PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Willie Stroker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Shamrock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Shamrock's choice of entrance music: Smells Like Teen Spirit. Jason Shamrock has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Willie Stroker's chin.

Stroker
vs
Shamrock

180 cm
21
185 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

178 cm
27
181 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Willie Stroker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jason Shamrock!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shamrock tries to clinch there but Stroker circles away.

Stroker looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Stroker throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shamrock works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shamrock looking for a sweep. Not yet Shamrock, not yet.
Stroker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shamrock is keeping the position for now.
Shamrock wants to stand and escape but Stroker is having none of it.
Stroker trying to move into half guard but instead Shamrock has managed to sweep!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Stroker working for a triangle but Shamrock defends it easily.
Shamrock looking to sit in guard and control but Stroker gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shamrock is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shamrock keeping moving, preventing Stroker from controlling successfully.
Stroker pushing down on Shamrock's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Shamrock is defending against the submission attempts here by Stroker.
Stroker is trying to control. Shamrock wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

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.
Stroker stalling away here and it's allowed Shamrock to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stroker postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Shamrock is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Stroker, into his guard.
Shamrock pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stroker is keeping the position for now.
Shamrock passes easily into side control. Nice work.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stroker is trying to get back to half guard.
Shamrock is trying to ground and pound but Stroker uses the momentary lack of control by Shamrock to regain half guard.

Shamrock stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

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.
Shamrock closes the distance but Stroker moves to the side

and Stroker counters with a single leg into guard. Shamrock didn't expect that.
Stroker tries to free his leg and advance position but Shamrock is retaining full guard.
Stroker has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stroker in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Shamrock wants to get back to his feet but Stroker is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Shamrock can't keep his opponent in guard - Stroker advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Stroker is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Shamrock is just riding it out for now. Stroker eventually gives up the hold.
Stroker takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Willie Stroker dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Stroker looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Stroker landing with the ground and pound.
Stroker wants to pass the guard but Shamrock is keeping the position.
Shamrock working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stroker.
Stroker works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Stroker is trying to work for a kimura but Shamrock is defending well.
Stroker not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Stroker is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Shamrock has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stroker is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Shamrock is just riding it out for now. Stroker eventually gives up the hold.
Shamrock moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Stroker won't allow Shamrock to get back to his feet.
Stroker thows a big elbow that misses.
Stroker wants to control from the top but Shamrock keeps moving.

That's two 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.
Stroker prevents Shamrock from getting back to his feet.

Stroker postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Shamrock is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Stroker, into his guard.

Stroker looking for a guillotine here but Shamrock defends easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shamrock wants to get up but he can't break Stroker's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shamrock pushes down on Stroker's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Stroker is looking to improve his position.
Shamrock trying to pass the guard but Stroker defending well.
Shamrock thows a huge punch but Stroker dodges it nicely.
Willie Stroker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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.
Shamrock moves nicely into side control.
Shamrock tries to advance to mount but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stroker is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Shamrock has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Stroker is looking for a sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Shamrock wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Stroker, who protects the arm well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Willie Stroker will probably get the nod.
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!

Stroker keeps the fight on the outside.

Stroker scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Shamrock pushes Stroker off looking to stand but Stroker dives back in and keeps control.
Stroker sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shamrock defending well though.
Shamrock is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Stroker seems to be looking for submissions.
Shamrock wants to improve his position but Stroker is controlling well.

Stroker is working for a submission of some sort.
Shamrock is looking for a sweep. Stroker is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stroker is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Shamrock doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Stroker.
Shamrock slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Stroker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two 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.
Stroker passes Shamrock's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Stroker throws a strike but Shamrock avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Shamrock bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stroker's guard.
Shamrock forces his way into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Shamrock is working for a submission of some sort.

Shamrock is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shamrock moves into full mount! Stroker won't be happy about that!
Stroker wants to control but Shamrock is having none of it.
Stroker is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four 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.

Shamrock stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Nice takedown defense from Stroker. No joy for Shamrock on that attempt.

Stroker bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Shamrock is looking to regain half guard here but Stroker keeps moving and retains side control.
Shamrock is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Stroker off and has taken his back!
Willie Stroker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stroker trying to control the action but Shamrock just sinks the hooks in.
Well, with Shamrock on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Stroker is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

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 Willie Stroker.
Well Stroker has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Willie Stroker!