JACK Shore's rise up the UFC rankings continued on Saturday evening after another impressive performance and comfortable split decision win against fellow bantamweight rising star, Hunter Azure.

It was only the second time that the unbeaten Abertillery fighter has gone the distance in his 14 professional fights but it was unsurprising, Hunter Azure was as tough as they come and he too shares title ambitions.

Shore came into the bout with praise heaped on him by former champions including Daniel Cormier and Michael Bisping, but never one to let comments to go to his head, Shore entered the octagon in the same relaxed and focussed manner in which he approaches all of his fights.

An intriguing match-up between two fighters boasting strong wrestling pedigrees, collided in the centre in the opening round with Shore pushing the pressure until securing underhooks against the fence.

Shore took control and took Azure down before both fighters got back to their feet, with Shore ending the round with good left high kick.

The second again saw the fighters again tie up against the fence.

Again, Shore was happy to wrestle but found himself in a awkward position midway though the round when Azure attempted a guillotine only for the Welshman to get out and back to his feet.

Having won the first round comfortably, the second was close to call and this was acknowledged buy head coach and father Richard Shore, who told his son "win this round, win the fight".

Shore entered the third and final round looking fresh and started strong.

It didn’t take long for him to manhandle his opponent and get him down floor, where most of his victims have succumb to the loss. Shore looked close to puling off his third consecutive rear-naked choke at one stage, but again Azure survived and even reversed Shore to finish the round on top.

That wasn’t enough for Azure, but it was enough for Shore who won by split decision and moved to 14-0 and still remains one of the few unbeaten fights on the UFC roster.

Despite the split decision, it was a comfortable win for the Welshman who undoubtedly won over more fans stateside continues to establish his name in the shark tank bantamweight division.