PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Holden James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Shanks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James comes into the arena with Aerials blaring out of the sound system. Shanks is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Dethklok - The Cyborg Slayers. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

James
vs
Shanks

178 cm
34
184 lbs
27 - 18 - 1

190 cm
32
188 lbs
24 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

The Big Kabosh

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Holden James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Shanks!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Seu Braga and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shanks was well out of range. Poor timing from James.
A head kick by James misses
and Shanks counters with a left to the body.
James connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
James tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
James has been working on his boxing with his coaches at CT Antiga União in the buildup to the fight.
James fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Shanks checks it well.
Shanks swinging wildly here.
Shanks moves out of range of the strikes.
James dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Shanks. That did some damage!
James throws a jab when Shanks was well out of range.
A jab from Shanks finds it's way through James's defenses.
A left lands for Shanks.
James moves away from the strike by Shanks.
Shanks looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Shanks has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from James.
James pivots, looking for a leg kick but Shanks is out of range and James settles back down.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shanks lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
James is looking to land body kicks.
Shanks goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Shanks has closed the distance and engaged James in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
James misses with a low kick.
Shanks throws a body punch but James moves out of range.
James throws a hook but Shanks avoids it easily.
James moves out of range of the body kick from Shanks.
Shanks avoids the body shot from James.
A slow jab from James misses its intended target.
James throws a lazy right hand but Shanks sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
James throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Shanks sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Shanks shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Sloppy strikes from Shanks. Those never looked like landing.
A jab from Shanks misses.
James avoids a kick to the body.

Shanks instigates a clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, James throws an elbow but misses.
Shanks gets through James's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
James looking to stall.
Shanks lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of James backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shanks lands a hook that snaps the head of James backwards.
James blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shanks lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Shanks misses with a punch to the body.
Shanks tried to land a shot to the body but connects with James's elbow.
A right hand to the body from James.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James wants to get back to striking at distance but Shanks won't allow it.
A nice left hand lands by Shanks.
Shanks fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Shanks looking to slow down the pace here.
Shanks trying to land knees to the body.
Shanks lands a shot to the body.
Shanks stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Shanks lands a hook to the side of the head.
James wants to break free but Shanks has control.
James lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
James blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
James fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shanks misses with a hook to the ribs.
James pushes off an throws an elbow but Shanks leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Shanks lands a nice knee to the body.

James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shanks misses the shot to the body.
James throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Shanks throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
James tries to score with a low kick but Shanks moves his leg out of the way.
Shanks moves out of range as James strikes.
James gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Shanks swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A swing and a miss from Shanks.
Shanks looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Shanks takes a kick to the side of the head.
Shanks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
James looks to throw the jab but Shanks is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shanks takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Michael Shanks has been cut.
Shanks is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shanks connects with a good right hand that stumbles James. James circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
James throws a lazy right hand but Shanks sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
James slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Shanks thows a body kick. James tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Shanks lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
James missing with a left hand there. Shanks was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Shanks attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Shanks attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
James connects with a solid leg kick.
James scores with a sloppy right hand. Shanks should have avoided that one.
Shanks works James's body with a nice hook.
Shanks misses with a hook.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shanks lands a nice shot to the body.
James throws a big shot that misses.
James scores with a jab to the jaw.
Shanks fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Michael Shanks will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Michael Shanks's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

James moves out of range as Shanks throws a body kick.
James connects with an inside leg kick.
James jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shanks pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Shanks is looking to clinch.
Shanks takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Shanks throws a right and a left that James avoids nicely.
A bone on bone clash there as Shanks blocks the leg kick.
Shanks tries to clinch up.
An inside leg kick from James misses.
Shanks is looking to land body kicks.
Shanks tests James's chin there with a solid looking shot.
James lets loose with a powerful body kick. Shanks will feel that in the morning.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shanks. James does a little dance to reset his feet.
James lands with a hook. Shanks tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Shanks misses with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shanks thows a body shot but no joy.
A big left from James misses.
Shanks throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Holden James is winning the standup battle so far.
James throws a sloppy head kick
and Shanks counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps James thinking.
Shanks lands a nice shot to the body.
Shanks avoids the head kick by James.
James lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
James with a nice cross.
James pushes Shanks away with a front kick.
A big left from James misses.
Shanks throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jab from Shanks.
Shanks has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Shanks tries to clinch but James moves out of range.
James scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shanks lands a lovely overhand right.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
James throws a lazy right hand but Shanks sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A cross from Shanks lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shanks with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A thudding body kick lands there by Shanks!
Shanks is looking to clinch.
James lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Decent striking displayed by Shanks there.
James lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Shanks at a distance.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Shanks.
Shanks lands an overhand right.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shanks looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shanks shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A head kick misses from James.
Shanks avoids the head kick by James.
James keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Shanks cracks the inside of James's front leg.
Shanks fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James looks to land a body kick but Shanks moved away.
James avoids a kick to the body.
James goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Shanks misses the shot to the body.
Shanks lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
James just misses with a punch to the body.
James misses with a double jab.
James misses with a hook.
Shanks lands a jab to the head.
James lands a leg kick that knocks Shanks off balance momentarily.
James misses with a leg kick.
James gets off balance looking for a body kick
letting Shanks counter with a right hand.
Shanks feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Jamess jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
The fight stays on the outside here - Shanks looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shanks stuns James with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shanks scores with a jab to the body.
James buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A punch combination from Shanks misses.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from James - that will leave a mark!
Shanks tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and James is able to avoid easily.
A big right from Shanks misses.
Shanks lands a straight punch to the body, keeping James at a distance.
Shanks throws a leg kick but James sees it coming and checks it nicely.
James scores with a nice strike.
A decent looking cross lands there for James.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shanks swings for the body but James moves out of range.
Shanks takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
James moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
James is looking to score with low kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Holden James will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Michael Shanks's cut.
That's time! James's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A solid leg kick lands there for Shanks.
Shanks throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
James lands with a thumping leg kick.
James misses with a head kick.
James scores with a body shot.
Shanks's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Shanks lands a right hook to the body.
Shanks throws a jab but it's blocked by James.
James throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Shanks takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Shanks throws a head kick but James moves out of range.
James attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Shanks throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
James thows a left - swing and a miss!
James throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Shanks counters with a body kick that stops James in his tracks momentarily.
James throws a leg kick which misses Shanks's front leg but catches the back leg as Shanks tries to avoid it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shanks misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shanks jabs James to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Shanks doesn't manage to clinch there - James circles away.
James throws a hook but Shanks avoids it easily.
James misses with a looping right.
James displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Shanks throws out the jab.
Shanks lands a really nice looking cross but James seems unphased.
Shanks connects with the punch.
James has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Shanks.
Shanks slips a jab from James.
James throws a head kick that Shanks semi-blocks.
James misses with a low kick.
James walks into a left hand.
Shanks moves in looking to clinch but James pushes him off.
James walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nice body kick from James.
James throws out a loose jab but Shanks uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James thows a body shot but no joy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Shanks.
Shanks misses with an uppercut. James saw that one coming.
James misses with a body shot.
Shanks throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shanks tried to score with a low kick but James checks it.
Shanks lands with a thumping leg kick.
James throws a front kick aimed at Shanks's knee but Shanks avoids it well.
James misses with a low kick.
Shanks throws a nice outside leg kick.
James misses with a kick to the body.
James is looking to score with low kicks.

Shanks has James up against the cage in a clinch.
James scores with a shot to the side of Shanks's head.
Shanks misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
James can't break the clinch.
Shanks is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
James misses with a hook to the ribs.
Shanks lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A body shot lands from Shanks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Shanks misses with a hook to the ribs.
Shanks lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of James backwards.
Shanks tries to throw a body punch but James avoids it by throwing Shanks back against the cage.
James is trying to break the clinch but Shanks is controlling him.
Shanks digs a right hand into James's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on James's gas tank.
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!
A knee to the head by Shanks.
Shanks misses with a hook to the ribs.
Shanks with a knee to the head.
James tries to break free but Shanks pushes him back against the cage.
Michael Shanks seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Shanks connects with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James stalling in the clinch.
Shanks digs a right hand underneath James's ribcage. James let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Shanks tried to land a shot to the body but connects with James's elbow.
Shanks tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
James swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shanks lands with a right to the head.
Shanks tries to work over James's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Shanks pushes off an throws an elbow but James leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Shanks throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but James blocks it with crossed arms.
Shanks misses with a body punch.
James goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
James struggles to land a body shot inside as Shanks controls his hands.
A nice right hand lands inside from Shanks.
Shanks with an attempt at a knee that misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Good anti-grappling being displayed by James as Shanks tries to tie him up.
A right hook to the body lands for James.
Shanks goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Shanks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Shanks has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Michael Shanks!
A relieved looking Michael Shanks thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.