PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bert Ernie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ralph Shields (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Shields's choice of entrance music: RAWR. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Ernie
vs
Shields

179 cm
27
114 lbs
16 - 21 - 0

175 cm
27
139 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 21 - 0, fighting out of London, Bert Ernie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Ralph Shields!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Andrew Berry and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ernie manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Shields on his heels. He'll look to pass Shields's guard now, I'm sure.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Shields throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ernie passes into half guard.

Shields has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Ernie escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Ernie!
Shields tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Shields manages to get back to half guard.

Shields is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ernie pulls his head out easily.
Ernie really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Shields is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.

Shields actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ernie wants to free his trapped foot but Shields is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Shields is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ernie pulls his head out easily.

Shields looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ernie wants to control but Shields is keeping him busy.

Ernie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Shields is just riding it out for now. Ernie eventually gives up the hold.

Ernie wants to work for an arm triangle but Shields is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ernie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Shields is not content to let Ernie control the position.
Shields is looking to improve his position.
Ernie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ernie drops an elbow to the side of Shields's head.
Ernie blocks the strikes from Shields.

Shields looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields works his way to full guard. Good work.
Shields tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shields not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Ernie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Shields looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Shields keeping moving, preventing Ernie from controlling successfully.

Shields is looking for a triangle here but Ernie uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ernie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Shields is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Ernie throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Ernie trying to control the position but Shields is working away.
Shields tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ernie wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ernie is trying to move to mount but Shields reverses beautifully and ends up in Ernie's guard.
Ernie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bert Ernie will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ernie shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Ernie was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Shields sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Ernie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Shields gets back to full guard.

Shields working for a triangle but Ernie defends it easily.

Shields looking for a guillotine here but Ernie defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shields is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ernie wants to control from the top but Shields keeps moving.
Ernie wants to get up but he can't break Shields's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Ernie wants to control from the top but Shields keeps moving.

Shields working for submissions but it's allowed Ernie to get to half guard.
Shields gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shields has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ernie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

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

Ernie has gone for a leg lock! Shields slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ernie's guard.
Shields landing with the ground and pound.

Ernie is looking for a triangle but Shields pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields tries to free his leg and advance position but Ernie is retaining full guard.
Ernie working a defensive guard here.
Shields throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shields postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ernie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ernie tries to strike from the bottom.
Shields loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ernie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shields landing with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ernie is keeping the position for now.
Shields scoring with some ground and pound.
Shields throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ernie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shields is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Shields throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ernie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ernie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shields connects with a couple of short punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shields with a nice head shot there.
Shields won't allow Ernie to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralph Shields showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Shields gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ernie to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Shields throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Shields escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ernie gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Shields escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ernie gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ernie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Shields is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ernie defends well.
Ernie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shields is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ernie won't allow Shields to sweep him here.
Ernie trying to control the position from guard on top but Shields is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ernie drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Shields dives on top into guard.

Ernie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ralph Shields has got the better of the ground game so far.
Shields postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Shields throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ernie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shields throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ernie wants to sweep here but Shields controlling him for the moment.
Shields scoring with some ground and pound.
Shields stands up over Ernie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Shields stands up over Ernie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Shields with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shields working some strikes from top position.
Shields keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ernie's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ernie trying to control the position.
Shields lands a couple of elbows.

Shields drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Shields jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shields accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shields lands a couple of elbows.
Shields chips away with some ground and pound.
Shields working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Shields is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ernie is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Ernie stops a takedown attempt from Shields.
Shields is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ernie gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Ernie has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Shields is trying to keep an underhook but Ernie manages to get the takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ernie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ernie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shields makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Shields.
Shields is trying to keep Ernie in close.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ralph Shields comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Shields 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ralph Shields!
A less than humble Ralph Shields misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.