PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Swags Middleton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rustly Shackleford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Middleton
vs
Shackleford

177 cm
24
178 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

184 cm
26
180 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Swags Middleton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rustly Shackleford!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Alyssa Summers and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick from Shackleford is predictable there
and Middleton counters with a left to the body.

Middleton drives through and clinches with Shackleford against the cage.
Middleton pushes off an throws an elbow but Shackleford leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Middleton misses with a body punch.
Shackleford lands a body punch in the clinch.
Middleton tries to pull guard but Shackleford forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Middleton misses with an elbow strike.
Middleton is looking to control Shackleford's arms but Shackleford gets an underhook and turns him. Now Middleton has his back to the cage.
Shackleford misses with a hook from the clinch.
Middleton is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A right hand to the body from Middleton.
Middleton throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Shackleford blocks it with crossed arms.
Middleton tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Shackleford avoids it.
Middleton throws an elbow that misses.

Middleton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Middleton throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Shackleford's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A lazy left from Middleton finds it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Middleton will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Shackleford throws a right hand that misses

and Middleton counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Middleton postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Shackleford to stand up.
Middleton takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Middleton blocks a head kick by Shackleford.
Horrible takedown by Middleton or perhaps it was just good defense by Shackleford which made him look bad.
Middleton fails with an attempt to clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Donk. Shackleford catches Middleton right on the button with a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shackleford will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Oooooh!!! Middleton has knocked Shackleford down with a huge combo! Middleton steps away and waves a wobbly Shackleford back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

It looks like Rustly Shackleford has been cut.
Middleton looks to land a right hand but Shackleford moved out of range.
Middleton tries to clinch but Shackleford moves away
and Shackleford counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A jab from Middleton finds it's way through Shackleford's defenses.
Rustly Shackleford seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Middleton throws a push kick but Shackleford slaps the foot to one side.
Shackleford will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Shackleford just misses with a punch to the body.
Shackleford throws a leg kick
and Middleton counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Middleton throws a right and a left that both miss.
Middleton tries to clinch up but Shackleford circles away and keeps his distance.
Middleton doesn't manage to clinch there - Shackleford circles away.
Middleton blocks a jab.
Shackleford misses with a body shot.
Middleton fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Swags Middleton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Middleton misses with a takedown attempt - Shackleford sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Shackleford swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shackleford showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Middleton.
Shackleford throws out a powerful jab.
Shackleford fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Middleton manages to avoid it.

Middleton closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Shackleford lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Middleton drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Shackleford gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Middleton breaks the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Middleton misses with a wild combination.
Shackleford avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Swags Middleton dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rustly Shackleford's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Middleton lands with a nice body punch.
Middleton closes the distance and clinches up with Shackleford, looking for a takedown. Middleton pushes Shackleford against the cage but Shackleford circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Middleton lands a jab-cross combination.

Middleton decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Middleton is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Middleton trying to pass the guard but Shackleford defending well.

Middleton decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shackleford scores with a jab. Middleton acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Shackleford throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Middleton stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Shackleford tries to clinch but Middleton is having none of it.
Shackleford throws out a powerful jab.
Shackleford looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Middleton tries to clinch there but Shackleford circles away.
Middleton misses with a double jab.

Middleton has Shackleford up against the cage in a clinch.
Middleton blocks a body shot from Shackleford.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shackleford goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Shackleford tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Shackleford lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Middleton.
Middleton is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Shackleford works on Middleton's body with a couple of short punches.
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!
Shackleford on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Middleton lands a left hand that snaps the head of Shackleford backwards.
Shackleford tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Middleton's elbow.
Shackleford works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Shackleford has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Shackleford throws a punch but it's blocked by Middleton.
Shackleford prevents a body shot from Middleton.
Shackleford digs a right hand underneath Middleton's ribcage. Middleton let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Middleton blocks a body shot from Shackleford.
Middleton looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Shackleford misses with a hook to the ribs.
Middleton is trying to force a seperation but Shackleford has the dominant position.
Middleton misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shackleford tries to throw a body punch but Middleton avoids it by throwing Shackleford back against the cage.
Shackleford looking to slow down the pace here.
Nice elbow from Middleton.
Shackleford lands a right hand.
Middleton wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Shackleford working aggressively here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Shackleford.
Middleton looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Middleton is trying to force a seperation but Shackleford has the dominant position.
A shot in the inside from Shackleford.
Middleton has a couple of punches blocked by Shackleford.
Shackleford blocks an elbow strike from Middleton.
Middleton pushes off an throws an elbow but Shackleford leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Middleton is trying to drag Shackleford to the mat but Shackleford just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Shackleford misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Middleton is trying to maintain a safe position but Shackleford gets an underhook and turns Middleton into the cage.
Middleton blocks an uppercut.
Shackleford blocks an elbow strike.
Shackleford keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Middleton's efforts to push away.
Shackleford prevents Middleton from breaking the clinch.
Middleton tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Middleton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Swags Middleton is winning the standup battle so far.
Middleton fails with an attempt to clinch.
Middleton pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Middleton misses with a combination
and Shackleford counters with a straight right hand.
Middleton lands a two punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Swags Middleton dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rustly Shackleford's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Middleton doesn't manage to clinch there - Shackleford circles away.
Middleton displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Shackleford swats away the attempt to clinch by Middleton.
Middleton tries to close the distance and clinch but Shackleford swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shackleford lands with a thumping leg kick.
Middleton scores with a head kick. Shackleford tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Shackleford throws a leg kick which misses Middleton's front leg but catches the back leg as Middleton tries to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Middleton avoids the body shot from Shackleford.
Swags Middleton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Middleton takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shackleford throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rustly Shackleford is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Middleton moves out of range of the strikes.
Shackleford takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Middleton shoots in but Shackleford avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Shackleford attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A right-left combo lands from Middleton.
Middleton avoids the body shot from Shackleford.
Middleton scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Shackleford throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Middleton goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Shackleford throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Middleton looks for a takedown but Shackleford sprawls well.
Middleton with a poor takedown
and Shackleford counters with a thumping low kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Swags Middleton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Middleton throws a head kick but Shackleford moves out of range.

Middleton changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Shackleford looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shackleford is trying to get back to half guard.
Middleton trying to control the action but Shackleford is working from the bottom.
Rustly Shackleford has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Middleton decides to stand back up. Middleton steps back and let's Shackleford get back to his feet.
Shackleford blocks a head kick by Middleton.
Swags Middleton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Middleton wants to clinch.
Shackleford misses with a double jab

and Middleton counters with a shoot takedown. Shackleford fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shackleford is working an open guard so Middleton takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Middleton swinging wildly here.
Shackleford connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Middleton blocks a low kick nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Middleton instigates a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shackleford misses with a punch on the inside.
Middleton lands an elbow inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Swags Middleton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Middleton, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Swags Middleton!