PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shane Mitchell (ranked 706 p4p, 1729 weight class) and Moana Tautua (ranked 91 p4p, 197 weight class). Moana Tautua has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mitchell
vs
Tautua

170 cm
29
155
12 - 2 - 0

177 cm
26
158
4 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Conquer

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 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Shane Mitchell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Moana Tautua!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Mitchell.

Tautua clinches up with Mitchell and pushes him back against the cage.

Tautua has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Mitchell uses from the top position.
Mitchell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tautua is keeping the position for now.
Mitchell is stalling in the full guard.
Mitchell preventing the sweep.
Mitchell postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mitchell content to stall in guard here.
Tautua wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tautua is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mitchell defends well.
Tautua can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mitchell controls the pace.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Tautua has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Mitchell ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Mitchell fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Tautua to the ground. Mitchell is now in Tautua's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mitchell not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Tautua trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tautua throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Tautua working a defensive guard but Mitchell manages to pass into side control anyway.
Tautua is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Mitchell off and has taken his back!
A bit of a pause in the action here. Tautua controlling the positon.
Tautua misses with punches from the back.
Mitchell wants to escape the position.
Tautua missing with punches from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tautua is trying to stick to Mitchell's back but Mitchell is turning into Tautua. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Tautua's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Mitchell.
Mitchell preventing the sweep.
Mitchell is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Mitchell won't allow Tautua to sweep him here.
Tautua is still trying to improve position.
Mitchell forces his way into half guard.
Tautua wants to get back to full guard.
Tautua gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tautua throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Mitchell controlling from the top position.
Tautua is trying to keep Mitchell in close.
Mitchell scoring with punches to the head and body.
Mitchell passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Mitchell is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Tautua's shoulder. That is not cool.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tautua tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tautua seems a little lost for a moment, as Mitchell dominates the positioning.
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 Shane Mitchell will probably get the nod.
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.

Tautua looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Tautua throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mitchell's waist but Mitchell gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tautua off to one side.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tautua. Mitchell does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mitchell was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Tautua tries for a takedown but Mitchell sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Mitchell misses its target.
Shane Mitchell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Moana Tautua.
Tautua tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mitchell was well out of range. Poor timing from Tautua.
Tautua misses with a right hand
and Mitchell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tautua goes for a double leg but Mitchell avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mitchell continues to drive forward.
Tautua throws an overhand right that lands on Mitchell's shoulder, as Mitchell tries to avoid the shot.

Mitchell closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Tautua's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tautua tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mitchell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tautua is keeping the position for now.
Tautua can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mitchell controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tautua is trying to keep Mitchell in close.
Mitchell is stalling in the full guard.
Tautua seems keen to control Mitchell's posture.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Mitchell controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Mitchell fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tautua, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mitchell's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Tautua wants to break free but Mitchell has control.
Mitchell tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mitchell lands a right hand.
Tautua has Mitchell pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mitchell manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mitchell content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Mitchell turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Mitchell manages to end up in side control.
Tautua is looking to reverse the position.
Mitchell working away.
Tautua is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Tautua wants to control but Mitchell is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Mitchell is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Mitchell is thwarting Tautua's attempts to control the position.
Tautua is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Mitchell is staying active.
Mitchell lands strikes from half guard.
Tautua missing with punches from the bottom.
Mitchell content to control rather than advance.
Mitchell is thwarting Tautua's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mitchell is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Ground and pound from Mitchell.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tautua regains full guard. Nicely done.
Tautua is trying to keep Mitchell in close.
Mitchell is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Mitchell dominated that second round.
That's time! Mitchell's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Mitchell takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Mitchell lands with a hook. Tautua tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Tautua shoots in but Mitchell avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Mitchell fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Tautua to the ground. Mitchell is now in Tautua's guard.
Mitchell controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tautua is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mitchell is stalling in the full guard.
Tautua trying to keep a closed guard but Mitchell is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.

Mitchell throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Tautua was covering up waiting for the punch and Mitchell finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Mitchell looking to pass the guard.
Mitchell sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Tautua looking to control.
Tautua wants to sweep here but Mitchell controlling him for the moment.
Mitchell 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mitchell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Tautua trying to keep a closed guard but Mitchell is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Tautua closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Tautua is keen to just control but Mitchell is a slippery customer.
Mitchell has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tautua is working away from the top position though.
Tautua thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mitchell is staying active underneath Tautua, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Shane Mitchell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tautua slows the pace down in half guard.
Tautua wants to control but Mitchell is keeping him busy.
Tautua thows a huge punch but Mitchell dodges it nicely.
Tautua wants to take a breather but Mitchell is having none of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Mitchell has taken the fight to the clinch.
Moana Tautua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Mitchell has Tautua pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Mitchell pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Tautua tumbling to the mat - Mitchell dives into Tautua's guard.
Mitchell is stalling in the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shane Mitchell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mitchell 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shane Mitchell!
Shane Mitchell thanked the fans post fight for their support.