PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rusty Shackleford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Shackleford might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The Godfather. Williams is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Sooners Fight Song. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shackleford
vs
Williams

184 cm
20
184 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

178 cm
23
181 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good gas tank

MMA's Best Nutrition
TFP Graphics

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rusty Shackleford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Steve Williams!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Williams shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Shackleford doesn't manage to clinch there - Williams circles away.
A head kick misses from Shackleford.
Shackleford goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Shackleford swinging wilding here.
Shackleford throws a head kick but Williams moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Shackleford.
A punch combination from Shackleford misses.

Williams shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Shackleford wants to stand and escape but Williams is having none of it.
Shackleford keeping moving, preventing Williams from controlling successfully.
Shackleford is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Williams passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams working the ground and pound.
Shackleford is not content to let Williams control the position.
Shackleford tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Williams wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Shackleford is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Williams is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Williams trying to control the position but Shackleford is working away.
Shackleford pushes Williams away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Williams gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Williams landing strikes.
Shackleford is trying to buck Williams off.

Williams wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Shackleford, who protects the arm well.
Shackleford is trying to control Williams's posture but Williams avoids it.
Williams working the ground and pound.
Shackleford is trying to buck Williams off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shackleford is breathing heavily.
Williams in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Williams tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Williams thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Williams prevents Shackleford from escaping the position.
Williams cracks Shackleford with a big right hand but Shackleford just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Shackleford is not content to let Williams control the position.
Shackleford wants to get back to his feet.
Shackleford tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shackleford is trying to get back to his feet but Williams has full control of the position and if anything, Shackleford has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Williams lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.

Shackleford is rocked!

Shackleford showing good submission defense here.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Williams's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Shackleford wants to get back to his feet.

Williams looking to break Shackleford's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Shackleford remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Williams will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
A lull in the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shackleford is trying to get back to his feet but Williams has full control of the position and if anything, Shackleford has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Shackleford breaks Williams's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Shackleford preventing the sweep.
Shackleford trying to stand up but can't free himself from Williams's guard.
Williams has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Shackleford's guard.
Shackleford keeping moving, preventing Williams from controlling successfully.
Shackleford keeping full guard, as Williams tries to pass.
Shackleford doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Williams throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shackleford tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Williams stops Shackleford from standing up.
Williams trying to control but Shackleford is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Shackleford throws a sloppy head kick and Williams moves out of range easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Williams tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shackleford paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Williams shoots for a double leg takedown but Shackleford sprawls well. He's pushed Williams's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Williams dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Shackleford lands with a slapping head kick.
Shackleford goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Shackleford keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A slow jab from Williams misses its intended target.

Shackleford moves into range and clinches up with Williams.
A shot in the inside from Shackleford.
Williams tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Shackleford gets through Williams's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Williams is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Shackleford pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rusty Shackleford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Williams.
Shackleford landing knees to the head.
Shackleford throws an elbow that misses.
Williams is trying to break the clinch but Shackleford has him pressed against the cage.
Williams takes a shot to the head.
Williams is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Williams avoids a wild elbow strike from Shackleford.
Shackleford lands an elbow inside.
Shackleford landing knees to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shackleford throws an elbow that misses.

Williams turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Williams manages to end up in side control.
Shackleford wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Williams tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Williams has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Shackleford wants to get back to his feet.

Williams wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Shackleford, who protects the arm well.
Shackleford is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Williams off and has taken his back!
Shackleford is trying to stick to Williams's back but Williams is turning into Shackleford. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Shackleford's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Williams.
Shackleford utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Steve Williams has got the better of the ground game so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Williams accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shackleford is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Williams drops back looking for a leg! Shackleford is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Shackleford manages to kick Williams off! Williams jumps back into Shackleford's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Williams stops Shackleford from standing up.
Shackleford looking to hit a scissor sweep but Williams is one step ahead there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Shackleford scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Shackleford misses with a double jab.
Shackleford misses with a series of wild punches.
Rusty Shackleford seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shackleford lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Shackleford.
Shackleford lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Shackleford.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shackleford fails to land with a series of punches.
Shackleford moves in looking to clinch but Williams pushes him off.
Williams changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shackleford tries to avoid it but Williams manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shackleford to the ground. Shackleford escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Shackleford rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Williams moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Shackleford keeps the fight on the outside.
A combination from Shackleford does no damage.
Williams throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Shackleford's waist but Shackleford gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Williams off to one side.
Shackleford lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Shackleford fails with an attempt to clinch.
Williams takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Shackleford wants to clinch but Williams slips to the side

and Williams counters with a nice double leg into side control. Shackleford won't be happy with that.
Shackleford is not content to let Williams control the position.
Williams working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams tries to move to mount but Shackleford blocks the move with his legs.
Shackleford is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Williams has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Check out the look on Williams's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Shackleford tries to escape but Williams is in control.
Shackleford is looking to reverse the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Shackleford throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Williams counters with a takedown into side control.
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 taking a bit of punishment here - Williams scoring with strikes.
Williams creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Shackleford stops Williams from passing to mount.
Shackleford is trying to buck Williams off.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A lull in the action here as Williams stalls from top position.
Shackleford is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Williams has just dragged him back down to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Williams showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Williams shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Shackleford is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Shackleford is bucking up trying to escape but Williams cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Williams lands a big shot there that rocks Shackleford but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Shackleford wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Williams tries to control but Shackleford wriggling away.
The referee warns Shackleford that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Oh Shackleford is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Williams takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Williams pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Williams postures up and lands a whopping elbow - oh that's hurt Shackleford bigstyle! Two more strikes land for Williams and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Steve Williams!