PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tyson Avery (ranked 4464 p4p, 347 weight class) and Shelby Foote (ranked 2932 p4p, 263 weight class). Shelby Foote has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Avery
vs
Foote

174 cm
30
157 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

167 cm
27
150 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Organic Nutrition

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Tyson Avery!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shelby Foote!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Foote misses the jab.
A shot to the liver by Avery. Beautiful body shot.
Avery gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Foote thows a left - swing and a miss!
Avery was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
A solid leg kick lands there for Foote.
Foote slips a jab from Avery.

Avery scores with a takedown into Foote's guard.
Avery with a flurry of punches that miss.
Foote not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Avery is fighting to break Foote's control of his arms but Foote is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Foote trying to keep a closed guard but Avery is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Foote is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foote sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Avery defending well though.
Avery is looking to improve his position.
Foote landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Avery looking for submissions off his back.

Foote seems to be looking for submissions.
Foote works his way into side control.
Foote controls the position.
Avery can't do much from the bottom here.
Avery sneaks back into half guard.
Foote seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Avery does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Foote.
Avery wants to improve his position but Foote is controlling well.
Foote misses with a head shot. Avery uses the momentum to regain guard.

Avery had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Foote defends it easily.
Foote postures up in Avery's guard and throws a big left but Avery blocks it.

Avery has his foot on Foote's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Foote works his way back into a safe position though.

Avery looking for a guillotine here but Foote defends easily.

Avery has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Foote can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avery utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Foote with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Foote wants to control from the top but Avery keeps moving.
Foote lands a couple of digs.

Avery is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Avery is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Foote wants to control but Avery is keeping busy.
Foote tries to get to full guard but Avery has control of the leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Foote manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Avery looking to pass the guard.
Avery postures up.
Foote is pulling down on Avery's head to control his posture.
Foote throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Avery stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Foote swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Avery is in close to Foote's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Foote escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Avery gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Foote looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Foote might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Avery haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Foote told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Avery wants to control from the top but Foote keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tyson Avery will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Foote will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Foote misses with a straight left.
Avery throwing a counter right hand but Foote manages to avoid it.

Avery manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Foote on his heels. He'll look to pass Foote's guard now, I'm sure.
Foote looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Avery tries to free his leg and advance position but Foote is retaining full guard.
Avery passes into half guard.
Foote works his way to full guard. Good work.
Avery looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Foote controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Foote escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Avery gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avery looking to pass the guard.
Avery stopping the sweep attempt from Foote.
Foote throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Foote is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Foote keeping moving, preventing Avery from controlling successfully.
Avery wants to pass the guard but Foote is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Avery wants to control from the top but Foote keeps moving.
Avery postures up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Avery accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Foote keeping moving, preventing Avery from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Foote displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Avery throws out the jab.
Avery moves away from the strike by Foote.
A shot to the body from Foote misses

and Avery counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Foote!

Avery wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Foote, who protects the arm well.
Avery is looking to take a break and control but Foote is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Foote prevents Avery from moving into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foote is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Avery off and has taken his back!
Avery tries to roll but Foote sticks to his back.
Avery manages to reverse the position and now he's in Foote's guard. Nice work there by Avery.

Foote is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Foote looking to hit a scissor sweep but Avery is one step ahead there.
Foote controlling Avery's posture.
Foote looking to control.
Avery trying to control the position from guard on top but Foote is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Avery stays in close to Foote's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Foote working a defensive guard here.
Avery won't allow Foote to sweep him here.
Avery wants to pass the guard but Foote is keeping the position.

Foote is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Avery is aware though and is defending well.
Avery is pushing down on Foote's leg trying to pass to half guard. Foote is fighting to maintain full guard but Avery has managed to sneak the leg through.
Foote won't allow Avery to pass to mount.

Avery is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Foote defends it well.
Foote wants to improve his position but Avery is controlling well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Foote has hold of Avery's hands but Avery slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Avery is trying to control the action in half guard but Foote is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyson Avery dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Avery digs a good body shot into Foote's ribs.
Avery takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Avery misses with a double jab.
Foote connects with a jab.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Foote.
Avery thows a left - swing and a miss!
Foote goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Avery has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Foote.
Avery takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Nice defenses there by Avery.
Foote throws a head kick but Avery moves out of range.
Avery throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Foote's waist but Foote gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Avery off to one side.
Foote's jab looks to have found its range, popping Avery under the eye.
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!
Avery lands with a shot to the body.
Nice uppercut there from Foote.
Foote throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Avery counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foote misses with a wild combination.
Foote scores with a shot to the body.
Foote misses with a hook.
Foote throws a hook but Avery avoids it easily.
Shelby Foote seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Avery staying out of range there.
Foote misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Avery.
Foote tries to bum rush Avery with a series of wild strikes but Avery uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Avery cracks Foote with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Avery throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Foote lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Shelby Foote seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Foote lands a nice hook to Avery's body. Avery takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Avery throws a shot to the body.
Foote scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Foote, as that shot connected.
Avery digs a good body shot into Foote's ribs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Foote swings widly with a right hand
and Avery counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Avery misses with a looping right.
Nice jab there from Foote.
Foote looks to score with a jab to the body but Avery is just out of range.
Foote takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Avery tries to score a power double leg takedown but Foote sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Avery somewhat.
Foote sizes up Avery with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Shelby Foote is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Foote swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avery throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
No joy there for Foote, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Avery changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Avery lands a right hook to the body.
Avery moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Avery scores with a sloppy right hand. Foote should have avoided that one.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Foote.
Foote throws a jab but it's blocked by Avery.
Foote jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Foote misses with a body shot.
Avery ducks under a wild hook from Foote.
Avery misses with a body shot
letting Foote counter with a right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Avery fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyson Avery. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Foote misses with a straight right.
It looked like Avery wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Avery shoots in for a takedown but Foote shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Avery fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Foote looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Decent striking displayed by Avery there.
Avery with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Foote to score with a decent uppercut.
Avery looks to throw the jab but Foote is out of range.
Avery walks into a stiff left hand from Foote.
Foote throws a nice looking combination but Avery bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Avery looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Avery tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Foote was well out of range. Poor timing from Avery.
Avery uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Foote.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Avery crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Foote - the referee stops the clock and Avery gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Foote. Avery manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Foote displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Avery throws out the jab.
Avery slips under a jab from Foote.
Foote throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Avery sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Shelby Foote has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Good shot there by Foote.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shelby Foote comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Avery has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyson Avery!