PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Shalf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Gray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Shalf
vs
Gray

182 cm
21
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryan Shalf!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Gray!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gray closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Shalf's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Gray trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gray with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Shalf lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gray!
Gray is trying to escape the mount.
Shalf with shots to the head and body - Gray looks very uncomfortable down there.
Gray tries to hold on but Shalf pushes him away.
Gray is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

Gray bucks Shalf off and manages to get back to his feet!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Shalf fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Gray gets the takedown into side control.
Shalf can't do much from the bottom here.
Shalf parries the strikes from Gray easily there. Gray is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Shalf to escape.
Gray sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Shalf is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Shalf is working to avoid the ground and pound but Gray connects with a decent elbow.

Gray working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gray landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Gray thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shalf is looking to regain half guard here but Gray keeps moving and retains side control.

Gray is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Shalf has escaped the position, nice work there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gray landing a few strikes.

Gray is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Shalf has escaped the position, nice work there.

Gray is trying to get an arm triangle but Shalf is defending well.
Gray cracks Shalf with a big right hand but Shalf just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shalf taking a bit of punishment here - Gray scoring with strikes.

Gray is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Shalf is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gray working the ground and pound.
Shalf can't do much from the bottom here.
Shalf is breathing heavily.
Shalf taking punishment in the form of punches.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gray working the body and head with strikes.
Check out the look on Gray's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gray is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Shalf has escaped the position, nice work there.
Gray is staying tight to Shalf's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Gray working the head with strikes.

Gray tries for a kimura but Shalf is defending well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gray scores with punches from side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shalf tries to bench press Gray off him but Gray keeps the position.
Gray landing a few strikes.
Shalf taking punishment in the form of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Gray dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A punch combination from Gray misses.
Shalf fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Shalf throws a sloppy head kick and Gray moves out of range easily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gray.
Shalf tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gray wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gray creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Gray working the ground and pound from side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gray working the head and body with strikes.

Gray wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Shalf, who protects the arm well.
Gray wants to control but Shalf is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Gray controlling from side mount.
Gray lands a nice forearm strike.
Shalf is trying to control Gray's posture but Gray avoids it.
Gray working the body and head with strikes.
Gray is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Gray cracks Shalf with a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gray working the ground and pound.
Gray scores with a couple of short elbows.
Gray lands a nice forearm strike.
Shalf tries to improve position but can't.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gray is trying to get an arm triangle but Shalf is defending well.

Gray looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gray just content to control the position.
Gray grinds an elbow into Shalf's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray taking a breather here.
Mark Gray has got the better of the ground game so far.

Gray tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Gray working the ground and pound.
Shalf is working to avoid the ground and pound but Gray connects with a decent elbow.
Gray working the head and body with strikes.
Gray lands a nice forearm strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gray looks up at the clock and then as Shalf takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Gray smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Gray is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Shalf has escaped the position, nice work there.
Shalf taking punishment in the form of punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gray landing strikes.
Gray working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Gray lands a few punches from side control.
You can see the frustration on Shalf's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shalf being controlled for a moment.
Gray scoring with punches from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Gray showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Gray drives through with a takedown into Shalf's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Shalf is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gray lands a couple of elbows.
Gray pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shalf is keeping the position for now.
Gray trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gray controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gray landing with the ground and pound.
Gray sitting in guard here, content to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray trying to control the position from guard on top but Shalf is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gray stays in close to Shalf's body and controls the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Mark Gray hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Shalf tries to clinch up

and Gray decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Shalf's guard.
Gray not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Gray looking to pass the guard.
Gray lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gray stays in close to Shalf's body and controls the position.
Gray working some strikes from top position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gray passes Shalf's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gray looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Shalf with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Gray prevents Shalf from standing back up.
Gray slows the pace down in half guard.
Gray lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Shalf taking some punishment here, with Gray in his half guard.
Gray is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray drops an elbow to the side of Shalf's head.
Gray seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Shalf taking some punishment here, with Gray in his half guard.
Gray frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Gray lands a big elbow.
Gray is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Shalf can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Gray landing punches.
Gray with the ground and pound from mount.
Gray looking to finish Shalf with some ground and pound. This is bad for Shalf!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gray content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gray connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Gray controlling his opponent.
Gray landing strikes from the mount and Shalf is in trouble!
Gray with the ground and pound from mount.
Shalf is looking to improve his position but Gray isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gray lands with some strikes.
Ryan Shalf has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mark Gray is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Gray controlling from the full mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Gray comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gray has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 25:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Gray!