PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shape Shifter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phoenix Templar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shape Shifter has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Shifter
vs
Templar

192 cm
26
214 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

173 cm
25
167 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Shape Shifter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Phoenix Templar!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Templar swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Shifter moves away from the strike by Templar.
Templar looks to score with a jab to the body but Shifter is just out of range.
Templar throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Shifter stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Jab by Templar.
Templar cracks Shifter with a right hand to the side of the head.
Templar is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shifter looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Templar throws a lazy body kick
and Shifter makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Templar scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shifter keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shifter half committed to a counter leg kick.
Phoenix Templar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Shifter closes the distance and pushes Templar back into the cage.

Shifter gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
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.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shifter trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shifter working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Shifter throws a big elbow that misses.
Templar keeping full guard, as Shifter tries to pass.
Templar utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Templar avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Shifter drops back, looking for a kneebar! Templar looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Templar looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Templar!

Shifter tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Templar wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Templar working the head with strikes.
Shifter is looking for a sweep.
Templar trying to control the action but Shifter is working from the bottom.
Shifter striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Templar trying to control the action but Shifter is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shifter is looking for a sweep.
Shifter is working hard here to advance position.

Templar is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Shifter has escaped the position, nice work there.
Templar wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shifter keeps working.
Templar is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Templar tries to move into full mount but can't pass Shifter's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shifter is looking to regain half guard here but Templar keeps moving and retains side control.
Shifter is not content to let Templar control the position.
Shifter is trying to improve his position.

Templar thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Templar is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Shifter is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Templar wants to control but Shifter is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Shifter tries to improve position but can't.
Templar in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Templar lands an elbow.
Shifter taking punishment in the form of punches.
Shifter manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shifter works his way into full mount!
Templar holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Shifter tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Shifter lands a heavy elbow.

Templar defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Shifter.
Shifter throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Templar is desperately trying to improve his position but Shifter has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Shape Shifter will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Templar throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Shifter stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Shifter is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A little jabbing left from Templar on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Templar lands with an uppercut that bounces Shifter off the cage and back into range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Templar.
Shifter doesn't manage to clinch there - Templar circles away.
Templar throws a hook to the side of Shifter's head but Shifter sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shifter feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Shifter shoots in but no luck this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shifter avoids the head kick by Templar.
Templar misses with a body kick.
A big right from Templar misses.
As Templar looks to move away, Shifter throws a big counter combo but Templar just gets out of the way.
Shifter gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shifter wants to clinch up but Templar keeps it at a distance.
Shifter slips under a jab from Templar.
Shifter was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Shifter fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shifter finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Templar tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shifter fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Templar is out of range.
Templar wants to clinch up but Shifter keeps it at a distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Shifter turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Shifter is trying to get an arm triangle but Templar is defending well.

Shifter is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Templar has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shifter wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Templar, who protects the arm well.
Templar can't do much from the bottom here.

Shifter tries for a kimura but Templar is defending well.

Shifter is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Templar is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Templar manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Templar seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Templar is taking a breather. Shifter says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The fighters are battling for position here. Shifter manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Templar cracks Shifter with a solid left hand.
Shifter is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Shape Shifter overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shifter trying to mount his opponent but Templar defends it.
Templar trying to control but Shifter postures up.
Shifter not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shifter will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Templar looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Shifter is working for a submission of some sort.

Templar is defending against the submission attempts here by Shifter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shifter is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Templar defends it well.

Shifter is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Templar looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Shifter is working for a kimura but Templar is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Shape Shifter will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Shifter moves out of range as Templar strikes.
Shifter fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Templar avoids it really well and circles away.
Shifter wants to clinch.
Templar thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Shifter if he has to take too many more of those.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Templar bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Templar has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.

Templar closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Templar throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Templar pushes Shifter back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Templar is fighting off a takedown attempt but Shifter is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Templar to the mat. Templar regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Shifter slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Templar is looking to reverse the position.

Shifter thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Shifter postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Shifter working away.
Templar is looking to reverse the position.

Shifter working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
You can see the frustration on Templar's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Templar manages to get back to half guard.

Shifter is working for a kimura but Templar is defending it quite comfortably.
Templar trying to hold on to Shifter's head to control him but Shifter postures up.

Shifter is trying to work for a kimura but Templar is defending well.
Templar is trying to maintain the position but Shifter is very close to passing his half guard.

Shifter seems to be working for a kimura but Templar defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Templar is trying to get back to full guard.
Templar gets back to full guard.
Templar working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shifter.

Shifter drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Templar manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Shifter has Templar in his guard.

Templar tries to free his leg and advance position but Shifter is retaining full guard.

Shifter looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Shifter working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Templar doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Templar manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shifter looking for a guillotine here but Templar defends easily.
Templar keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Shifter's head.
Shifter looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Templar trying to control the position from guard on top but Shifter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Shifter escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Templar gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Templar wants to control from the top but Shifter keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Shifter is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Templar is aware though and is defending well.

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 Shape Shifter.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shifter, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight for Shape Shifter!
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Shape Shifter!
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Shape Shifter!

Shape Shifter wins by unanimous decision!
Shape Shifter managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Urban Fighter, into his post fight interview.