PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shelby Foote (ranked 1497 p4p, 152 weight class) and Gary Tonon (ranked 1556 p4p, 160 weight class). Tonon has chosen What About Now as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Gary Tonon enters the cage!

Foote
vs
Tonon

167 cm
29
150 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

174 cm
36
158 lbs
25 - 23 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shelby Foote!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 23 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gary Tonon!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Patrick Alders and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tonon moves into the clinch.

Tonon has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Foote uses from the top position.
Foote trying to control the position from guard on top but Tonon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Foote with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Foote trying to control but Tonon is working from the bottom.
Tonon keeping full guard, as Foote tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Foote trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Foote advances to half guard.
Foote trying to control the action but Tonon is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foote throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We've been hearing that Foote has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Foote thows a huge punch but Tonon dodges it nicely.
Foote winds up and cracks Tonon with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Foote wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tonon keeps working.
Foote not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Foote throwing shots but Tonon is blocking nicely.

Tonon actively working from the bottom here.
Foote not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Foote thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Foote sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tonon defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foote looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tonon with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Foote thows a huge punch but Tonon dodges it nicely.
Foote thows a huge punch but Tonon dodges it nicely.
Foote trying to control from Tonon's half guard. Tonon has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Foote wants to pass the guard but Tonon is keeping the position.
Our spies down at at Big Bear Fight Factory inform us that Tonon has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Foote throws a strike but Tonon rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Tonon is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Foote looking for a sweep. Not yet Foote, not yet.
Foote seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Tonon advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foote manages to get to full guard.
Tonon wants to pass the guard but Foote is keeping the position.
Foote looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tonon slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Tonon advances to half guard.
Foote keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Foote manages to get to full guard.
Tonon trying to control the position from guard on top but Foote is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tonon is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Foote looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tonon sitting in guard here, content to control.
Foote looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Foote keeping moving, preventing Tonon from controlling successfully.
Foote is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Foote can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Tonon controls the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Tonon darts in looking for a takedown but Foote gets double underhooks and turns Tonon into the cage.
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 Shelby Foote will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tonon closes the distance and pushes Foote back into the cage.
Foote misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tonon wants a takedown.
Foote pushes Tonon back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Tonon jumps guard but Foote turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Tonon has Foote pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Foote manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Shelby Foote has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gary Tonon.
Tonon tries for a takedown but Foote manages to get underhooks.
Foote using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Tonon ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Tonon no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Foote keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tonon's head.
Foote connects with a couple of short punches.
Foote stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tonon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Foote stands up over Tonon, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Foote throwing strikes but missing.
Foote postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foote distracts Tonon with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Foote throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tonon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Foote looking to sit in guard and control but Tonon gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Foote is trying to keep Tonon in close.
Foote wants to sweep but no luck.
Foote keeping moving, preventing Tonon from controlling successfully.
Tonon postures up.
Tonon trying to control the position from guard on top but Foote is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Foote is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tonon controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Tonon slips nicely into half guard.
Foote wants to get back to full guard.
Tonon seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Foote does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Foote trying to control but Tonon postures up.
Tonon trying to control the action but Foote is working from the bottom.
Foote is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foote trying to control from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nice shot by Foote.
Shelby Foote seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Foote defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tonon.
Tonon shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Foote but Foote pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Foote throws a one two combo.

Foote manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Tonon on his heels. He'll look to pass Tonon's guard now, I'm sure.
Foote content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Tonon keeping moving, preventing Foote from controlling successfully.
Foote controlling from the top position.
Tonon is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tonon keeping moving, preventing Foote from controlling successfully.
Tonon wants to sweep here but Foote controlling him for the moment.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Foote looking to pass the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Foote won't allow Tonon to sweep him here.
Shelby Foote overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Tonon 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.
Foote wants to pass the guard but Tonon is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shelby Foote dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Foote looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Foote gets a clinch.
Good body shot from Foote.
Tonon tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Foote misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tonon.
Foote is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Tonon fails to pull guard.
Shelby Foote has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gary Tonon.
Foote is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tonon is defending well for now.
Tonon blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Tonon tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Foote smiles and moves away.
Foote scores with a hook to the body. Tonon takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Foote throws a big shot that misses.

Foote changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Tonon looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Foote controlling the position from side mount.
Foote working the strikes but Tonon uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foote uses his free foot to push down on Tonon's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Tonon.
Foote looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Foote connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Foote trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Foote throwing strikes but Tonon recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Tonon regains full guard. Nicely done.
Foote throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tonon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Foote lands a couple of elbows.
Foote has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tonon looking to hit a scissor sweep but Foote is one step ahead there.
Tonon preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Foote scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Foote working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tonon keeping moving, preventing Foote from controlling successfully.
Foote sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Foote throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foote lands a couple of digs.
Foote is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tonon can do to turn this around?
Foote looking to pass the guard.
Tonon is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Foote slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Foote with a nice head shot there.
Foote working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Foote lands a couple of elbows.
Foote content to stall in guard here.
Tonon avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Foote stopping the sweep attempt from Tonon.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Tonon tries to clinch up but Foote circles away and keeps his distance.
Foote half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Foote rushes Tonon and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tonon is trying to pull guard but Foote has him pressed against the cage.
Tonon managing to block the knees to the body from Foote.
Foote missing with knees to the body.
Tonon jumps guard but Foote stands there with Tonon around his waist. Tonon gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Foote landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Tonon blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tonon wants a takedown but no success here.
Tonon is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Foote to keep the fight standing.
Tonon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tonon jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Foote walks away with a smile on his face. Tonon gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gary Tonon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tonon misses with a few strikes there.
Foote connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shelby Foote showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Foote has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shelby Foote!
After the big win, Shelby Foote made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Organic Nutrition and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.