PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Brad Shaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Buffel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brad Shaw has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Shaw
vs
Buffel

175 cm
32
152 lbs
21 - 11 - 1

170 cm
26
133 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

Sun-Tzu

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Brad Shaw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thomas Buffel!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Leandro Rodrigues and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Buffel doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Shaw counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Shaw.

Shaw breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Shaw closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Buffel to the mat! Buffel manages to get full guard.
Shaw not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Buffel wants to stand but Shaw is controlling the position.
Shaw is stalling in the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shaw takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
Shaw stays in close to Buffel's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Buffel checks a leg kick nicely.
Shaw misses with a low kick.
Shaw fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Buffel uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Shaw gets a clinch.

Shaw pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Shaw throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Buffel tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Shaw is in Buffel's guard.
Buffel is trying to control the position but Shaw postures up.
Shaw trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shaw controlling from the top position.
Buffel trying to strike off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaw trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shaw is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Buffel shoots and misses
and Shaw counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Brad Shaw seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shaw lands a right hook to the body.
Shaw with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Buffel throws a leg kick
and Shaw counters with a nice low kick that buckles Buffel's knee momentarily.
Buffel tries to clinch but Shaw moves out of range.

Buffel gets tackled into the cage by Shaw. Shaw maintains the clinch.

Shaw pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Buffel throws a hook to the side of Shaw's head but Shaw sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buffel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shaw scores with a hook to the body. Buffel takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Shaw looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Buffel!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Buffel wants to control but Shaw postures up.
Shaw lands an elbow.
You can see the frustration on Buffel's face as Shaw controls the position.
Buffel on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
You can see the frustration on Buffel's face as Shaw controls the position.
Buffel is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Check out the look on Shaw's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Shaw dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Shaw closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Buffel did well to prevent Shaw getting side control.
Buffel keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Shaw stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Buffel trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Buffel is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Buffel is looking to get back to full guard here but Shaw has managed to pass to side control instead.
Buffel being controlled for a moment.
Brad Shaw overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Buffel taking a bit of punishment here - Shaw scoring with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaw controlling the position.
Shaw working away.
Shaw happy to just control the position for now.
Shaw advances to full mount.
Buffel can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buffel sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Shaw prevents Buffel from improving his position.
Shaw tries to pass to full mount but Buffel defends it.
Shaw trying to control the pace.
Shaw seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Buffel for as long as he can get away with.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Shaw scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Buffel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Shaw is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Buffel can do to turn this around?
Shaw moves into full mount! Buffel won't be happy about that!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shaw content just to control the position here.
Buffel is looking to improve his position but Shaw isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Shaw dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Buffel is looking to clinch.
Buffel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shaw jabs Buffel to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Buffel looks for a takedown but Shaw sprawls well.
Shaw lands a really nice looking cross but Buffel seems unphased.
Shaw scores with a hook to the body. Buffel takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Shaw is looking to wear down Buffel with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Buffel with a poor takedown

and Shaw counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Shaw showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Buffel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shaw is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Buffel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buffel is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shaw is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Buffel has momentary wrist control but Shaw slips an elbow through the middle.
Shaw slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Shaw forces his way into half guard.
Brad Shaw is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Shaw with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Shaw continues to stall.
Buffel is trying to get back to full guard.
Shaw takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Shaw wants to pass to mount but Buffel is defending the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Buffel with a poor takedown
and Shaw counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Brad Shaw has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Buffel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Buffel scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Shaw manages to get to full guard.
Shaw is pulling down on Buffel's head to control his posture.
Buffel stopping the sweep attempt from Shaw.
Shaw seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
More hug and hope from Shaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Buffel looks for a takedown but Shaw sprawls well.
Shaw swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Thomas Buffel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Buffel misses with a combination
and Shaw counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brad Shaw showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Shaw has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brad Shaw!
Brad Shaw decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.