PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gilad Shalit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Deverux (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shalit comes to the cage accompanied by MC Sapinho - Gilad Shalit . These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Shalit
vs
Deverux

190 cm
22
220 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

195 cm
22
215 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gilad Shalit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Steve Deverux!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shalit lands a jab to the nose.
Deverux looks to land a left hand but Shalit moved out of range nicely.
Shalit ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Deverux moves away.
Shalit defending well as Deverux loads up on a big left hand.
Shalit lands with a good body shot.
Shalit displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Deverux throws out the jab.
Shalit throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Shalit slips a straight right by Deverux.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Deverux walks into a stiff left hand from Shalit.
Shalit moves out of range of the strikes.
Shalit appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Deverux keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A little jabbing left from Deverux on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shalit looks to score with a jab to the body but Deverux is just out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Deverux.
Shalit takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Deverux jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A counter left hand to the body from Shalit misses its target.
A lazy left from Shalit finds it's target.
Deverux fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shalit manages to avoid it.
Shalit looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Deverux connects with a right hand. Shalit shakes it off.
Deverux throws a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Deverux displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Deverux swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Deverux misses with a hook.
Shalit throwing a counter right hand but Deverux manages to avoid it.
Good standup being displayed there by Shalit as he connects with a hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Deverux misses with a body shot.
Deverux throws a looping overhand right but Shalit ducks down to avoid it.
Deverux throws a hook to the side of Shalit's head but Shalit sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Shalit, as that shot connected.
A swing and a miss from Deverux.
It looked like Shalit was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Deverux throws the left hand but Shalit avoids the punch easily.
Deverux takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Steve Deverux seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Deverux looks to land a left hand but Shalit moved out of range nicely.
Shalit scores with a sloppy right hand. Deverux should have avoided that one.
Deverux swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Shalit to counter with a crisp jab.
Deverux swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Shalit counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Shalit is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Deverux throws a lazy uppercut
letting Shalit counter with a right hand.
Deverux slips a jab from Shalit.
Deverux is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Nice defenses there by Shalit.
Shalit is looking to counter punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Shalit throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Deverux walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Deverux scores with a body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Deverux jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Deverux throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Shalit counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Deverux darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Deverux jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Shalit tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Deverux was well out of range. Poor timing from Shalit.
Deverux throws out a counter right but Shalit avoids it with no problem.
Deverux closes the distance and lands a one-two.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Steve Deverux will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shalit misses with a body shot
and Deverux counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Deverux misses with a wild combination.
Shalit lands a really nice looking cross but Deverux seems unphased.
Deverux listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Deverux misses with a looping right.
Shalit swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Deverux misses the body punch
and Shalit counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Deverux misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Deverux pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Shalit takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Deverux lands a right hook to the body.
Deverux misses with a straight left.
Deverux wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Shalit waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Deverux.
Deverux misses the body punch
and Shalit makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Steve Deverux seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Shalit tests Deverux's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Deverux jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shalit was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Deverux throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Shalit counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Shalit tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Deverux was well out of range. Poor timing from Shalit.
Shalit dips to his left and cracks Deverux with an uppercut!
Shalit misses with an uppercut.
Despite the aggression on Deverux's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shalit tries to bum rush Deverux with a series of wild strikes but Deverux uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Deverux misses the jab.
It looked like Shalit wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Shalit looks to land a left hand but Deverux moved out of range nicely.
Shalit sets himself, and Deverux steps forward looking for the clinch! Shalit avoids it this time.
Steve Deverux is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Deverux looks to land a right hand but Shalit moved out of range.
It looked like Shalit wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shalit scores with a jab to the body.
Shalit lands a two punch combo.
Shalit slips under a jab from Deverux.
Shalit is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Shalit cracks Deverux with an open hand slap.
Deverux misses with a two punch combination.
A counter left hand to the body from Shalit misses its target.
Shalit throws out a loose jab but Deverux uses good head movement to avoid it.
Deverux throws out a counter right but Shalit avoids it with no problem.
Shalit slips under a jab from Deverux.
A quick step to the side and Shalit tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A telegraphed right hand from Shalit misses the target.
Deverux is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shalit uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Deverux.
Deverux misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Shalit is looking to counter punch.
Good exchange - Deverux coming out on top.
Shalit tries to move into range but Deverux moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Deverux throws a series of punches but Shalit avoids them all with ease.
Shalit swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Deverux throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Shalit throws a jab when Deverux was well out of range.
Deverux misses with a two punch combination.
Deverux moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Steve Deverux will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Shalit's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Deverux throws a lazy uppercut
and Shalit counters with a straight right hand.
Deverux throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shalit throwing a counter right hand but Deverux manages to avoid it.
Shalit lands a jab to the head.
A right-left combo lands from Deverux.

It looks like Gilad Shalit has been cut.
Shalit just misses with a punch to the body.
Shalit throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Deverux on the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Deverux misses with an uppercut
letting Shalit counter with a right hand.
Deverux sizes up Shalit with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Deverux is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Shalit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shalit throws a body punch but Deverux moves out of range.
Shalit misses the jab.
Deverux throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Shalit is looking to counter punch.
Shalit connects with a jab.
Deverux is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Shalit.
Shalit loads up on a big right hand but Deverux slips the punch.
Deverux is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Shalit throws a right hand that misses
and Deverux counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Shalit throws a jab but it's blocked by Deverux.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Deverux lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Deverux throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Shalit to counter with a crisp jab.
Shalit throws an overhand right that lands on Deverux's shoulder, as Deverux tries to avoid the shot.
A little jabbing left from Deverux on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Deverux swings widly with a right hand
enabling Shalit to counter with a crisp jab.
Shalit misses with a left hand
and Deverux connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Deverux throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Shalit counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Deverux thinking.
Shalit throws a nice looking combination but Deverux bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Deverux displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shalit throws a looping overhand right but Deverux ducks down to avoid it.
Shalit throws a looping overhand right but Deverux ducks down to avoid it.
Shalit jabs at Deverux's body.
A slow jab from Shalit misses its intended target.
Shalit lands a nice hook to Deverux's body. Deverux takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Deverux rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Shalit moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Deverux slips a jab from Shalit.
Shalit slips a jab and a cross from Deverux.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shalit just misses with a punch to the body.
Shalit gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Deverux waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shalit.
Shalit throws a big shot that misses.
A nice side step and Deverux releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Deverux misses with the combination.
Shalit scores with the left hand. Deverux knows he should have avoided that one.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gilad Shalit.
I think Deverux 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Steve Deverux!
In defeat, Gilad Shalit stepped up to the mic, saying 'You know, shit happens, he was the better man tonight and I couldn't impose my gameplan. I train like a champion, fight like a champion and I lose like a champion. I'll come back stronger.'.