PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Patterson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Shelby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Patterson
vs
Shelby

188 cm
27
194 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

180 cm
26
190 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Supreme Nutrition
Voodoo Nutrition

Voodoo Nutrition
Mohito Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Patterson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John Shelby!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Donatello Bradman and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Patterson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Shelby is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Patterson defends well.
Patterson lands a couple of elbows.
Shelby is trying to control the position but Patterson postures up.
Patterson postures up and lands a big shot to Shelby's brow.
Shelby wants to sweep here but Patterson controlling him for the moment.
Patterson has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Patterson is looking to pass into half guard but Shelby pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Shelby is in guard.
Patterson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Patterson wants to sweep here but Shelby controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Patterson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shelby throwing strikes from guard but Patterson blocks nicely.
Shelby works over Patterson with some ground and pound from guard.
Shelby stopping the sweep attempt from Patterson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Patterson pulls Shelby in close to prevent any damage.
Patterson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shelby won't allow Patterson to sweep him here.
Patterson keeping moving, preventing Shelby from controlling successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Patterson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Shelby is fending him off so far but Patterson persists. Nope, Shelby circles away and we're back to standing.
Shelby looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Shelby has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Patterson is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Shelby connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Patterson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
The fighters circling - Patterson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Shelby works over Patterson's head and body with a nice combination.

Shelby tries to sprawl but Patterson drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Patterson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shelby trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Patterson wants to stand up but Shelby has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Patterson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shelby defending well though.
Shelby is looking for a sweep. Patterson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Patterson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Patterson throwing shots but Shelby is blocking nicely.
Shelby trying to control but Patterson postures up.
Patterson thows a huge punch but Shelby dodges it nicely.
Patterson working Shelby over with strikes.
Shelby keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Shelby taking some punishment here, with Patterson in his half guard.
Patterson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Patterson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Shelby doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Patterson.
Shelby throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shelby has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Patterson is working away from the top position though.
Patterson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Patterson drops an elbow to the side of Shelby's head.
Shelby makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Shelby.
Patterson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Patterson is in close to Shelby's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Patterson throws a big right hand that misses.
Patterson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Patterson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Patterson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Shelby's head.
Shelby is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Patterson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Patterson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Patterson 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shelby controls Patterson momentarily but Patterson frees himself.

Patterson stands and steps away. Shelby gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Patterson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
James Patterson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shelby looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Shelby throws a series of strikes that have Patterson backpedaling.
Shelby leaves Patterson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Patterson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Patterson throws a shot from downtown. Shelby moves away and avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Patterson misses with a looping left.
Shelby dodges the punch combination from Patterson.
Patterson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Shelby. Shelby circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Patterson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shelby tries to avoid it but Patterson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shelby to the ground. Shelby escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A countering left hand to the body from Shelby misses.
Patterson misses with a hook
and Shelby counters with a series of strikes. Patterson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Shelby falls off balance throwing a combination
and Patterson counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shelby takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Shelby misses with a hook
enabling Patterson to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shelby looks up at the clock. Bad move! Patterson lands a right hand from hell, dropping Shelby. Patterson pounces and finishes the fight with a flurry of punches and elbows.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:07 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). James Patterson!
James Patterson managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Voodoo Nutrition, into his post fight interview.
John Shelby was interviewed post fight and said 'I am considering retirement'.