PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jake Shields (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frankie Edgar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shields
vs
Edgar

183 cm
38
170 lbs
33 - 27 - 0

168 cm
33
160 lbs
11 - 3 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 27 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jake Shields!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Frankie Edgar!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Hugh Johnson and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Edgar throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Jake Shields has been cut.
Edgar scores with a body shot.
Edgar throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Shields attempts a counter takedown but Edgar avoids it well and moves away.
Edgar falls off balance throwing a combination

and Shields counters with a shoot takedown. Edgar fights it but they end up in guard.
Edgar is trying to control the position but Shields postures up.

Edgar throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Shields wants to control from the top but Edgar keeps moving.
Shields throwing strikes from guard but Edgar blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Edgar working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Shields doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Shields manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Shields keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Edgar's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shields loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Shields looking to pass the guard.
Edgar can't keep his opponent in guard - Shields advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Shields is trying to control. Edgar wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Edgar is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Shields pulls his head out easily.
Edgar won't allow Shields to pass to mount.
Shields lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
We've been hearing that Shields has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Shields is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Shields is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Edgar!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edgar wants to hold on but Shields pushes him away.
Edgar is squirming around, avoiding Shields's attempts to control the action.
Shields landing strikes, looking to finish!
Edgar's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Edgar has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Edgar keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Shields tries to control but Edgar wriggling away.
Edgar tries to lock up and control but Shields gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Shields has control of Edgar's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Edgar regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Edgar working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Edgar tries to hold on but Shields postures up.
Edgar tries to reverse the position but Shields maintains control.
Edgar regains half guard.

Shields is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Shields missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Edgar slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Edgar had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Shields defends it easily.
Shields stopping the sweep attempt from Edgar.
Edgar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Edgar has his foot on Shields's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Shields works his way back into a safe position though.
Shields trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Edgar looking for a guillotine here but Shields defends easily.
Shields pushes down on Edgar's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Edgar connecting with a few gentle strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Shields dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jake Shields's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Edgar swings widly with a right hand

and Shields counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Edgar!
Edgar tries to escape but Shields is in control.

Shields is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Edgar is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Edgar manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Shields looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Shields is keen to just control but Edgar is a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edgar manages to get to full guard.
Edgar trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Edgar has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Shields can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Shields sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Edgar's guard.
Edgar wants to improve his position but Shields is controlling well.
Edgar slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Edgar manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Shields manages to get himself to full guard.

Shields pulls Edgar in close to his closed guard and prevents Edgar from doing any damage or advancing position.
Edgar throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edgar throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Edgar avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Edgar throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Shields has his foot on Edgar's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Edgar works his way back into a safe position though.
Edgar trying to control but Shields is working from the bottom.
Edgar is looking to work some ground and pound but Shields has wrist control.
Edgar looking to pass the guard.
Edgar stands up over Shields, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Edgar tries to free his leg and advance position but Shields is retaining full guard.
Edgar stands up over Shields, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Jake Shields overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Edgar drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Shields manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Edgar has Shields in his guard.

Edgar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Edgar is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Edgar is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Shields is aware though and is defending well.

Edgar is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Shields defends well.
Edgar tries to strike from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Edgar swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Edgar trying to strike off his back.
Edgar being controlled here, momentarily.
Edgar keeping moving, preventing Shields from controlling successfully.
Shields working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Edgar has his foot on Shields's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Shields works his way back into a safe position though.

Edgar is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Shields defends well.

Shields thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Edgar throws a couple of heel strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Frankie Edgar will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jake Shields's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Shields avoids a punch combination nicely.
Shields on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Frankie Edgar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Edgar misses with an uppercut.
Edgar misses with an uppercut.
Edgar feints and then cracks Shields's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Shields down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good leg kick by Edgar there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Edgar with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Edgar lands a really nice looking cross but Shields seems unphased.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edgar is looking to slow Shields down with leg kicks.
Edgar throws a jab when Shields was well out of range.
Shields slips a jab and a cross from Edgar.
A low kick from Edgar is predictable there

and Shields counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Shields drops back, looking for a kneebar! Edgar looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Edgar looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Edgar!

Shields tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Edgar goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Shields rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Edgar's guard! Nice work there by Shields!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edgar looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shields is one step ahead there.
Shields wants to pass the guard but Edgar is keeping the position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Shields trying to control the position from guard on top but Edgar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shields connects with a couple of short punches.

Edgar looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Edgar has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Shields can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Shields is pushing down on Edgar's leg trying to pass to half guard. Edgar is fighting to maintain full guard but Shields has managed to sneak the leg through.

Edgar is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Shields pulls his head out easily.

Shields is looking for a kimura but Edgar is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Shields to get the leverage.

Shields is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Edgar still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Edgar has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Edgar avoids the strikes from the bottom by Shields.
Shields manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Edgar landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shields is defending against the submission attempts here by Edgar.
Edgar prevents Shields from improving his position.

Edgar is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Edgar is nestled in close to Shields, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Edgar thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shields's head.
Edgar scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Shields is looking for a sweep. Edgar is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Edgar has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Shields defend it? Edgar steps over the head and cranks it - Shields is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Edgar!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Frankie Edgar!
A very excited looking Frankie Edgar made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.