PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Tides (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Shafer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shafer comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Boom kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Tides
vs
Shafer

180 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
23
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Johnny Tides!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Alex Shafer!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tides shoots for a double leg takedown but Shafer sprawls well. He's pushed Tides's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shafer is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tides sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Tides throws a push kick but Shafer slaps the foot to one side.

Shafer has managed to clinch.
Shafer is pressed up against the cage. Tides has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Shafer down to the mat. Shafer avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Tides takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

It looks like Johnny Tides has been cut.
Shafer lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Shafer.
Tides looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Tides. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tides tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shafer misses with a few strikes there.
Shafer shoots in but no luck this time.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tides connects with a body shot that sends Shafer's belly button to the back.
Shafer misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shafer scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Tides has closed the distance and engaged Shafer in a clinch.

Tides's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shafer misses with a takedown attempt
and Tides counters with a good low kick that Shafer was not able to check.
Tides is trying hard to land a takedown here. Shafer sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Tides moves out of range as Shafer strikes.
Shafer works Tides's body with a nice hook.
Shafer shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tides defends it nicely.
Tides uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Shafer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shafer fails to land the takedown.
Shafer looks winded!
Tides lands a really nice looking cross but Shafer seems unphased.
Tides throws a head kick that misses.
Tides looks for a takedown but Shafer sprawls well.
Tides is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shafer throws a series of punches but Tides moves out of range.
Shafer fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shafer will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Shafer with a poor takedown
and Tides counters with a nice body shot.
Tides tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tides shoots in and drives through. Shafer sprawls well.
Shafer throws a hook but Tides avoids it easily.
Shafer throws a jab but it's blocked by Tides.
Shafer tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tides swivels and escapes.
Shafer cracks Tides with a good jab.

Tides rushes Shafer and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shafer fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tides is looking for a takedown.
Tides is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Shafer pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Tides ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Tides no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Tides keeping moving, preventing Shafer from controlling successfully.
Shafer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tides works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shafer landing with the ground and pound.
Shafer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tides keeping moving, preventing Shafer from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Shafer dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Johnny Tides's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Shafer closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Tides to the mat! Tides manages to get full guard.
Shafer missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Shafer throws a strike but Tides rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Shafer keeping moving, preventing Tides from controlling successfully.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Shafer can do anything to dispel that myth.
Tides is looking to stand up but Shafer won't let him.
Shafer keeping moving, preventing Tides from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shafer is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tides controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Johnny Tides just wasn't active enough.
Shafer moves in looking to clinch but Tides pushes him off.
Tides throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Shafer's head.
Tides slaps away a takedown attempt from Shafer, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Tides shoots in for a double leg but Shafer sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tides stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tides wants it to stay on the feet.

Tides dives in and scores a takedown into Shafer's guard.
Tides trying to control but Shafer is working from the bottom.
Tides pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shafer is keeping the position for now.
Tides preventing the sweep.
Tides is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Shafer really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tides. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Johnny Tides has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Shafer moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tides tries for a takedown but Shafer manages to get underhooks.
Shafer wants to take the fight to the mat but Tides manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Johnny Tides has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Shafer.
Tides is trying to break free.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tides creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Shafer is trying to force a seperation but Tides has the dominant position.
Tides keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Shafer's efforts to push away.
Tides keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Shafer's efforts to push away.

Shafer manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tides fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Shafer dives in and scores a takedown into Tides's guard.

Tides is working an open guard so Shafer takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Shafer drives through with a takedown into Tides's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Tides is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Shafer scoring with punches to the head and body.
Shafer is in close to Tides's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Shafer lands a couple of decent looking shots.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tides is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Shafer is controlling him.
Shafer controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Shafer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Johnny Tides's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Shafer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tides manages to avoid it.
Johnny Tides seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Shafer looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Tides trying to control the position here.
Shafer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tides is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shafer throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tides keeping moving, preventing Shafer from controlling successfully.

Tides looking for a guillotine here but Shafer defends easily.
Shafer postures up and lands a big shot to Tides's brow.
Tides wants to sweep here but Shafer controlling him for the moment.
Alex Shafer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tides avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tides trying to keep a closed guard but Shafer is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tides is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Shafer is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Shafer would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Shafer trying to control but Tides is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Shafer fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tides avoids it really well and circles away.
Tides misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Shafer decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Tides wants to control but Shafer is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shafer is trying to control the action in half guard but Tides is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tides tries to get to full guard but Shafer has control of the leg.
Tides avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Shafer.
Tides blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shafer.
Shafer trying to control the action but Tides is working from the bottom.
Shafer not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Tides is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Shafer pulls his head out easily.
Shafer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tides keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shafer thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Shafer working over Tides with some ground and pound. Tides looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Shafer trying to control the action but Tides is working from the bottom.
Tides is trying to control but can't.
Shafer working Tides over with strikes.
Tides wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shafer drops an elbow to the side of Tides's head.
Alex Shafer is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Shafer trying to pass the guard but Tides defending well.
Johnny Tides has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Shafer is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Tides has managed to free his arm - good work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Shafer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Shafer 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Shafer!
During a confident post fight interview, Alex Shafer thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.