewis moves into full mount! Shelby won't be happy about that!
Shelby is looking to improve his position but Lewis isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shelby tries to lock up and control but Lewis gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Lewis tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Shelby really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kyle Lewis will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lewis lunges at Shelby with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Shelby 's hand.
Shelby throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shelby tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lewis drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Shelby defends it well.
Lewis closes the distance and clinches up with Shelby , looking for a takedown. Lewis pushes Shelby against the cage but Shelby circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Lewis drives through with a takedown into Shelby 's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Lewis engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Shelby is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Shelby working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lewis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lewis manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lewis working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Shelby 's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shelby looking for a sweep. Not yet Shelby , not yet.
Shelby can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lewis controls the pace.
Lewis advances position into side control!
Lewis working the head with strikes.
Shelby is trying to escape the position but Lewis is controlling the position.
Lewis trying to control the action but Shelby is working from the bottom.
Shelby prevents Lewis from improving position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shelby is looking for a sweep.
Shelby is letting Lewis control him for a moment.
Shelby is looking to regain half guard here but Lewis keeps moving and retains side control.

Lewis tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Lewis has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Lewis controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shelby struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lewis content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Shelby tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Shelby 's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Shelby tries to bench press Lewis off him but Lewis keeps the position.
Lewis tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Lewis is looking to take a break and control but Shelby is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four 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.
Lewis misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Lewis drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Shelby can't do much from the bottom here.
Shelby tries to improve position but can't.
Lewis controls the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shelby tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Lewis controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Lewis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Shelby as Lewis shoots in.
Shelby keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Some wild striking there from Shelby .
Lewis shoots in for a double leg but Shelby sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tommy Shelby has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyle Lewis.
Lewis blocks a head kick by Shelby .
Lewis lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Shelby paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Shelby swinging wildly here.
Lewis tries for a takedown but Shelby sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Shelby swings away with a leg kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lewis shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Shelby kicks Lewis off and gets back to his feet.
Lewis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shelby scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lewis takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Shelby pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shelby lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lewis circles away quickly and effectively.
Tommy Shelby is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lewis moves forwards but Shelby connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Lewis looking to score a takedown here. Shelby is defending well but Lewis drives through and ends up in Shelby 's guard.
Shelby not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Lewis's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Lewis stands and throws Shelby 's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Lewis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shelby keeps working.
Shelby tries to escape but Lewis is in control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lewis working away.
Shelby is letting Lewis control him for a moment.
Lewis lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Shelby down.
Lewis remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Shelby is not content to let Lewis control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shelby is trying to improve his position.
Lewis is looking to take a break and control but Shelby is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lewis scoring with punches from side control.
Lewis working away.
Lewis is looking to take a break and control but Shelby is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lewis controlling the position from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Lewis advances to full mount.
Lewis tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Lewis lands a couple of good shots and Shelby has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Lewis slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

Lewis looking for the RNC.
Shelby is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Lewis.
Tommy Shelby has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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 Tommy Shelby .
I think Lewis 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyle Lewis!
Kyle Lewis decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.