PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dontae Sheldon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Colt McLaren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sheldon kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Salmon Song. The key to victory for Dontae Sheldon has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Sheldon
vs
McLaren

175 cm
19
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
19
147 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

[WOT] Inner Beast Nutrition And Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dontae Sheldon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Colt McLaren!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, John Kavanagh and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McLaren misses with a double jab
and Sheldon counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McLaren throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sheldon counters with a right hand to the body.
McLaren uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sheldon.
Sheldon catches McLaren with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Sheldon throws a right and a left that McLaren avoids nicely.
Sheldon lands a jab to the head.
Sheldon uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McLaren.
Sheldon throws a body punch but McLaren moves out of range.
McLaren misses with the combination.
McLaren digs a good hook to Sheldon's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheldon throws a lazy uppercut
and McLaren counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A punch combination from McLaren misses.
Sheldon moves away from the strike by McLaren.
Sheldon connects with a looping right hand.
Sheldon connects with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from McLaren. Sheldon does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sloppy strikes from McLaren. Those never looked like landing.
McLaren fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sheldon manages to avoid it.
Sheldon has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from McLaren finds it's way round the side to connect with Sheldon's head.
Sheldon with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheldon misses with a straight right.
McLaren moves out of range of the strikes.
A shot to the body from McLaren misses
and Sheldon counters with a two punch combo.
Sheldon really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A telegraphed right hand from Sheldon misses the target.
Sheldon throws a right and a left that McLaren avoids nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McLaren throws a hook but Sheldon blocks it.

McLaren looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Sheldon is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sheldon preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLaren wants to control from the top but Sheldon keeps moving.
McLaren loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
McLaren throwing strikes from guard but Sheldon blocks nicely.
McLaren is looking to work some ground and pound but Sheldon has wrist control.
Sheldon keeping moving, preventing McLaren from controlling successfully.
McLaren throws a big elbow that misses.
McLaren is looking to work some ground and pound but Sheldon has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLaren with a flurry of punches that miss.
McLaren postures up in Sheldon's guard and throws a big left but Sheldon blocks it.
Sheldon tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sheldon working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McLaren.
McLaren trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
McLaren landing some decent shots from guard.
McLaren throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sheldon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McLaren trying to control but Sheldon is working from the bottom.
McLaren postures up in Sheldon's guard and throws a big left but Sheldon blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Colt McLaren will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sheldon swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McLaren uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sheldon.
Sheldon swings for the body but McLaren moves out of range.
McLaren takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Sheldon tests McLaren's chin there with a solid looking shot.
McLaren rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sheldon moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
McLaren throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sheldon connects with a body shot.
McLaren misses with a shot to the body
and Sheldon counters with a stiff right hand.
Sheldon is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLaren lands with a nice combination. Sheldon backs away looking to recover.

McLaren looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Sheldon!
Sheldon avoids a series of strikes thrown by McLaren.
McLaren putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
McLaren thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
McLaren throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
McLaren landing strikes, looking to finish!
McLaren cracks Sheldon with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McLaren landing shots from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLaren punishing his opponent with strikes.
McLaren lands a heavy elbow.
Sheldon regains half guard.
McLaren has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
McLaren winds up and cracks Sheldon with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sheldon on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sheldon tries to get out of the position.
Sheldon is staying active underneath McLaren, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
McLaren sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sheldon defending well though.
McLaren is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
McLaren missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheldon keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
McLaren lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
McLaren lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sheldon blocking the ground and pound attempt from McLaren.
McLaren is keen to just control but Sheldon is a slippery customer.
McLaren not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
McLaren not landing any meaningful shots this time.
McLaren thows a huge punch but Sheldon dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLaren prevents Sheldon from improving his position.
McLaren wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sheldon keeps working.
McLaren takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
McLaren throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
McLaren is thwarting Sheldon's attempts to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McLaren missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
McLaren tries to pass to full mount but Sheldon defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Colt McLaren showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Sheldon lands a nice shot that snaps McLaren's head back.
Sheldon takes a swing at McLaren's ribcage but misses.
Sheldon stalks McLaren and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into McLaren's face. McLaren staggers backwards, shaken.
McLaren misses with a combination
and Sheldon counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

McLaren drives through with a takedown into guard.
McLaren lands a couple of digs.
McLaren trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McLaren loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
McLaren controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheldon avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
McLaren connects with a couple of short punches.
McLaren throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sheldon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McLaren is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sheldon avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
McLaren tries to free his leg and advance position but Sheldon is retaining full guard.
McLaren makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
McLaren sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLaren throwing strikes but missing.
McLaren wants to control from the top but Sheldon keeps moving.
Colt McLaren is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
McLaren is in close to Sheldon's body, working some short punches and elbows.
McLaren stays in close to Sheldon's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
McLaren pushing down on Sheldon's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
McLaren moves nicely into side control.
The strikes coming from McLaren are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
McLaren creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
McLaren lands an elbow.
McLaren throws a strike aimed at the side of Sheldon's head but Sheldon avoids it well.
McLaren misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McLaren in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sheldon avoids any damage from the ground and pound of McLaren.
McLaren landing a few strikes.
Sheldon parries the strikes from McLaren easily there. McLaren is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Sheldon to escape.
The ground and pound from McLaren seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sheldon prevents McLaren from moving into mount.
Dontae Sheldon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McLaren wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sheldon keeps working.
Sheldon avoids any damage from the ground and pound of McLaren.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McLaren working the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Colt McLaren comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got McLaren winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Colt McLaren!
During a confident post fight interview, Colt McLaren thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.