PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Shamrock (ranked 3037 p4p, 2542 weight class) and Rudolf Meine (ranked 303 p4p, 257 weight class). Shamrock's entrance music is Canned Heat- Going Up The Country. A fine choice. Brandon Shamrock has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Shamrock
vs
Meine

174 cm
19
155
3 - 1 - 0

163 cm
19
155
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Brandon Shamrock!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rudolf Meine!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Anthony Taglia and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Meine misses the shot to the body.
Meine throws a lazy uppercut

and Shamrock holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Meine prevents a body shot from Shamrock.
Shamrock digs a right hand underneath Meine's ribcage. Meine let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Meine lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Shamrock jumps guard and drags Meine to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Meine is fighting to break Shamrock's control of his arms but Shamrock is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Meine must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Shamrock working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Meine doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Meine manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Shamrock has his hands on Meine's head, controlling the position.
Shamrock will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meine trying to control but Shamrock is working from the bottom.
Shamrock pulls Meine in close to his closed guard and prevents Meine from doing any damage or advancing position.

Shamrock had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Meine defends it easily.

Shamrock throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Shamrock throws his legs up looking for a submission but Meine uses it to pass to side control.

Meine is trying to get an arm triangle but Shamrock is defending well.
Shamrock is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Meine's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shamrock is looking to control Meine's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shamrock avoid being mounted?
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Meine misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shamrock.

Shamrock shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Meine looking for a kimura from the bottom but Shamrock passes into side control!
Meine being controlled for a moment.
Shamrock wants to lay and pray for a moment but Meine keeps working.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shamrock is trying to get an arm triangle but Meine is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meine struggling a bit here.
Shamrock wants to lay and pray for a moment but Meine keeps working.

Shamrock is trying to get an arm triangle but Meine is defending well.
Meine is not content to let Shamrock control the position.

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.

Shamrock is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Meine knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Meine is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Shamrock tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Shamrock has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shamrock advances to mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Shamrock dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Shamrock misses with a body punch.
Meine misses with a short punch on the inside.
Shamrock scores with a hook to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Meine.
Shamrock is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Meine can do to turn this around?

Meine pulls guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Meine keeping moving, preventing Shamrock from controlling successfully.

Meine escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Shamrock gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shamrock won't allow Meine to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shamrock not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Brandon Shamrock overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Meine keeping moving, preventing Shamrock from controlling successfully.

Shamrock drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Shamrock jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Shamrock passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Meine tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Shamrock easily slips into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Shamrock is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Meine has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Meine!

Shamrock has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Meine can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Meine stays in close to Shamrock's body and controls the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Shamrock had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Meine defends it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Brandon Shamrock did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Shamrock avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Meine swings for the body but Shamrock moves out of range.
Shamrock wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Shamrock drives through with a takedown into guard.
Meine keeping moving, preventing Shamrock from controlling successfully.
Shamrock advances position into side control!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Meine is looking to reverse the position.

Shamrock is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Meine has escaped the position, nice work there.
Shamrock in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shamrock moves into full mount!
Meine wants to control but Shamrock is having none of it.
Shamrock fails to take his opponent's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

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

Shamrock goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Meine has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Shamrock but great work by Meine.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Meine wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shamrock keeps working.

Meine is trying to get an arm triangle but Shamrock is defending well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Shamrock had his way with Rudolf Meine in that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Meine connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Meine misses with a hook. Shamrock ducked under it nicely.
Meine jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shamrock ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Meine looks to land a right hand but Shamrock moved out of range.
Meine throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shamrock wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Meine throws a hook to the side of Shamrock's head but Shamrock sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shamrock appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Shamrock closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Meine.

Meine decides to pull guard.
Meine really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shamrock. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Shamrock forces his way into half guard.

Shamrock is working for a kimura but Meine is defending it quite comfortably.
Shamrock is taking a breather. Meine 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.
Shamrock wants to advance to full mount but Meine doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shamrock passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Shamrock happy to just control the position for now.
Meine is looking for a sweep.
Brandon Shamrock is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shamrock tries to advance to mount but can't.
Rudolf Meine has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Meine manages to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rudolf Meine comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Shamrock 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 49:46
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 49:47
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brandon Shamrock!
Brandon Shamrock is the new featherweight champion!