PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Shelby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaspar Hauser (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for John Shelby has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Shelby
vs
Hauser

180 cm
25
190 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

187 cm
26
192 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Mohito Fightwear
Voodoo Nutrition

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John Shelby!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kaspar Hauser!
The judges for this bout are Ron Honeybunn, Bruno Hogan and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shelby scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Hauser attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Hauser has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Hauser misses with a body kick.
The fighters circling - Shelby throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hauser takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Shelby swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Hauser counters with a nice double leg into side control. Shelby won't be happy with that.
Shelby tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hauser wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hauser tries to score with some ground and pound. Shelby controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Hauser lands a nice forearm strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hauser looking to control but instead Shelby has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Hauser is trying to control the action in half guard but Shelby is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hauser thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shelby's head.
Shelby wants to improve his position but Hauser is controlling well.
Hauser is thwarting Shelby's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hauser missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Shelby wants to get back to full guard.

Hauser seems to be looking for submissions.
Shelby gets back to full guard.
Hauser throws a big elbow that misses.
Hauser throwing strikes from guard but Shelby blocks nicely.
Hauser with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hauser loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shelby has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hauser can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hauser working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Shelby's head.
Shelby knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hauser on the ground.
Hauser with a nice head shot there.
Shelby looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Shelby is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Shelby has control of Hauser's left arm, preventing Hauser from doing any damage.
Hauser scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hauser stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shelby swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hauser trying to control but Shelby is working from the bottom.
Hauser throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shelby works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hauser won't allow Shelby to get back to his feet.
Shelby is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shelby keeping moving, preventing Hauser from controlling successfully.
Hauser might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Shelby haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Hauser throwing strikes from guard but Shelby blocks nicely.
Hauser lands a couple of elbows.
Hauser preventing the sweep.
Hauser landing some decent shots from guard.
Hauser postures up in Shelby's guard and throws a big left but Shelby blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hauser controlling from the top position.
Shelby throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Hauser trying to control the position from guard on top but Shelby is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shelby pulls Hauser in close to his closed guard and prevents Hauser from doing any damage or advancing position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shelby throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hauser closes this distance looking for a takedown but Shelby circles away.
Shelby rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

so Hauser counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hauser throwing strikes from guard but Shelby blocks nicely.
Hauser working some strikes from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaspar Hauser dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Shelby pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Hauser back to the cage. Shelby follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

It looks like Kaspar Hauser has been cut.
Shelby getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Hauser shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Shelby sprawls well. Shelby wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hauser gets slowly back to his feet.
Shelby misses the jab.
Hauser tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Hauser tries for a takedown but Shelby circles away easily
and Shelby counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hauser moves out of range of the body kick.
Hauser feints the counter takedown.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Shelby lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Hauser has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Hauser and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
John Shelby is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shelby throws a body shot but no joy.
Hauser fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Shelby swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
John Shelby has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kaspar Hauser.
Hauser uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shelby.
Hauser drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Shelby defends it well.
A slow jab from Shelby misses its intended target.
Shelby throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Shelby finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Shelby lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hauser's sensitive parts.
Hauser avoids the body shot from Shelby.
John Shelby seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shelby misses with a combination

so Hauser counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Shelby is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hauser defends well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shelby pulls Hauser in close to his closed guard and prevents Hauser from doing any damage or advancing position.
Shelby avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Shelby keeping full guard, as Hauser tries to pass.
Kaspar Hauser has got the better of the ground game so far.

Hauser drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hauser jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hauser lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hauser looking to pass the guard.
Hauser trying to control the position from guard on top but Shelby is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hauser lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hauser with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hauser with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hauser trying to control the position from guard on top but Shelby is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hauser is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Shelby is trying to keep Hauser in close.
Shelby wants to control the position but Hauser says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hauser trying to pass the guard but Shelby defending well.
Shelby slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hauser postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shelby pulls Hauser in close to his closed guard and prevents Hauser from doing any damage or advancing position.
Shelby wants to sweep here but Hauser controlling him for the moment.
Hauser trying to control but Shelby is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Hauser got a little sloppy there for a moment and Shelby has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hauser has managed to get both his arms back between Shelby's legs - danger averted.
Hauser tries to free his leg and advance position but Shelby is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Shelby dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kaspar Hauser's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Shelby connects with a crisp jab.
A cross from Shelby lands.
Shelby just misses with a punch to the body.
Shelby falls off balance throwing a combination

and Hauser counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Shelby has one foot on Hauser's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Hauser changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shelby tries to avoid it but Hauser manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shelby to the ground. Shelby escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hauser avoids the body shot from Shelby.
Shelby swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hauser takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hauser shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Shelby defends it nicely.
Shelby misses the jab.
Shelby will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Shelby misses the shot to the body.
Shelby tries to work over Hauser's front leg with a kick but Hauser checks it.
Hauser tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shelby sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hauser somewhat.
John Shelby has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kaspar Hauser.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hauser checks a leg kick nicely.
Hauser dives in for a single leg takedown but Shelby sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A jab from Shelby finds it's way through Hauser's defenses.
A low kick from Shelby is predictable there

and Hauser counters with a shoot takedown. Shelby fights it but they end up in guard.

Shelby looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hauser is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Shelby can't keep his opponent in guard - Hauser advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hauser is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hauser throws a strike but Shelby avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Shelby working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hauser doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hauser manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Shelby wants to sweep but no luck.
Hauser trying to control the position from guard on top but Shelby is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hauser not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hauser trying to control but Shelby is working from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Shelby holds on and takes a little breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Shelby looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hauser makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Shelby preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Hauser has gone for a leg lock! Shelby slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hauser's guard.
Shelby stands up over Hauser, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Shelby loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Hauser looking for subs off his back but Shelby has passed one foot through into half guard.
Hauser has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hauser flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Shelby showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shelby has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Shelby!
Our winner, John Shelby, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.