PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Johny Handicks (ranked 1849 p4p, 1733 weight class) and Wesley Shutes (ranked 250 p4p, 236 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Handicks
vs
Shutes

175 cm
35
181
15 - 18 - 0

182 cm
33
177
12 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 15 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johny Handicks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Wesley Shutes!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Chris Dean and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Handicks stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Shutes.
Shutes scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Handicks seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shutes. Handicks does a little dance to reset his feet.
An inside leg kick lands from Shutes.
No joy there for Handicks, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Shutes looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Shutes misses the shot to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Shutes there.
Shutes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Handicks manages to avoid it.
Shutes just misses with a punch to the body.
Handicks throws a jab but it's blocked by Shutes.
Handicks misses with a body shot.
Shutes is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Handicks rather than just go for the knockout.
Shutes moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Shutes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Handicks was well out of range. Poor timing from Shutes.
Shutes connects with a leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Handicks loads up on a big right hand but Shutes slips the punch.
Shutes misses the shot to the body.
Handicks showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shutes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shutes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Handicks.
Shutes shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Handicks appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Shutes ducks under a wild hook from Handicks.
Handicks throws a right hand that Shutes ducks under and follows up with a left that Shutes also avoids with ease.
Handicks throws the left hand but Shutes avoids the punch easily.
Shutes throws a right and a left that Handicks avoids nicely.
Handicks was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Shutes throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Handicks stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Shutes moves away from the strike by Handicks.
An inside leg kick from Shutes misses.
Handicks steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Shutes.
Shutes misses with a hook.
Handicks displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Shutes throws out the jab.
Shutes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Handicks takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shutes does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Handicks was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Shutes throws a sloppy head kick and Handicks moves out of range easily.
Handicks was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Handicks throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Shutes cracks a nice hook into Handicks's ribs.
Handicks throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shutes takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Shutes throws a big shot that misses.
Shutes swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Handicks counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Handicks moves out of range as Shutes strikes.
Nice body kick there by Shutes.
Handicks scores with a shot to the body.
Handicks jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shutes takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Handicks closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Handicks takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Shutes bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Shutes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Handicks.
Shutes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Handicks throws a jab when Shutes was well out of range.
Shutes looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Handicks is fending him off so far but Shutes persists. Nope, Handicks circles away and we're back to standing.
Shutes scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Shutes misses with a body shot.
A lazy left from Handicks finds it's target.
Handicks misses with a hook
and Shutes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Shutes waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Handicks.
Handicks swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Shutes ducks under a wild hook from Handicks.
A big left from Handicks misses.
Shutes misses with a straight left.
Shutes slips under a jab from Handicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice shot lands for Handicks.
Shutes looks to land a left hand but Handicks moved out of range nicely.
Shutes turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Handicks scores with a body shot.
Handicks looks to score with a jab to the body but Shutes is just out of range.
Shutes is trying to counter with his kicks.
Shutes lands a jab-cross combination.
Shutes changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Handicks leaves Shutes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
An inside leg kick from Shutes misses.
Handicks appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Handicks connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Shutes lands a nice looking body shot.
A punch combination from Handicks misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Handicks missing with a left hand there. Shutes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wesley Shutes dominated that 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.

Shutes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Handicks.
Shutes scores with a shot to the body.
Shutes lands the left hand.
Handicks looks to land a right hand but Shutes moved out of range.
Shutes is looking for the big counter here.
Shutes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Handicks lands a really nice looking cross but Shutes seems unphased.
The fighters circle momentarily. Handicks darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Handicks is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Handicks looks to land a right hand but Shutes moved out of range.
Shutes looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Shutes explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Shutes looks to land a combination but Handicks avoids it well.
Handicks looks to land a right hand but Shutes moved out of range.
Shutes misses with a hook
and Handicks counters with a lovely straight right hand!
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!
Shutes walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Handicks checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Handicks is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Shutes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shutes throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Handicks misses with a body shot.
Shutes thumps Handicks with a low kick.
Shutes thuds his shin into the meat of Handicks's side.
Shutes lands a body shot.
Shutes lands with a thumping leg kick.
Handicks throws a shot from downtown. Shutes moves away and avoids it.
Shutes throws out a counter right but Handicks avoids it with no problem.
Shutes scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Some wild striking there from Shutes.
Handicks misses the jab.
Shutes rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Handicks moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Wesley Shutes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shutes with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Handicks to score with a decent uppercut.
Shutes throws a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shutes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Handicks.
A combination from Shutes does no damage.
Wesley Shutes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A nice combination there by Shutes.
Shutes tries a head kick but it misses.
Shutes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Handicks.
Handicks takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

Shutes rushes Handicks and presses him up against the cage.
Handicks wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Shutes has him pressed against the cage.

Handicks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Handicks ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Handicks waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shutes.
Handicks misses with a right hand
and Shutes counters with a nice body shot.
Handicks on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shutes. Shutes obviously looking to wear him down.
Shutes throws a half hearted mid kick.
Handicks appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Handicks takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Handicks takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A slow jab from Handicks misses its intended target.
Handicks avoids the head kick by Shutes.
Shutes lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A low kick lands for Shutes.
Handicks misses with an uppercut. Shutes saw that one coming.
Shutes throws a lazy right hand but Handicks sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Shutes throws a head kick that misses.
Handicks misses with an uppercut. Shutes saw that one coming.
Handicks takes one to the chin there.
Handicks throws a shot from downtown. Shutes moves away and avoids it.
Handicks sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Handicks is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Handicks on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shutes. Shutes obviously looking to wear him down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Handicks ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shutes moves away.
Handicks checks a leg kick.
Handicks is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Shutes falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Handicks counter with a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Handicks lands a slapping body shot.
Handicks doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Shutes connects with a good right hand that stumbles Handicks. Handicks circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Shutes misses with a straight left.
A solid leg kick lands there for Shutes.
Handicks cracks Shutes with a good jab.
Handicks scores with a jab to the jaw.
Handicks throws a right and a left that both miss.
Shutes looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Handicks looks to score with a jab to the body but Shutes is just out of range.
Shutes swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wesley Shutes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Shutes fails with the takedown.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Handicks throws a lazy right hand but Shutes sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Shutes with a nice cross.
Shutes ducks under a wild hook from Handicks.
A nice side step and Shutes releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Handicks misses with a body shot.
Handicks dodges the punch combination from Shutes.
Shutes throws a big shot that misses.
Handicks misses with a hook. Shutes ducked under it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shutes blocks a jab.
Handicks misses the shot to the body.
Shutes doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Shutes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Handicks was well out of range. Poor timing from Shutes.
Handicks connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Handicks throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Shutes scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Handicks doesn't seem bothered though.
Shutes lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Shutes.
Shutes moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Handicks looks to land a combination but Shutes avoids it well.
Handicks swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Shutes throws a series of punches but Handicks moves out of range.
Handicks is looking to counter punch.
Shutes fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Handicks looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Shutes lands a nice leg kick that just misses Handicks's sensitive parts.
Handicks misses with a hook.
Shutes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Handicks throws a hook to the side of Shutes's head but Shutes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A countering left hand to the body from Shutes misses.
Handicks misses the jab.
Shutes is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Shutes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A telegraphed right hand from Handicks misses the target.
Shutes looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Handicks looks to land a combination but Shutes avoids it well.
Shutes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Handicks.
Handicks throws a hook but Shutes blocks it.
Handicks dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Shutes lands a jab-cross combination.
Handicks looks to land a left hand but Shutes moved out of range nicely.
Handicks tests Shutes's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Handicks avoids the body shot from Shutes.
Shutes throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Handicks counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Shutes connects with a jab.
Handicks looks to throw the jab but Shutes is out of range.
Handicks takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Handicks wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Shutes lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Shutes. Beautiful body shot.
Handicks throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Shutes stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A slow jab from Handicks misses its intended target.
Handicks walks into a left hand.
Shutes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Handicks throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A big right from Handicks misses.
Handicks takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Shutes connects with a solid leg kick.
Shutes catches Handicks with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Handicks comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Shutes throws a sloppy head kick and Handicks moves out of range easily.
Handicks throws a jab but it's blocked by Shutes.
Shutes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Handicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shutes buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Handicks throws a body punch but Shutes moves out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Shutes! But no joy.
Shutes attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Wesley Shutes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Shutes moves away from the strike by Handicks.
Despite the aggression on Shutes's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Handicks lands a two punch combo.
Shutes slips a jab from Handicks.
Johny Handicks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Handicks rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Shutes counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Shutes swings for the body but Handicks moves out of range.
Handicks throws an off balance right hand
and Shutes counters with a body kick.
Shutes swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Handicks counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A right-left combo lands from Shutes.
Handicks throws out a loose jab but Shutes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Handicks misses with an uppercut. Shutes saw that one coming.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Wesley Shutes.
Well Shutes has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wesley Shutes!
Wesley Shutes bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.