PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Larry Shaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rua comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Usher-More Remix kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Shaw
vs
Rua

180 cm
30
172 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

181 cm
28
160 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Larry Shaw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Mauricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, James Ackerman and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Shaw fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Shaw shoots in but Rua avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Larry Shaw. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shaw fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Rua. No joy for Shaw on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua connects with a single shot there.
Rua lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Shaw drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Shaw is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Shaw trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaw is looking to work some ground and pound but Rua has wrist control.
Rua utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shaw throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shaw engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Larry Shaw.
Shaw dodges the punch combination from Rua.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua tries to sprawl but Shaw drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Shaw not doing much here.

Shaw is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Shaw is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rua sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaw slows the pace down in half guard.

Shaw is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rua has managed to free his arm - good work.
Shaw lands strikes from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry Shaw dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rua misses with a few strikes there.
Shaw shoots for a takedown but Rua saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Larry Shaw is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rua throws a series of punches but Shaw avoids them all with ease.
Rua looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Shaw scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Shaw is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rua defends it well.
Shaw looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Shaw not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Shaw lands strikes from half guard.
Rua is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Shaw scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaw seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Shaw drops an elbow to the side of Rua's head.
Larry Shaw overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shaw is looking to pass Rua's guard but actually Rua recovers to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaw makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Shaw working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
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 is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rua is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rua has escaped and now he's on top!
Shaw wants to hit a switch here but Rua passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Shaw there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaw working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry Shaw dominated that second 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. And we move into the final round!

Shaw shoots for a double leg takedown but Rua sprawls well. He's pushed Shaw's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shaw shoots for a double leg takedown but Rua sprawls well. He's pushed Shaw's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
No luck for Shaw with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Larry Shaw. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Shaw scores with a takedown into Rua's guard.
Rua keeping moving, preventing Shaw from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw looking to pass the guard.
Shaw postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Shaw prevents Rua from getting back to his feet.

Shaw stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Rua displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Shaw.
Larry Shaw seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Some wild striking there from Rua.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaw shoots for a double leg takedown but Rua sprawls well. He's pushed Shaw's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shaw misses the shot to the body.
Rua stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rua wants it to stay on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws a nice looking combination but Shaw bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mauricio Rua is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shaw shoots in but Rua avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rua checks the leg kick.

Shaw decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua wants to get back to his feet.

Shaw stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Rua to get to his feet.

Shaw scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shaw prevents Rua from standing back up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shaw lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Mauricio Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Larry Shaw is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Well, if Shaw is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

And that's the end of the fight!
Larry Shaw showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Shaw 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Larry Shaw!
During a confident post fight interview, Larry Shaw thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.