PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Larry Shaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and james powell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). james powell acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Shaw
vs
powell

180 cm
22
171 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

181 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Larry Shaw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, james powell!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Daniel Bishop and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shaw looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? powell is fending him off so far but Shaw persists. Nope, powell circles away and we're back to standing.
Shaw drops his hands momentarily and powell takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

It looks like Larry Shaw has been cut.

powell looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Shaw is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
powell thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shaw's head.
Shaw is staying active underneath powell, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Shaw trying to hold on to powell's head to control him but powell postures up.
powell is keen to just control but Shaw is a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shaw throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
powell prevents Shaw from improving his position.
Shaw makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Shaw.
Shaw looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Shaw drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Shaw throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Shaw scoring with punches and elbows.
powell manages to work his way to half guard, despite Shaw's best efforts.
powell taking some punishment here, with Shaw in his half guard.
Shaw prevents powell from improving his position.
powell is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Shaw scores with a couple of nice shots.
Shaw thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed powell's head.

powell is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Shaw pulls his head out easily.
powell looks gassed!
powell on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Shaw lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaw winds up and cracks powell with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
powell on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Shaw trying to control the action but powell is working from the bottom.
powell trying to control but Shaw postures up.
Shaw is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Shaw works his foot free and advances to mount.
Shaw tries to control but powell wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Shaw.
A nice elbow there by Shaw.
powell tries to hold on but Shaw pushes him away.
Shaw scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Shaw with shots to the head and body - powell looks very uncomfortable down there.
Shaw with good strikes from the mount here!
Shaw scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Shaw cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Shaw looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Shaw landing shots from mount.
Shaw dominating with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaw is in the full mount, landing strikes.

powell is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shaw landing strikes, looking to finish!
powell is still in real trouble! Can Shaw finish him?
Shaw landing strikes from the mount.
Shaw cracks powell with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
powell seems to have recovered his senses.
Shaw landing punches.
Shaw has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of powell's face.
powell throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Shaw postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. powell looks a forlorn figure.
powell tries to hold on but Shaw postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shaw looking to finish powell with some ground and pound. This is bad for powell!

Shaw has control of powell's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and powell regains control of the situation pretty easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry Shaw dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Larry Shaw's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

powell looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Larry Shaw overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
powell wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shaw keeps working.
Shaw missing with punches from the bottom.
Shaw landing a few short strikes.
Shaw is looking for a sweep. powell is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shaw misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Shaw is pressing down on powell's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Shaw looking to hit a scissor sweep but powell is one step ahead there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nice jab there from powell.
powell fails with the takedown

and Shaw counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Shaw keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of powell's head.
Shaw chips away with some ground and pound.
Shaw scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
powell is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
powell is trying to control the position but Shaw postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shaw stands and steps away. powell gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Shaw shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Shaw was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Shaw cracks powell with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
powell is bucking up trying to escape but Shaw cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Shaw wants to control but powell has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Shaw connects with a nice short shot to powell's temple.
Shaw throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
powell regains full guard. Nicely done.
powell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaw is working powell over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Shaw distracts powell with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
powell trying to keep a closed guard but Shaw is proving a slippery customer.
Shaw has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Shaw is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Shaw lands a couple of decent looking shots.
powell trying to keep a closed guard but Shaw is proving a slippery customer.
Shaw stopping the sweep attempt from powell.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
powell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

powell escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Shaw gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Shaw distracts powell with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
powell keeping moving, preventing Shaw from controlling successfully.
Shaw postures up and lands a big shot to powell's brow.
Shaw is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Shaw scoring with some ground and pound.
Shaw throws and elbow that misses. powell uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Shaw's guard. Nice move by powell!
Shaw keeping moving, preventing powell from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry Shaw dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Larry Shaw's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

powell looks to clinch

and Shaw counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Shaw lands a couple of decent looking shots.

powell has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Shaw can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Shaw stands up over powell, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
powell is trying to hold Shaw in close to prevent damage but Shaw has managed to pass into half guard.
Shaw trying to pass the guard but powell defending well.
powell has hold of Shaw's hands but Shaw slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Shaw is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Shaw prevents powell from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw scoring with strikes to the body and head.
powell has hold of Shaw's hands but Shaw slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
powell is trying to control but can't.
Shaw looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks powell with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
powell taking some punishment here, with Shaw in his half guard.
Ground and pound from Shaw.
Shaw wants to free his trapped foot but powell is holding on for dear life with his legs.
powell is looking to improve his position.
powell makes his way to full guard. A much better position for powell.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
powell trying to control the position.
Shaw scoring with some ground and pound.
powell manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Shaw manages to get himself to full guard.
Shaw manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. powell manages to get himself to full guard.
Shaw lands a couple of elbows.
powell controls Shaw momentarily but Shaw frees himself.
Shaw slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
powell is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Shaw scores with a couple of nice shots.
Shaw not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shaw working powell over with strikes.
Shaw performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Shaw trying to control from half guard but powell is working away.
powell wants to improve his position but Shaw is controlling well.
Shaw tries to pass to full mount but powell defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
powell wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
powell swats away the attempt to clinch by Shaw.

Shaw shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Shaw is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Shaw looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
james powell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Larry Shaw is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
powell tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Larry Shaw showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shaw, 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Larry Shaw!