PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Greg Shaw (ranked 7181 p4p, 0 weight class) and Klay Black (ranked 6470 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Greg Shaw has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Shaw
vs
Black

180 cm
22
196 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

188 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Greg Shaw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Klay Black!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Nard Betker and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some bone on bone action there as Black checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Black throws a head kick that misses.
Shaw throws a right hand that Black ducks under and follows up with a left that Black also avoids with ease.
Black takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Black closes the distance and clinches up with Shaw, looking for a takedown. Black pushes Shaw against the cage but Shaw circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Shaw fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Shaw connects with the punch.

Black scores with a takedown into Shaw's guard.
Black looking to pass the guard.
Black prevents Shaw from getting back to his feet.
Black stays in close to Shaw's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black postures up in Shaw's guard and throws a big left but Shaw blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shaw is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Black is controlling him.
Black looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Black tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shaw manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Shaw half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shaw throws a series of punches but Black moves out of range.
Black jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Black tries to clinch up.
Black looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Shaw looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Black looks for a takedown but Shaw sprawls well.
Black throws a low kick but Shaw moves out of range easily.
Black fails with a takedown attempt.
Greg Shaw has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Klay Black.
A punch combination from Shaw misses.
Shaw misses with a few strikes there.
Shaw throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Black scores with a takedown into Shaw's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shaw pushes Black off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Black misses with a takedown attempt - Shaw sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Shaw looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Shaw fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sloppy strikes from Shaw. Those never looked like landing.
Shaw is breathing heavily.
Black just misses with a punch to the body.
Black throws a sloppy head kick and Shaw moves out of range easily.

Black darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Black seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black with the ground and pound but Shaw uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Black stands up from Shaw's guard - Black perhaps looking for a knockout.
Shaw shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Black eats them both and turns towards Shaw to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Black is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Shaw's half guard.
Shaw wants to get back to his feet.
Still in half guard, Black seems content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Greg Shaw dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Black fails with an attempt to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Black is defended easily by Shaw.
Black takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Shaw connects with a right hand. Black shakes it off.
Shaw rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Black moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Shaw will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shaw looks to land a combination but Black avoids it well.
Shaw is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Black can do to turn this around?
Black throws a half hearted mid kick.

Black shoots in and gets a takedown into Shaw's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black prevents Shaw from getting back to his feet.
Black throwing strikes but missing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Black wants to pass the guard but Shaw is keeping the position.
Black trying to control the position from guard on top but Shaw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shaw working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Black.
Black is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Black is pushing down on Shaw's leg trying to pass to half guard. Shaw is fighting to maintain full guard but Black has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Shaw is trying to stand up here but Black is controlling him well.
Black trying to control the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Shaw gets caught napping as Black dives in and scores a takedown. Shaw manages to retain guard.

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

Black scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Shaw knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Black on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black in side control lands a decent elbow.
Black staying calm.
Black postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Shaw pushes Black away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Black gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Black wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shaw keeps working.

Black stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Shaw throws a solid leg kick but Black takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Shaw.

Black shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Shaw is trying to defend but Black finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Black gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Greg Shaw is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Shaw gets caught flat footed, as Black shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Shaw is wriggling around but Black manages to pass to half guard.

Black tries to pass to full mount but Shaw defends it.
Still in half guard, Black seems content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Klay Black showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Black looks for a takedown but Shaw sprawls well.
Shaw tries to counter with a takedown but Black is quick to defend against it.
Shaw uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Black fails with an attempt to clinch.
Black checks a low kick from Shaw.

Black looking to score a takedown here. Shaw is defending well but Black drives through and ends up in Shaw's guard.
Black sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Black decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Black fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Black showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shaw.
Black throws a body shot but no joy.
Black waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shaw.
Black tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Shaw defends well and Black ends up having to push Shaw into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Greg Shaw has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Klay Black.
Shaw throws a combination. Black tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Black feints and as Shaw raises his hands in defense, Black changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Black is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Black is looking to work some ground and pound but Shaw has wrist control.
Black looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Black is looking to work some ground and pound but Shaw has wrist control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Black tries to clinch up.
Greg Shaw is winning the standup battle so far.
Black doesn't manage to clinch there - Shaw circles away.
Shaw just misses with a punch to the body.
Shaw throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Shaw fails to land with a series of punches.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Shaw checks a leg kick.
Black fails with the takedown.
Shaw moves out of range of the body kick.
Black tries to close the distance and clinch but Shaw swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Greg Shaw is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Black drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black shoots in looking for a takedown but Shaw manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Black's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Shaw throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A head kick misses from Black.
Shaw walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Black checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Shaw lands with an overhand left.
Shaw lands an overhand right.
Black avoids a punch combination nicely.
Shaw thows a left - swing and a miss!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shaw misses with a series of wild punches.
Black will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Shaw feinted with a counter takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Greg Shaw showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shaw has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Greg Shaw!
A victorious Greg Shaw thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.