PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mark Shannon (ranked 3049 p4p, 5198 weight class) and Calan Smith (ranked 371 p4p, 582 weight class). Mark Shannon has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Shannon
vs
Smith

180 cm
18
175
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
178
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Likes musicals

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mark Shannon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Calan Smith!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Alan Glass and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shannon moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Shannon fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Shannon swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
Shannon tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smith works over Shannon's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Mark Shannon has been cut.
Shannon walks into a jab.
Calan Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shannon goes for a double leg but Smith avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Smith continues to drive forward.
Shannon is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Smith is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Shannon. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shannon tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice body punch from Smith.
Smith lands a jab.
Shannon shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Smith defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shannon checks a leg kick nicely.
Shannon darts in trying to clinch
and Smith counters with a stiff right hand.
Smith misses with a few strikes there.
Shannon changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Smith rushes Shannon and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Shannon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shannon misses with a takedown attempt - Smith sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Smith smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Good exchange - Smith coming out on top.
Smith lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Smith does no damage.
Shannon shoots in looking for a takedown but Smith manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Shannon's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Shannon misses with a takedown attempt
and Smith counters with a nice uppercut.
Shannon is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Smith darts in and clinches Shannon up against the cage.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
Smith misses with a wild combination.
Shannon is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Smith.

Smith gets a clinch.
Shannon wants to take the fight to the mat but Smith manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Shannon.
Shannon avoiding damage as Smith throws knees to the body.
Smith blocks a body shot from Shannon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Smith keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Smith throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Shannon sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Smith clinches up against the cage.
Shannon tries to pull guard but Smith forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Shannon is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Smith is defending well.
Smith tries to circle away but Shannon has him pinned against the cage.
We've been informed that Smith has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Shannon prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.
Smith tries to break free but Shannon pushes him back against the cage.
Shannon keeps control of Smith as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Smith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Smith clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Shannon tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.
Smith has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Shannon is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Smith is keeping busy.

Smith pulls guard effortlessly.

Smith is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Shannon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Shannon throws a head kick that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Calan Smith dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mark Shannon's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smith throws a combination. Shannon tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Smith avoids a kick to the body.
Smith throws a hook to the side of Shannon's head but Shannon sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shannon moves away.
Smith connects with the punch.

Mark Shannon's cut is getting worse.
Smith misses the shot to the body.
Shannon tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Shannon wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Shannon shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Smith sprawls well. Smith wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Shannon gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shannon throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
Smith lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Smith drops Shannon with a beautiful combination! Shannon stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Smith is looking for the KO!

Shannon is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shannon blocks a head kick by Smith.
Calan Smith seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Smith stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Smith wants it to stay on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shannon throws a head kick that misses
and Smith counters with a left and a right that stings Shannon.
Smith throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Smith has taken the fight to the clinch.
Smith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Smith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Smith lands a nice hook to Shannon's body. Shannon takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Smith paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Smith misses with an uppercut. Shannon saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Mark Shannon's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shannon takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Shannon appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Mark Shannon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shannon takes one on the button.
Shannon closes the distance and clinches up with Smith, looking for a takedown. Shannon pushes Smith against the cage but Smith circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Shannon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith tries to bum rush Shannon with a series of wild strikes but Shannon uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Shannon tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Smith cracks Shannon with a right hand to the side of the head.

Jeez, Mark Shannon's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Shannon darts in trying to clinch
and Smith counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Oh Shannon is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Smith thows a left - swing and a miss!
Shannon seems to have got his legs back now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shannon throws a head kick that misses.
Nice uppercut there from Smith.

Smith rushes Shannon and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Shannon looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Smith tries to break free but Shannon pushes him back against the cage.
A body shot lands from Shannon.
Shannon has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Smith is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Smith has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Shannon tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Smith just stands there and leans against the cage.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shannon tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Shannon walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Smith moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith decides to pull guard.

Smith is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Shannon defends well.
Shannon looking to sit in guard and control but Smith gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Smith is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Smith gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Smith has managed to clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Calan Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mark Shannon's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Shannon misses with a takedown
and Smith counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shannon closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.
Smith doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Smith fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Smith misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smith throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Shannon on the side of the head.

Smith pushes Shannon up against the cage in a clinch.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith throws a body kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Smith lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Smith lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Shannon backs up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Smith.

Shannon is rocked!

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Mark Shannon's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:11 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Calan Smith!