PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kennedy Embers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Shields (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Embers comes to the cage accompanied by Settle For Nothing by RATM. Kennedy Embers has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Embers
vs
Shields

178 cm
29
178 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

182 cm
26
176 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Real Fighters Nutrition

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 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kennedy Embers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jake Shields!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Embers misses with a double jab.
Nice jab there from Embers.
Embers lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Shields shoots in and drives through. Embers sprawls well.
Some wild striking there from Embers.
Embers throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
No joy there for Embers, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Shields takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Shields shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Shields was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Shields throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Shields goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Embers is on top in guard.
Shields looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shields trying to control the position.
Embers is pushing down on Shields's leg trying to pass to half guard. Shields is fighting to maintain full guard but Embers has managed to sneak the leg through.
Shields slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Shields is adopting a defensive guard.
Embers stopping the sweep attempt from Shields.
Shields seems keen to control Embers's posture.
Shields wants to hit a switch here but Embers passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Shields there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Embers prevents Shields from getting the reversal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shields tries to hold on but Embers pushes him away.
Shields can't escape the position.
Embers trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Shields wants to hold on but Embers pushes him away.
Embers tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields tries to lock up and control but Embers gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Shields is trying desperately to improve position.
Shields tries to improve his position but instead Embers has taken his back!
Shields trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Shields breaks Embers's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields is fighting to break Embers's control of his arms but Embers is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Shields trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Embers manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Embers trying to control the position from guard on top but Shields is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shields is trying to control the position from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shields is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jake Shields will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Shields shoots for a double leg takedown but Embers sprawls well. He's pushed Shields's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Shields shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Embers manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Shields wants to pass the guard but Embers is keeping the position.
Embers pulls Shields in close to his closed guard and prevents Shields from doing any damage or advancing position.
Shields tries to free his leg and advance position but Embers is retaining full guard.

Shields got a little sloppy there for a moment and Embers has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Shields has managed to get both his arms back between Embers's legs - danger averted.
Embers keeping full guard, as Shields tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shields scoring with some ground and pound.
Shields looking to pass the guard.
Shields throws a strike but Embers rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Jake Shields has got the better of the ground game so far.
Embers tries to free his leg and advance position but Shields is retaining full guard.
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 is trying to control the action in half guard but Embers is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Embers is trying to stand up here but Shields is controlling him well.
Shields trying to control from Embers's half guard. Embers has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Shields working some strikes from top position.
Shields throwing strikes from guard but Embers blocks nicely.
Shields loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Shields is stalling in the full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Embers has his hands on Shields's head, controlling the position.
Shields trying to control the position from guard on top but Embers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Shields showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Embers.
Shields moves in looking to clinch but Embers pushes him off.
Kennedy Embers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Embers throws a left and a right that both miss

and Shields counters with a single leg into guard. Embers didn't expect that.
Shields trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shields advances to half guard.
Shields throwing shots but Embers is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields wants to pass to mount but Embers is defending the position.
Shields sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Embers defending well though.
Shields stops Embers from getting back to his feet.
Shields seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Embers does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shields works his way into side control.
Shields is trying to move to mount but Embers reverses beautifully and ends up in Shields's guard.
Embers preventing the sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shields not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Shields showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Shields is defended easily by Embers.
Embers lands a head shot.
Embers cracks Shields with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Shields changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Embers tries to avoid it but Shields manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Embers to the ground. Embers escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Embers jabs at Shields's body.
Embers misses with a head kick.
Shields is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Embers.
Shields takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Embers misses with the combination.
Shields is looking to clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Embers throws a leg kick but Shields sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Embers feints a jab promting Shields to slip. Embers then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Shields slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Embers swinging wildly here.
Embers throws a head kick that misses.
Kennedy Embers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Embers stuffs the takedown.
Kennedy Embers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Shields.
Shields moves in looking to clinch but Embers pushes him off.
Shields misses with a takedown attempt - Embers sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Shields is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Embers.
Embers smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Embers swings for the body but Shields moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Embers.
No joy there for Embers, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Shields tries to score a power double leg takedown but Embers sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Shields somewhat.
Embers 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.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shields throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Embers's waist but Embers gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Shields off to one side.
Shields tries to close the distance and clinch but Embers swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Embers misses with a wild combination.
Embers lands a head shot.
Shields fails with a takedown attempt.
Shields takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
No joy there for Embers, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Embers stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Embers wants it to stay on the feet.
Embers lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Embers lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Embers closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Embers throws a series of punches but Shields avoids them all with ease.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Embers misses with a hook

and Shields counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kennedy Embers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Embers is staying active underneath Shields, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
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!
Embers trying to hold on to Shields's head to control him but Shields postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shields is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Embers has managed to free his arm - good work.
Shields content to control rather than advance.
Jake Shields is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Shields is thwarting Embers's attempts to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shields is looking to take a break and control but Embers is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kennedy Embers showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shields has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kennedy Embers!
After winning the bout, Kennedy Embers thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.