PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sammie Shelton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Monchique (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Ricardo Monchique was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Shelton
vs
Monchique

163 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

180 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sammie Shelton!
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, Ricardo Monchique!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, David Schapiro and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Monchique looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Monchique is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Shelton is pressing down on Monchique's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Monchique wants to control from the top but Shelton keeps moving.
Shelton manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Monchique tries to control Shelton's body but Shelton pushes him off. Monchique squirms to his side and now Shelton has his back!
Monchique tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Monchique defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Shelton.

Shelton looking for a guillotine from mount but Monchique is having none of it.
Shelton breaks from Monchique's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Monchique can't escape the position.
Monchique is just holding on here. Shelton manages to take his back.

Monchique is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monchique just looking to survive in the bad position.
Monchique wants to escape the position.
Monchique keeps trying to improve his position.
Shelton not allowing Monchique to control his hands.

Monchique preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Shelton.
Shelton really is a fat lump.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monchique is trying to break free.

Shelton tightening his grip on Monchique, looking for the choke.
Monchique breaks Shelton's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Monchique looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Monchique stopping the sweep attempt from Shelton.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Monchique drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Monchique jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Shelton is looking to sweep but instead, Monchique has passed into half guard.

Monchique is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Shelton sees it coming and defends easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shelton is looking for a sweep. Monchique is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ricardo Monchique will probably get the nod.
That's time! Shelton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Shelton tries to clinch up but Monchique circles away and keeps his distance.
Monchique scores with a punch to the head.

It looks like Sammie Shelton has been cut.
Ricardo Monchique seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shelton shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Monchique sprawls well. Monchique wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Shelton gets slowly back to his feet.

Monchique closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Monchique is trying to control the action in half guard but Shelton is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Monchique seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Shelton is looking to improve his position.
Ricardo Monchique has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shelton is working hard here to advance position.

Monchique is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Shelton sees it coming and defends easily.
Monchique perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Shelton is looking for a sweep. Monchique is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Monchique performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ricardo Monchique wasn't active enough on the ground.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shelton looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Monchique drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Monchique trying to control the position from guard on top but Shelton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Monchique gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Monchique.
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!
Shelton is looking to reverse the position.
Shelton stops Monchique from passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shelton tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Monchique wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Shelton parries the strikes from Monchique easily there. Monchique is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Shelton to escape.
Monchique wants to control but Shelton is keeping him busy.
Monchique in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Monchique misses with the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Monchique wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Shelton, who protects the arm well.
Shelton is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shelton manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Monchique keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Shelton is looking for a sweep. Monchique is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Monchique performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Shelton tries to roll over but Monchique keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Monchique showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sammie Shelton's cut.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Shelton moves in looking to clinch but Monchique pushes him off.
Monchique cracks a nice hook into Shelton's ribs.
Monchique throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Monchique gets the takedown into side control.
Shelton wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Shelton tries to buck Monchique off but Monchique is having none of it.
Monchique trying to control the position but Shelton is working away.

Monchique tries for a kimura but Shelton is defending well.
Shelton is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

Monchique is trying to get an arm triangle but Shelton is defending well.
Monchique happy to just control the position for now.
Monchique's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Shelton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shelton is looking for a sweep.

Monchique stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Shelton gets caught flat footed, as Monchique shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Monchique takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shelton tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Monchique pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shelton is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shelton has an active guard here but Monchique has managed to pass into half guard.
Shelton is not content to let Monchique control the position.
Shelton throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Monchique missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Monchique has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Shelton sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monchique not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shelton won't allow Monchique to pass to mount.
Shelton wants to get back to full guard but Monchique has mounted him!
Monchique prevents Shelton from getting the reversal.
Monchique unloads with some shots from mount but Shelton bucks and avoids them well.
Monchique content just to control the position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Monchique comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Monchique has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Monchique!