PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Shield (ranked 5376 p4p, 578 weight class) and Barry Rarden (ranked 8598 p4p, 706 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shield
vs
Rarden

225 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
168 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nathan Shield!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Barry Rarden!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rarden lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Nathan Shield has been cut.
Shield throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rarden misses the jab.
Rarden doesn't manage to clinch there - Shield circles away.
Shield is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Rarden throws a combination that misses
letting Shield counter with a right hand.
Shield throws a right and a left that Rarden avoids nicely.
Rarden looks to land a combination but Shield avoids it well.
Rarden just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromShield.

Shield closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A short right from Shield.
Shield scores with a shoulder strike.
I was talking to Shield's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shield goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rarden prevents it.

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

Shield fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rarden, pushing him back against the cage.
Rarden is trying to break the clinch but Shield has him pressed against the cage.

Shield pulls guard effortlessly.
Shield 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.
Shield pulls Rarden in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shield wants to stand and escape but Rarden is having none of it.

Shield working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Rarden has passed into half guard!
Shield tries to kick Rarden off but Rarden keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rarden tries to stand and escape but Shield is controlling the position.
Shield tries to kick Rarden off but Rarden keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A punch combination from Rarden misses.
Rarden dodges the punch combination from Shield.
Barry Rarden is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rarden tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shield ducks right into an uppercut from Rarden.
Rarden shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Shield eats them both and turns towards Rarden to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Shield closes the distance and pushes Rarden back into the cage.
Shield looking to throw knees to the head but Rarden is blocking nicely.
Shield prevents Rarden from breaking the clinch.
Rarden has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Shield leaning his opponent against the cage.
Rarden is trying to push Shield away but Shield has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rarden is trying to push Shield away but Shield has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
The referee calls for Shield to work.
Shield leaning against his opponent.
Rarden is trying to break free.
Stalling in the clinch from Shield.
Shield is looking to control Rarden's arms but Rarden gets an underhook and turns him. Now Shield has his back to the cage.
Shield keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rarden's efforts to push away.
Shield tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shield has Rarden pressed against the cage, preventing Rarden from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rarden tries to break free but Shield pushes him back against the cage.
Rarden has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A short right from Shield on the inside.
Rarden is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rarden wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Shield has him pressed against the cage.
Shield is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rarden is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Shield. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shield wants a takedown.
Shield is breathing heavily.
Rarden working hard to break the clinch.

Rarden breaks from the clinch.
Rarden lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Shield backs up against the cage.
Barry Rarden seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shield fails with an attempt to clinch.
Shield wants to clinch.
A punch combination from Rarden misses.
Rarden throws the left hand but Shield avoids the punch easily.
Rarden misses with a few strikes there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shield gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Shield displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rarden up against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Shield.
Shield is trying to maintain a safe position but Rarden gets an underhook and turns Shield into the cage.
Shield lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Shield lands an elbow inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Shield manages to break the clinch.

Shield gets a double leg takedown into Rarden's guard.
Shield works over Rarden with some ground and pound from guard.
Shield pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rarden is keeping the position for now.
Rarden wants to stand but Shield is controlling the position.
Shield really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Shield throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nathan Shield will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Nathan Shield's cut.
That's time! Shield's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rarden throws a right hand that Shield ducks under and follows up with a left that Shield also avoids with ease.
A punch combination from Rarden misses.

Shield shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Shield showed some decent athleticism there.
Shield will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nice strikes from Shield there.
Shield trying to pass the guard but Rarden defending well.
Rarden wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shield content to control rather than advance.
Shield tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rarden knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shield prevents Rarden from standing back up.
Shield working Rarden over with strikes.
Shield looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Shield is trying to control. Rarden wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Shield working the head and body with strikes.

Shield is looking for a kimura here.
Shield is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rarden on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Shield wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rarden keeps working.
Shield is pressing down on Rarden's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rarden is holding on for now.
Shield is nestled in close to Rarden, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ground and pound from Shield.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rarden tries to kick Shield off but Shield keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Shield lands strikes from half guard.
Nathan Shield overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rarden wants to get back to his feet.
Rarden is breathing heavily.
Shield is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Shield seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Shield looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rarden with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Shield scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Shield wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rarden keeps working.
Shield content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shield lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Well, if Shield is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Shield slips a nice elbow through Rarden's hands, connecting with Rarden's forehead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Shield dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nathan Shield's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rarden doesn't manage to clinch there - Shield circles away.
Shield is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Shield rushes Rarden and presses him up against the cage.
Rarden is trying to force a seperation but Shield has the dominant position.
Rarden wants to break the clinch but can't.

Shield's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nathan Shield is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rarden swinging wildly here.
Rarden is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Shield.
Rarden throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
It looked like Shield wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Rarden throws a right hand that Shield ducks under and follows up with a left that Shield also avoids with ease.

Shield gets the takedown into side control.
Rarden taking a bit of punishment here - Shield scoring with strikes.
Shield cracks Rarden with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shield working the head and body with strikes.
Rarden takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shield wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rarden keeps working.
Shield lands some shots froms side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shield scoring with punches and elbows.
Shield is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Rarden will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Rarden taking punishment in the form of punches.

Shield is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rarden knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rarden takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rarden takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Rarden taking punishment in the form of punches.
Shield wants to control but Rarden is keeping him busy.
Shield is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rarden can do to turn this around?

Shield tries for a kimura but Rarden is defending well.
Rarden takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Shield has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rarden is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Shield looks up at the clock and then as Rarden takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Shield smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shield looks up at the clock and then as Rarden takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Shield smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Shield lands a few punches from side control.
Shield is looking to take a break and control but Rarden is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shield advances to mount.
The referee warns Rarden that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
A nice elbow there by Shield.
Shield punishing his opponent with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shield connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Shield with a couple of short strikes.
Rarden in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
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!
The referee warns Rarden that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Shield lands a heavy elbow.

Shield looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Shield is landing with some decent strikes but Rarden is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Barry Rarden has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nathan Shield is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shield lands with some strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nathan Shield showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shield, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathan Shield!
Nathan Shield looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'I want to thank Barry for taking the fight he is a tough guy a good fighter a warrior keep your head up kdi , i want to thanks my coaches , RISE for the opportunity . Where you at Eddie ? Where you at motherfucker ?'.