PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Demetrius Shaffer (ranked 24737 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Tolar (ranked 4850 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Demetrius Shaffer has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Shaffer
vs
Tolar

153 cm
23
151 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

177 cm
19
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Demetrius Shaffer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Frank Tolar!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tolar scores with a body shot.

Tolar shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Shaffer's guard.
Tolar trying to stand up but can't free himself from Shaffer's guard.
Shaffer could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Tolar showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Let's hope that Tolar 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.
Tolar throws a big right hand that misses.
Tolar showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolar wants to stand but Shaffer is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Tolar shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Tolar showed some decent athleticism there.
Tolar wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Shaffer uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Tolar engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Tolar.
Tolar wants to stand but Shaffer is controlling his posture from full guard.
Tolar must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tolar is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Tolar throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shaffer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tolar is fighting to break Shaffer's control of his arms but Shaffer is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Tolar moves into range and clinches up with Shaffer.

Shaffer jumps guard and drags Tolar to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Tolar trying to stand up but can't free himself from Shaffer's guard.
Tolar looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tolar decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Shaffer, up you get!

Shaffer looking to score a takedown here. Tolar is defending well but Shaffer drives through and ends up in Tolar's guard.

Tolar has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Shaffer off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shaffer tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tolar sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Shaffer somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Tolar dominated that round.
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.

Tolar shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Tolar was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Shaffer struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shaffer gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tolar sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolar missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Tolar seems to be working for a kimura but Shaffer defends the submission attempt.
Tolar is taking a breather. Shaffer 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.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Yet more stalling tactics from Tolar.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Shaffer misses with a double jab.
Frank Tolar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shaffer takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Tolar drives through with a takedown into guard.
Shaffer pulls Tolar in close to his closed guard and prevents Tolar from doing any damage or advancing position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shaffer bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tolar's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tolar is looking to sweep but instead, Shaffer has passed into half guard.
Tolar is holding on to half guard well.
Shaffer wants to free his trapped foot but Tolar is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Tolar controlling the position for now.
Tolar has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shaffer is working away from the top position though.

Tolar is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Shaffer pulls his head out easily.
Frank Tolar has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tolar is breathing heavily.
Tolar pushes Shaffer off looking to stand but Shaffer dives back in and keeps control.
Shaffer wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Tolar uses the opportunity to regain full guard.

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.
Shaffer scoring with punches to the head and body.
Shaffer might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Tolar working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shaffer.

Shaffer has gone for a leg lock! Tolar slips out almost immediately though and dives into Shaffer's guard.

Tolar controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Tolar is continuing to stall.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shaffer working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Frank Tolar will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Shaffer gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Tolar to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Tolar engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

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

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shaffer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tolar keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolar parries the strikes from Shaffer easily there. Shaffer is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Tolar to escape.
Shaffer working away.
An elbow from Shaffer crashes against the mat.

Tolar throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Shaffer looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Tolar closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Tolar lands in his opponent's guard.
Tolar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shaffer keeping moving, preventing Tolar from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Tolar uses the cage to get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Tolar rushes Shaffer and presses him up against the cage.

Shaffer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shaffer has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Tolar.
Demetrius Shaffer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shaffer fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaffer shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tolar defends it nicely.
Tolar lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Tolar has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Tolar takes the fight into the clinch.
Shaffer lands an elbow just above Tolar 's eye.
Tolar wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

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

Shaffer gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Tolar to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tolar postures up.
Tolar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tolar controls from within his opponent's guard.
Tolar wants to control from the top but Shaffer keeps moving.
Demetrius Shaffer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Frank Tolar is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shaffer can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Tolar controls the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Tolar comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tolar has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Tolar!