PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Clay Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rusty Shackleford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Henderson
vs
Shackleford

173 cm
18
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Clay Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rusty Shackleford!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, David Schapiro and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shackleford looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Shackleford swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Henderson scores with a nice right hand.
Henderson lands a jab to Shackleford's midsection.
Henderson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Shackleford.
Henderson with a poor takedown

and Shackleford counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
You can see the frustration on Henderson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Henderson is looking for a sweep.
Henderson takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henderson stops Shackleford from passing to mount.
Henderson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Shackleford in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Henderson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Henderson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Shackleford looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson striking off his back but it's not causing Shackleford any problems.
Shackleford trying to control but Henderson is working from the bottom.
Henderson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Shackleford manages to get himself to full guard.
Henderson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Shackleford really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Henderson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Henderson won't allow Shackleford to get back to his feet.
Henderson is looking to work some ground and pound but Shackleford has wrist control.
Shackleford looks gassed!
Shackleford wants to stand and escape but Henderson is having none of it.
Henderson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Henderson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson throwing strikes from guard but Shackleford blocks nicely.
Henderson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shackleford wants to get back to his feet but Henderson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Henderson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Shackleford wants to stand up but Henderson is controlling him.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Shackleford can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is in close to Shackleford's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Shackleford is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Henderson won't allow Shackleford to get back to his feet.
Henderson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Henderson distracts Shackleford with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Henderson throwing strikes but missing.
Shackleford being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is looking to work some ground and pound but Shackleford has wrist control.
Henderson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Henderson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Henderson postures up in Shackleford's guard and throws a big left but Shackleford blocks it.
Henderson throwing strikes from guard but Shackleford blocks nicely.
Henderson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clay Henderson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

No luck for Henderson with that takedown attempt.
Rusty Shackleford seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shackleford misses with a takedown

and Henderson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Shackleford!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henderson dominating with strikes here.
Shackleford trying desperately to get to his feet.
BOOM! Henderson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Henderson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Shackleford?
Henderson 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.
Henderson lands with some strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Henderson with good strikes from the mount here!

Shackleford is rocked!
Henderson cracks Shackleford with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Shackleford is still in real trouble! Can Henderson finish him?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shackleford is trying to stand up.
Shackleford is breathing heavily.
Henderson landing shots from mount.
Henderson controlling his opponent.
Henderson landing strikes from the mount and Shackleford is in trouble!
Henderson looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Henderson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Shackleford?
Henderson cracks Shackleford with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson connects with a bit shot that sees Shackleford covering up! More strikes from Henderson and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Henderson is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Clay Henderson!