PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Noriega (ranked 5230 p4p, 4685 weight class) and Calvin Shields (ranked 414 p4p, 385 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Noriega
vs
Shields

169 cm
25
145
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
25
150
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rodrigo Noriega!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Calvin Shields!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Dirk Anderson and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Noriega fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Noriega shoots in looking for a takedown but Shields manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Noriega's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Calvin Shields seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Noriega closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Shields to the mat! Shields manages to get full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Shields can do anything to dispel that myth.
Noriega trying to control but Shields is working from the bottom.
Shields wants to sweep here but Noriega controlling him for the moment.
Shields is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Shields keeping moving, preventing Noriega from controlling successfully.
Noriega won't allow Shields to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Noriega drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Noriega jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shields looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Shields being controlled here, momentarily.
Shields manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Noriega manages to get himself to full guard.

Shields got a little sloppy there for a moment and Noriega has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Shields has managed to get both his arms back between Noriega's legs - danger averted.
Shields works over Noriega with some ground and pound from guard.
Shields not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Shields lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Shields with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Shields keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Noriega's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Noriega being controlled here, momentarily.
Shields makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Noriega is looking for a triangle but Shields pushes his legs off easily.
Shields is working Noriega over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Shields distracts Noriega with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Shields's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Shields sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Noriega keeping moving, preventing Shields from controlling successfully.
Shields controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Noriega working for a triangle but Shields defends it easily.

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.
Shields lands a couple of elbows.
Shields is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Shields trying to control the position from guard on top but Noriega is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Noriega working for a triangle but Shields defends it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Noriega is trying to control the position but Shields postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Calvin Shields dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Shields bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Shields working the head and body with strikes.
Noriega is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Shields working the ground and pound.
Noriega regains half guard.
Noriega is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Shields scores with a couple of nice shots.
Noriega is looking for a sweep. Shields is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Noriega trying to control but Shields postures up.
Shields has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Shields moves into full mount! Noriega won't be happy about that!
Shields putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Shields breaks from Noriega's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Noriega is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Shields has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Noriega's face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noriega wants to hold on but Shields pushes him away.
Shields trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Shields working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Noriega is bucking up trying to escape but Shields cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Shields raining down shots from the mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shields in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Noriega is rocked!

It looks like Rodrigo Noriega has been cut.
Shields looking to finish Noriega with some ground and pound. This is bad for Noriega!
Oh Noriega is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Rodrigo Noriega's cut is getting worse.
Shields sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Shields has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Noriega's face.
Shields is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Noriega seems to have got his legs back now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Shields raining down shots from the mount!
Shields postures up and lands a whopping elbow - oh that's hurt Noriega bigstyle! Two more strikes land for Shields and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Calvin Shields!