PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fitch Shields (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shields has chosen Bump N Grind as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Fitch Shields was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Hopkins
vs
Shields

199 cm
19
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
18
270 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Self confident

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anthony Hopkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fitch Shields!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Luis Engracia and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hopkins fails with the takedown.

Shields has taken the fight to the clinch.
Shields drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Shields drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hopkins gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Shields swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shields has Hopkins pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hopkins manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Anthony Hopkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fitch Shields.
Hopkins wants a takedown.
Shields can't get the takedown.
Shields is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hopkins gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Shields has a couple of punches blocked by Hopkins.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hopkins breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hopkins stuns Shields with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Hopkins connects with a solid leg kick.
Shields looks winded!
Nice takedown defense from Shields. No joy for Hopkins on that attempt.
Hopkins throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Shields's waist but Shields gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hopkins off to one side.
Shields leaves Hopkins with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hopkins shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Shields closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hopkins to the mat! Hopkins manages to get full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shields controlling from the top position.
Shields must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hopkins working for a triangle but Shields defends it easily.
Hopkins controls Shields momentarily but Shields frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Shields feints and as Hopkins raises his hands in defense, Shields changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hopkins being controlled here, momentarily.
Hopkins wants to sweep but no luck.
Shields works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Hopkins tries to get to full guard but Shields has control of the leg.
Shields looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
It looks like Shields might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Shields moves into full mount! Hopkins won't be happy about that!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shields controlling his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fitch Shields 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.

Shields fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hopkins sprawls well initially but Shields persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hopkins is looking to control Shields's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hopkins avoid being mounted?
Hopkins is trying to get back to full guard.
Shields not doing much here.
Shields's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fitch Shields has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Shields throws a hook but Hopkins blocks it.
Hopkins moves in looking to clinch but Shields pushes him off.
Hopkins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shields paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shields should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Hopkins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shields paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Shields decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hopkins is looking to control Shields's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hopkins avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins tries to roll over but Shields keeps him under control.
Shields takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Shields tries to clinch but Hopkins moves out of range.
Hopkins jabs Shields to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Hopkins shoots in for a takedown but Shields shows good takedown defense.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shields misses with a wild combination.
Anthony Hopkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Shields darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields not doing much here.
Hopkins wants to improve his position but Shields is controlling well.
Shields is taking a breather. Hopkins says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Fitch Shields hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Hopkins misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hopkins tries to clinch but Shields is having none of it.

Shields looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Hopkins!
Shields controlling the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fitch Shields showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hopkins tries to clinch but Shields moves out of range.
Hopkins tries a head kick but it misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hopkins.
Hopkins wants to clinch.

Shields gets a double leg takedown into Hopkins's guard.
Hopkins can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Shields controls the pace.
Fitch Shields has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Shields trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Fitch Shields was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Shields looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Hopkins!
Hopkins seems a little lost for a moment, as Shields dominates the positioning.
Hopkins is trying to get back to half guard.
Fitch Shields is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields taking a breather here.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Fitch Shields wasn't active enough on the ground.
Hopkins throws a push kick but Shields slaps the foot to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins misses with a takedown

and Shields counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shields passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Shields content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Let's hope that Shields has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Fitch Shields hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Shields fails with an attempt to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hopkins fails in his attempt to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shields. Hopkins does a little dance to reset his feet.
Anthony Hopkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shields swats away the attempt to clinch by Hopkins.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fitch Shields comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shields 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fitch Shields!
A very excited looking Fitch Shields rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.