PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Omar Shields (ranked 25038 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arther Walsh (ranked 8030 p4p, 0 weight class). Arther Walsh has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Omar Shields's chin.

Shields
vs
Walsh

182 cm
18
214 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

195 cm
21
220 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Omar Shields!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Arther Walsh!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Ren Mimura and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Walsh closes this distance looking for a takedown but Shields circles away.
As Walsh tries to get set, Shields tries to push him back and clinch up but Walsh manages to avoid the attempt.
Walsh throws a wild body kick that Shields sees coming a mile off.
Walsh scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Walsh fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Shields avoids it really well and circles away.

Walsh closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shields is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Walsh pulls his head out easily.

Shields has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Walsh escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Walsh!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shields is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Walsh fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Shields being controlled for a moment.
Shields is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Walsh's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

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.
Walsh thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shields's head.

Shields looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Shields blocking the ground and pound attempt from Walsh.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Shields looking for submissions off his back.
Shields is breathing heavily.
Walsh sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Walsh thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walsh is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Walsh trying to control from half guard but Shields is working away.
Shields might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Walsh tries to pass the half guard into mount. Shields knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Shields avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Walsh.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Shields looking for submissions off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shields stuffs the takedown.
Omar Shields has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arther Walsh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Walsh shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Shields feinted there with a counter leg kick.

Shields gets tackled into the cage by Walsh. Walsh maintains the clinch.
Walsh tries to pull guard but Shields holds him up against the cage and eventually Walsh drops back down to his feet.
Walsh wants a takedown.
Walsh looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Walsh wants a takedown but no success here.
Shields misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Shields goes for a takedown attempt but Walsh pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shields shoots in but no luck this time.
Shields could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Walsh shoots for a takedown but Shields saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Shields looks for a takedown but Walsh sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arther Walsh dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Omar Shields's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Walsh pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Shields is looking to counter the offense by Walsh and move into the clinch.
Walsh throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Shields's waist but Shields gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Walsh off to one side.
Shields stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Shields wants it to stay on the feet.
Shields wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Walsh misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Walsh pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Shields back to the cage. Walsh follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Shields tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Walsh defends well and Shields ends up having to push Walsh into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Walsh goes for a double leg but Shields avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Shields continues to drive forward.
Omar Shields has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arther Walsh.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shields closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Walsh to the mat! Walsh manages to get full guard.

Walsh has his feet on Shields's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Walsh has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Walsh shoots in for a double leg but Shields sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shields closes the distance and clinches up with Walsh, looking for a takedown. Shields pushes Walsh against the cage but Walsh circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Walsh tries for a takedown but Shields circles away easily

and Shields moves into the clinch.

Shields gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Walsh kicks Shields off and gets back to his feet.
Walsh throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
As Walsh tries to get set, Shields tries to push him back and clinch up but Walsh manages to avoid the attempt.
Shields blocks a head kick by Walsh.
Shields showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Walsh.
Shields wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Walsh pinned against the cage. Walsh gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Shields moves out of range of the body kick.
Arther Walsh is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Walsh.
Walsh tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shields swivels and escapes.
Shields half committed to a counter leg kick.
Walsh stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walsh stalks Shields and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Shields's face. Shields staggers backwards, shaken.
Walsh defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Shields.
Walsh displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Shields.
Walsh doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Walsh misses with a takedown attempt - Shields sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Shields tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Walsh defends well and Shields ends up having to push Walsh into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Shields leaves Walsh with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Shields seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Arther Walsh seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Walsh fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Shields checks it well.

Shields gets caught flat footed, as Walsh shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Shields is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Walsh defends well.

Shields had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Walsh defends it easily.
Shields keeping full guard, as Walsh tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arther Walsh showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Omar Shields's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Walsh doesn't manage to clinch there - Shields circles away.
Walsh moves in looking to clinch but Shields pushes him off.
Shields is looking to counter the offense by Walsh and move into the clinch.
Horrible takedown attempt by Walsh or perhaps it was just good defense by Shields, which made it look bad.
Walsh dives in for a single leg takedown but Shields sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Walsh dives in and grabs Shields's left leg, looking for a takedown. Shields pushes down on Walsh's head and hops out.
Omar Shields has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arther Walsh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walsh shoots in looking for a takedown. Shields tries to sprawl out of it but Walsh keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shields manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Walsh takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shields goes for a double leg but Walsh avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Walsh continues to drive forward.
Walsh tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Shields defends well and Walsh ends up having to push Shields into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Shields drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Shields trying to control the position from guard on top but Walsh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shields seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Walsh tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Walsh isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Shields stacks Walsh 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 Shields!
The referee asks Shields politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Shields prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walsh tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Shields wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Shields lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Walsh down.

Shields decides to stand back up.
Shields shoots in for a double leg but Walsh sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Walsh closes the distance and clinches up with Shields, looking for a takedown. Walsh pushes Shields against the cage but Shields circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Shields is trying hard to land a takedown here. Walsh sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Shields gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Walsh counters with a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walsh throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Shields's waist but Shields gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Walsh off to one side.
Shields looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A head kick misses from Walsh.
Walsh stuffs the takedown attempt from Shields. Shields gets slowly back to his feet.
Walsh closes the distance and clinches up with Shields, looking for a takedown. Walsh pushes Shields against the cage but Shields circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Walsh shoots in looking for a takedown but Shields manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Walsh's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Shields wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walsh dives in for a single leg takedown but Shields sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Shields shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Walsh as he avoids it easily.

Walsh moves into range and clinches up with Shields.

Walsh breaks from the clinch.

Walsh closes the distance and clinches.
Walsh tries to circle away but Shields has him pinned against the cage.
Shields looking to slow down the pace here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Walsh is working for takedown but Shields is calmly controlling the position for now.
Shields lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Omar Shields has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Arther Walsh is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Walsh stalling in the clinch.

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 Omar Shields.
Well Walsh has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arther Walsh!