PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Weston Roth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thom Shaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Roth
vs
Shaker

167 cm
25
151 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

170 cm
25
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Weston Roth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Thom Shaker!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Konstantin Menshow and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shaker tries to keep at a distance but Roth has taken the fight into the clinch.
Roth tries to break the clinch but Shaker is controlling the position.
The referee is keeping an eye on Roth - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Roth misses with a hook to the ribs.

Roth breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Shaker rushes Roth and presses him up against the cage.
Shaker effectively controlling the action here.
Roth managing to block the knees to the body from Shaker.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shaker throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Roth lands a shot to the body.
Roth has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Roth with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Shaker gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shaker gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Shaker fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Roth sprawls well initially but Shaker persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Shaker looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Roth wants to get back to full guard.
Roth is working hard here to advance position.
Shaker trying to control the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shaker stands up out of the half guard.

Roth gets caught napping as Shaker dives in and scores a takedown. Roth manages to retain guard.

Roth has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Shaker has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Roth jumps guard but Shaker stands there with Roth around his waist. Roth gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shaker lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Roth tries to kick Shaker off in order to stand up. Shaker Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Roth wants to get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Roth's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Shaker is staying tight to Roth's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roth tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Shaker stands up and beckons Roth to his feet.

Shaker fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Roth to the ground. Shaker is now in Roth's guard.

Roth wriggles free and stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Shaker fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Roth to the ground. Shaker is now in Roth's guard.
Shaker controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Roth wants to stand but Shaker is controlling the position.
Roth being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shaker decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Roth, up you get!
Thom Shaker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shaker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Shaker fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Roth sprawls well initially but Shaker persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Shaker trying to pass the guard but Roth defending well.
Roth gets back to full guard.
Shaker slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roth can't do much from the bottom here.
Roth tries to bench press Shaker off him but Shaker keeps the position.

Shaker decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Roth moves in looking to clinch but Shaker pushes him off.

Roth gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Shaker to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roth manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Roth misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Shaker.
Roth tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Roth tries to pull guard but Shaker holds him up against the cage and eventually Roth drops back down to his feet.

Shaker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Roth is looking to clinch.
Roth moves in looking to clinch but Shaker pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roth wants to clinch.
Shaker throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Shaker has managed to clinch.
Roth lands a body shot in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thom Shaker 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!

Shaker fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Roth, pushing him back against the cage.
Roth tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Shaker avoids it.
Roth tries to pull guard but Shaker won't allow it.
Roth tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Roth utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Roth scores with a knee to the head.
Roth missing with knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shaker works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Roth is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Shaker is pressing down on Roth's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaker is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Shaker is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Roth accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Shaker is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Roth in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

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.

Shaker is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Roth presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Roth is trying to pull guard but Shaker has him pressed against the cage.
Knees to the body from Roth.
Roth lands a body punch in the clinch.
Roth jumps guard but Shaker stands there with Roth around his waist. Roth gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Weston Roth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shaker utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Roth breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roth rushes Shaker and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Shaker managing to block the knees to the body from Roth.

Roth jumps guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Roth manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Thom Shaker is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Weston Roth is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Roth tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shaker manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Shaker is looking for the big counter here.

Roth moves into the clinch.
Shaker blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Roth jumps guard.
Shaker sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roth throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Roth trying to keep a closed guard but Shaker is proving a slippery customer.

Roth is working an open guard so Shaker takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Shaker closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Shaker lands in his opponent's guard.
Roth wants to get back to his feet but Shaker passes into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Weston Roth showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shaker 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thom Shaker!
A victorious Thom Shaker thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.