PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shawn Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Shemper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Michaels
vs
Shemper

177 cm
22
166 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

175 cm
20
155 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Shawn Michaels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Steve Shemper!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Robert Douchet and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shemper shoots in for a double leg but Michaels sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Shemper closes this distance looking for a takedown but Michaels circles away.
Michaels leaves Shemper with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Shawn Michaels has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Shemper.
Michaels slaps away a takedown attempt from Shemper, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Shemper closes the distance and clinches up with Michaels, looking for a takedown. Shemper pushes Michaels against the cage but Michaels circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shemper.
Shemper dives in and grabs Michaels's left leg, looking for a takedown. Michaels pushes down on Shemper's head and hops out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shemper shoots in for a takedown but Michaels shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Michaels rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Shemper moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Michaels defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Shemper.
Shemper misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels stuffs the takedown attempt from Shemper. Shemper gets slowly back to his feet.
Michaels lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Shemper has a takedown stuffed.
Shemper looks gassed!
Michaels misses with the combination.
Michaels staying out of range there.
Michaels thumps Shemper with a low kick.
Michaels throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Shemper on the side of the head.

Michaels decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Shemper manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Michaels knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shemper on the ground.
Michaels wants to get up but he can't break Shemper's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Shemper tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Shemper has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Michaels has passed into side control.
Shemper tries to bench press Michaels off him but Michaels keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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Shemper tries to bench press Michaels off him but Michaels keeps the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Shemper has his takedown stuffed

and Michaels counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Michaels.

Michaels avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Michaels gets to his feet. Shemper looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shemper with a lazy takedown attempt
and Michaels counters with a low kick, right behind Shemper 's knee.
Michaels lands a two punch combo.
Michaels closes this distance looking for a takedown but Shemper circles away.
Shemper with a lazy takedown attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Michaels.
Michaels throws a series of strikes that have Shemper backpedaling.
Steve Shemper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shemper misses with a takedown attempt
letting Michaels counter with a right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shemper misses with a takedown attempt
and Michaels counters with a straight right hand.
Michaels throws a combination. Shemper tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Michaels dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Michaels throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Shemper.
Shemper gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Michaels counters with a nice body shot.
Shemper misses with a double jab.
Shemper misses with a takedown attempt

and Michaels counters with a nice double leg into side control. Shemper won't be happy with that.
Shemper tries to improve position but can't.

Michaels stands up and beckons Shemper to his feet.
Shemper doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Michaels counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Shawn Michaels has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Shemper.
Michaels throws a series of punches but Shemper moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shemper with a poor takedown
and Michaels counters with a nice kick to the body.
Shemper is breathing heavily.
Michaels throws a front kick that sends Shemper stumbling back into the cage.
Shemper shoots and misses

and Michaels counters with a single leg into guard. Shemper didn't expect that.
Shemper looking to hit a scissor sweep but Michaels is one step ahead there.
Shemper keeping full guard, as Michaels tries to pass.
Michaels has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Shemper has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Michaels can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels wants to stand but Shemper has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Michaels postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Michaels tries to stand but Shemper is controlling from the bottom.
Shemper manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
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.
Shemper sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Shemper has hold of Michaels's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Michaels manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Shemper looking to secure an arm triangle but Michaels defends it well.

Shemper looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Michaels is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Michaels slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Michaels on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Michaels tries to get out of the position.
Shemper missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Michaels is trying to stand back up but Shemper is controlling him
Michaels has hold of Shemper's hands but Shemper slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Shemper missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Michaels dominated that second 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. And we move into the final round!

Shemper misses with a takedown
and Michaels makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Michaels fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Shemper is out of range.
Shemper doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Michaels makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Michaels tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shemper paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shemper with a poor takedown

and Michaels counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Shawn Michaels has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Shemper.

Shemper looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Michaels passes into side control.
Michaels tries to move to mount but Shemper blocks the move with his legs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shemper is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Michaels passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Shemper!
Shemper is trying desperately to improve position.
Michaels looking to control but Shemper is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shemper wants to control but Michaels is having none of it.
Shemper is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shemper tries to lock up and control but Michaels gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Shawn Michaels is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shawn Michaels overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shemper is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Michaels is staying active.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Michaels trying to control but Shemper is having none of it.
Michaels controlling the position easily from mount.
Shemper is looking to improve his position but Michaels isn't that keen on the idea.
Steve Shemper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Shawn Michaels showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Michaels 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shawn Michaels!