PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paul Walker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate Shelby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Walker kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Unholy Confessions by Avenged Sevenfold. Shelby comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Amazing kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Walker
vs
Shelby

179 cm
29
175 lbs
19 - 8 - 1

185 cm
28
185 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 19 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paul Walker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nate Shelby!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Mauricio Rocha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Walker shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Shelby as he avoids it easily.
Walker scores with a one two! Shelby had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Shelby displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Walker throws out the jab.
Walker throws out a powerful jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Walker is defended easily by Shelby.
Shelby takes a swing at Walker's ribcage but misses.
Walker shoots in for a takedown but Shelby shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Walker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Walker misses with a straight left.
Walker throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Shelby misses with a body shot.
Walker works over Shelby's head and body with a nice combination.
Walker throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Shelby's waist but Shelby gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Walker off to one side.
Horrible takedown by Walker or perhaps it was just good defense by Shelby which made him look bad.
Shelby misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Walker.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shelby misses with a double jab.
Walker lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Walker fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Shelby takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Shelby takes a swing at Walker's ribcage but misses.
Shelby connects with a nice looking jab.
Walker misses the shot to the body.
Walker takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A telegraphed right hand from Shelby misses the target.
Shelby takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Walker throws a hook but Shelby blocks it.
Walker will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Shelby misses the body punch
and Walker counters with a straight right hand.
Walker fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shelby wants to clinch up but Walker keeps it at a distance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shelby uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Walker.
Walker blocks a jab.
Walker moves out of range of the strikes.
Shelby slaps away a takedown attempt from Walker, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Walker uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shelby.
Shelby misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Shelby ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Walker moves away.
Walker misses the shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shelby. Walker does a little dance to reset his feet.
Walker throws a left and a right that both miss
and Shelby counters with a stiff right hand.
Shelby lands a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shelby lands with a straight right. Walker didn't see that one coming.
Shelby fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Walker looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Walker looks for a takedown but Shelby sprawls well.
Walker throws an overhand right that lands on Shelby's shoulder, as Shelby tries to avoid the shot.
Walker misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Shelby counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Shelby slips a straight right by Walker.
Shelby takes one to the chin there.
Walker staying out of range there.

Shelby tries to sprawl but Walker drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Shelby wants to control but Walker is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Walker missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Walker is pressing down on Shelby's thigh, looking to free his foot. Shelby is holding on for now.
Walker prevents Shelby from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walker not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shelby is trying to get back to full guard.
Walker trying to control from half guard but Shelby is working away.
Shelby tries to roll over but Walker keeps him under control.
Shelby desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Shelby is looking for a sweep. Walker is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Shelby takes a swing at Walker's ribcage but misses.
Walker lands an overhand right.
Shelby comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Shelby moves away from the strike by Walker.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nate Shelby will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shelby misses the jab.
Paul Walker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shelby misses with a straight left.
Nice straight punches there by Shelby. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Shelby.
Walker lands with a good body shot.
Shelby slaps away a takedown attempt from Walker, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Shelby throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shelby feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Walkers jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Walker scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Walker shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Shelby defends it nicely.
Walker avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Good standup being displayed there by Walker as he connects with a hook.
Nate Shelby seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Shelby throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nate Shelby is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shelby slaps away a takedown attempt from Walker, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Walker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Walker shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Walker keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Shelby.
Walker misses with a straight right.
Paul Walker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Walker fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Shelby avoids it really well and circles away.
Shelby looks to score with a jab to the body but Walker is just out of range.
Shelby walks into a straight right hand from Walker.
Walker tries to score with a low kick but Shelby moves his leg out of the way.
Walker slips under a jab.
Shelby moves out of range of the strikes.
Shelby connects with a body shot that sends Walker's belly button to the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walker tries to bum rush Shelby with a series of wild strikes but Shelby uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Shelby throws a low kick, looking for Walker's leg but Walker calmly moves out of range.
Shelby scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Walker misses with a straight left.
Shelby lands a glancing blow to the side of Walker's head.
Shelby pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Walker takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Walker looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Walker throws a chopping leg kick but Shelby manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shelby throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Walker shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shelby but Shelby pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shelby connects with a body shot that sends Walker's belly button to the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shelby fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Walker looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Shelby lands a jab to the nose.
Shelby takes a swing at Walker's ribcage but misses.
Shelby takes one to the side of the head.
Shelby lands a slapping body shot.
Shelby lands a jab to the head.
Walker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shelby.
Shelby lands with a shot to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Walker.
Shelby throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Walker throws a wild body kick that Shelby sees coming a mile off.
Walker cracks Shelby with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Shelby lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walker misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Walker misses with a series of wild punches.
Shelby lands a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Walker punishes Shelby's body with a nice straight punch.
Shelby doesn't manage to clinch there - Walker circles away.
Shelby throws a leg kick which misses Walker's front leg but catches the back leg as Walker tries to avoid it.

Shelby gets caught flat footed, as Walker shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Walker is fighting to break Shelby's control of his arms but Shelby is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Walker looking to pass the guard.
Shelby keeping moving, preventing Walker from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Shelby showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Shelby scores with a jab to the body.
Walker shoots in for a takedown but Shelby shows good takedown defense.
Shelby avoids the body shot from Walker.
Walker does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Walker lunges at Shelby with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Shelby's hand.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Walker.
Walker tries for a takedown but Shelby sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Walker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Walker closes the distance and clinches up with Shelby, looking for a takedown. Walker pushes Shelby against the cage but Shelby circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Shelby throws a lazy right hand but Walker sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Shelby is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Nice sprawl there from Shelby as Walker shoots in.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Walker shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Shelby sprawls well. Shelby wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Walker gets slowly back to his feet.
Walker moves forwards but Shelby connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Walker.
Walker shoots for a takedown but Shelby saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Shelby throws a head kick but Walker moves out of range.
Walker walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Shelby misses with a hook.
Nice takedown defense from Shelby. No joy for Walker on that attempt.
Shelby throws a nice inside leg kick.
Shelby's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Walker connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Shelby scrambles back to his feet.
Shelby uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Walker.
Shelby lands a right hook to the body.
Walker moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Walker moves out of range as Shelby strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walker scores with a jab to the jaw.
Shelby attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Walker scores with a sloppy right hand. Shelby should have avoided that one.
A slapping leg kick lands for Shelby.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shelby slaps away a takedown attempt from Walker, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Walker takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Walker shoots in looking for a takedown but Shelby manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Walker's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Shelby misses with an uppercut. Walker saw that one coming.
Shelby takes a swing at Walker's ribcage but misses.
Shelby connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Shelby dodges the punch combination from Walker.
Walker on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Nate Shelby is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Walker looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shelby keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Walker shoots in and bounces Shelby off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Shelby keeping moving, preventing Walker from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shelby is adopting a defensive guard.
Paul Walker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Walker stopping the sweep attempt from Shelby.

We're going to have a standup here because Paul Walker wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Walker fails with the takedown
and Shelby counters with a left to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shelby fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Walker manages to avoid it.
A lazy left from Shelby finds it's target.
Shelby uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Walker.
Walker fails with a takedown attempt.
Good shot there by Shelby.
Shelby misses with a shot to the body
and Walker counters with a stiff right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Walker tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shelby sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Walker somewhat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Walker.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shelby scores with a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nate Shelby comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shelby winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nate Shelby!