PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between David Shields (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by 4 In the Morning. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shields
vs
Thomas

183 cm
19
181 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
19
182 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 New York, David Shields!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jose Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Anthony Taglia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas misses with an uppercut. Shields saw that one coming.
Shields slips under a jab from Thomas.
Shields connects with a good right hand that stumbles Thomas. Thomas circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Shields lands a slapping body shot.
Shields slips a straight right by Thomas.
Shields looks to score with a jab to the body but Thomas is just out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Thomas loads up on a big right hand but Shields slips the punch.
Thomas on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Shields scores with a hook.
Shields throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Thomas on the side of the head.
Shields slips under a jab.
Thomas throws out a loose jab but Shields uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thomas throws a body punch but Shields moves out of range.
Shields connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Thomas attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Thomas is looking to land body kicks.
Jab from Thomas.
Shields staying out of range there.
Shields lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Thomas throws a jab but it's blocked by Shields.
Shields lands a nice shot that snaps Thomas's head back.
Thomas looks to land a left hand but Shields moved out of range nicely.
Shields blocks a jab.
Thomas throws a big shot that misses.
Shields cracks a nice hook into Thomas's ribs.
Shields moves out of range as Thomas strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shields dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Thomas misses with an uppercut.
Thomas throws a looping overhand right but Shields ducks down to avoid it.
Shields wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Shields looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shields accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shields trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shields postures up in Thomas's guard and throws a big left but Thomas blocks it.
Thomas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shields.
Shields with a flurry of punches that miss.
Shields distracts Thomas with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Shields thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Thomas misses with a straight right.
Shields staying out of range there.
Shields scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Thomas throws a hook to the side of Shields's head but Shields sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shields displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thomas throws out the jab.
Jose Thomas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shields tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thomas was well out of range. Poor timing from Shields.
Thomas misses with a looping right.
Shields scores with a jab to the body.
A big right from Thomas misses.

Shields changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Thomas looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
An elbow from Shields crashes against the mat.
Shields fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Shields working away.
Thomas takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Thomas can't do much from the bottom here.
Shields landing a few strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas regains half guard, as Shields was trying to land strikes.
Shields throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Shields sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Thomas defending well though.
Thomas wants to get back to full guard.
Shields works his way into full mount!
Thomas sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Shields thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thomas's head.
Thomas avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Shields.
Shields looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Thomas wants to get back to full guard.
Shields missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Shields is trying to work for a kimura but Thomas is defending well.
Shields prevents Thomas from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Shields dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Thomas walks into a straight right hand from Shields.
Thomas takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Jose Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shields staying out of range there.
Shields slips under a jab.
Thomas throws a jab when Shields was well out of range.
Thomas punishes Shields's body with a nice straight punch.
Shields scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Thomas doesn't seem bothered though.
Thomas misses with an uppercut. Shields saw that one coming.
Shields moves away from the strike by Thomas.
Shields lands a right hook to the body.
Shields scores with the left hand. Thomas knows he should have avoided that one.
Thomas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shields was well out of range. Poor timing from Thomas.
Shields scores with a crisp jab that stopped Thomas in his tracks.
Shields throws a body punch but Thomas moves out of range.
Shields slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Thomas throws a looping overhand right but Shields ducks down to avoid it.
Thomas might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Shields slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Shields lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Shields avoids the body shot from Thomas.
Thomas misses with an uppercut. Shields saw that one coming.
Thomas misses with an uppercut. Shields saw that one coming.
Shields with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas walks into a stiff left hand from Shields.
Shields digs a good body shot into Thomas's ribs.
Thomas throws an overhand right that lands on Shields's shoulder, as Shields tries to avoid the shot.
A punch combination from Thomas misses.
Thomas is breathing heavily.

Shields changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Thomas looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Shields tries to score with some ground and pound. Thomas controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Shields working the strikes but Thomas uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Shields looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Thomas with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Thomas has hold of Shields's hands but Shields slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Shields is looking for a kimura but Thomas is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Shields to get the leverage.
Shields sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Thomas defending well though.
Thomas avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Shields.
Shields lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields is nestled in close to Thomas, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Shields is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Thomas sees it coming and defends easily.
Shields thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thomas's head.
Shields 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.

Shields is working for a kimura but Thomas is defending it quite comfortably.
Shields thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thomas's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Thomas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shields.

Shields is working for a kimura but Thomas is defending it quite comfortably.
Thomas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shields.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Shields misses with a looping right.
Thomas misses with a hook.
Shields dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Thomas looks to throw the jab but Shields is out of range.
Thomas misses the jab.
Shields connects with a body shot.

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.
Thomas loads up on a big right hand but Shields slips the punch.
Shields lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Thomas misses the jab.
A left lands for Shields.
Shields moves out of range of the strikes.

Shields shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Shields trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Thomas trying to control the position.
Thomas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shields.
Shields throws a big right hand that misses.
Thomas working a defensive guard here.
Shields throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Shields dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Thomas throws a shot from downtown. Shields moves away and avoids it.
Shields moves away from the strike by Thomas.
A jab from Thomas misses.
Shields connects with a body shot.
Shields works the jab nicely.
Shields lands with a nice body punch.
Shields uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thomas.
Nice uppercut there from Shields.
Shields fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Thomas looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Thomas looks to score with a jab to the body but Shields is just out of range.
Thomas thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thomas scores with a punch to the head.
Shields connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Thomas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shields was well out of range. Poor timing from Thomas.
Shields staying out of range there.
Shields throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Thomas stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Thomas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shields connects with a body shot.
Shields digs a good body shot into Thomas's ribs.
Shields lands a right hook to the body.
Thomas throws out a loose jab but Shields uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shields scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Thomas doesn't seem bothered though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Thomas gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Thomas is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Shields lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Shields lands with a shot to the body.

Shields scores with a takedown into Thomas's guard.
Shields throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shields is looking to work some ground and pound but Thomas has wrist control.
Shields postures up in Thomas's guard and throws a big left but Thomas blocks it.
Shields throws a big right hand that misses.
Thomas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shields is one step ahead there.
Shields trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields throws a strike but Thomas rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Shields is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Shields thows a huge punch but Thomas dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Shields not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shields not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shields thows a huge punch but Thomas dodges it nicely.

Shields is trying to work for a kimura but Thomas is defending well.
Shields is trying to control the action in half guard but Thomas is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Shields with the ground and pound but Thomas uses the opportunity to regain guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Shields scores with a punch to the head.
A decent looking cross lands there for Shields.
Thomas misses with a telegraphed body shot
letting Shields counter with a right hand.
Thomas doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Shields uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thomas.
Shields lands an overhand right.
Thomas takes a swing at Shields's ribcage but misses.
Shields throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jose Thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thomas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shields.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Shields.
Thomas throws a body punch but Shields moves out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Shields.
Thomas bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Shields's head.

It looks like David Shields has been cut.
Shields lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A decent looking cross lands there for Shields.

Thomas gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
David Shields is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shields missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Shields showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Shields 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Shields!