PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shape Shifter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeremy Stapleton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stapleton comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Stick To Your Guns - Against Them All kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shifter
vs
Stapleton

192 cm
28
214 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

194 cm
31
215 lbs
19 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
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 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Shape Shifter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jeremy Stapleton!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shifter ducks under a wild hook from Stapleton.
Shifter appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Stapleton misses with an uppercut. Shifter saw that one coming.
Shifter changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Stapleton tries to avoid it but Shifter manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Stapleton to the ground. Stapleton escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Shifter avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stapleton throws a hook to the side of Shifter's head but Shifter sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Stapleton misses with a looping left.
Stapleton throws a lazy right hand but Shifter sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Stapleton throws a wild body kick that Shifter sees coming a mile off.
Shifter tried to counter with a leg kick but Stapleton avoided it.
Shifter misses with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stapleton gets caught napping as Shifter dives in and scores a takedown. Stapleton manages to retain guard.
Shifter in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Shifter slips nicely into half guard.
Stapleton keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Shifter passes to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stapleton wants to control but Shifter is having none of it.
Stapleton is trying to escape the mount.
Shifter putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Stapleton is working to get back to half guard.
Shifter sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Stapleton defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Shifter.

Shifter swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Stapleton is now in Shifter's guard. A big mistake from Shifter there, giving up the dominant position!
Shifter 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.
Shifter working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stapleton.
Stapleton tries to free his leg and advance position but Shifter is retaining full guard.

Stapleton got a little sloppy there for a moment and Shifter has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stapleton has managed to get both his arms back between Shifter's legs - danger averted.
Stapleton trying to control the position from guard on top but Shifter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shifter has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stapleton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Shifter looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stapleton content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shifter wants to sweep but no luck.

Shifter is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stapleton trying to control the position from guard on top but Shifter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Shifter isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Stapleton stacks Shifter on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Stapleton!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shifter is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stapleton scoring with punches and elbows.
Shifter takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Shifter tries to buck Stapleton off but Stapleton is having none of it.
Stapleton wants to control but Shifter is keeping him busy.
Shifter gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Shifter wants to improve his position but Stapleton is controlling well.

Shifter is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Stapleton pulls his head out easily.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Stapleton in particular looking to stall.
Stapleton missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Stapleton looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stapleton stalling away here and it's allowed Shifter to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Stapleton avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Stapleton stopping the sweep attempt from Shifter.
Stapleton throwing strikes from guard but Shifter blocks nicely.
Shifter keeping moving, preventing Stapleton from controlling successfully.
Stapleton preventing the sweep.
Stapleton must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Stapleton trying to control but Shifter is working from the bottom.

Shifter has an active guard here but Stapleton has managed to pass into half guard.
Shifter is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Stapleton's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Stapleton's back!
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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Stapleton scores with a crisp jab that stopped Shifter in his tracks.
Stapleton looks to land a right hand but Shifter moved out of range.
Stapleton connects with a looping right hand.
Stapleton throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Shifter on the side of the head.
Stapleton cracks Shifter with a hook to the temple - Shifter is on wobbly legs here! Stapleton swarms him with hook after hook, landing with each one! Shifter falls to the canvas face first and the referee dives in to stop the fight! Stapleton wins by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Jeremy Stapleton!
During a confident post fight interview, Jeremy Stapleton thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.