PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Stan Shamrock (ranked 335 p4p, 844 weight class) and Craig Mckean (ranked 44 p4p, 120 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Shamrock
vs
Mckean

187 cm
26
187
6 - 0 - 0

190 cm
26
190
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Heavy handed

EL ZOIDO FEEBLE FIGHTWEAR

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Stan Shamrock!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Craig Mckean!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Peter Branson and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mckean swings widly with a right hand
and Shamrock counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Craig Mckean has been cut.
Mckean loads up on a big right hand but Shamrock slips the punch.
Mckean throws a body shot but no joy.
The fighters circling - Mckean throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shamrock looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mckean swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Shamrock takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Mckean lands with an uppercut that bounces Shamrock off the cage and back into range.
Decent striking displayed by Mckean there.

Shamrock clinches with his opponent.
Shamrock doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Shamrock.
Shamrock fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mckean misses with a short punch on the inside.
Shamrock managing to block the knees to the body from Mckean.
Mckean misses with a knee strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shamrock works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Shamrock tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mckean smiles and moves away.
Craig Mckean seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mckean lands a jab to the nose.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mckean misses with a straight left.
Mckean fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shamrock manages to avoid it.
As Mckean tries to get set, Shamrock tries to push him back and clinch up but Mckean manages to avoid the attempt.
Mckean misses with a looping left.
Shamrock throwing a counter right hand but Mckean manages to avoid it.
Mckean looks to land a left hand but Shamrock moved out of range nicely.
Shamrock keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mckean moves out of range of the strikes.
Shamrock fails with an attempt to clinch.
Shamrock takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A slow jab from Mckean misses its intended target.
We've been told by Shamrock's head coaches at Island Training Centre that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Mckean misses with a hook. Shamrock ducked under it nicely.
Shamrock swings and misses with a hook to the body.
It seemed like Mckean was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Mckean throws a shot from downtown. Shamrock moves away and avoids it.
The fighters circling - Mckean throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Shamrock wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Shamrock blocks a jab.
Shamrock is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Mckean.
Mckean pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shamrock lands with a good body shot.
Mckean has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Shamrock looks to score with a jab to the body but Mckean is just out of range.
Mckean rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Shamrock cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Shamrock moves out of range of the strikes.
Mckean throws a jab but it's blocked by Shamrock.
Shamrock wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
A jab lands there for Mckean.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mckean throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Shamrock is looking to counter the offense by Mckean and move into the clinch.
Mckean misses with a hook
and Shamrock counters with a nice uppercut.
Mckean scores with a jab to the jaw.
Shamrock punishes Mckean's body with a nice straight punch.
Mckean misses with a body shot
and Shamrock counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice defenses there by Shamrock.
Mckean misses with a straight left.
Shamrock uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mckean.
Shamrock blocks a jab.
A quick step to the side and Shamrock tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mckean avoids the body shot from Shamrock.
Mckean missing with a left hand there. Shamrock was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mckean swings wildly with an uppercut but Shamrock uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mckean lands a left hand.
Mckean wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Shamrock has him pressed against the cage.
Mckean tries a knee to the head but Shamrock blocks it.
Mckean landing knees to the body.
Shamrock misses with some punches.
Mckean is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Shamrock is defending well for now.
Mckean throws a head punch that misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Mckean creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Shamrock blocking some punches.
Mckean fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mckean throws a head punch that misses.
Mckean lands a left hand that snaps the head of Shamrock backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Shamrock.
Mckean has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Shamrock tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stan Shamrock. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shamrock can't find room to land a body shot as Mckean controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mckean breaks from the clinch.
Mckean throws out a loose jab but Shamrock uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shamrock throwing a counter right hand but Mckean manages to avoid it.
Mckean throws an off balance right hand

and Shamrock counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Shamrock.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mckean lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Nice body punch from Shamrock - that landed with a thud.

Shamrock manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Mckean controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Shamrock is trying to control the position but Mckean postures up.
Mckean must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Shamrock has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Mckean should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Shamrock has tightened it up now! Mckean should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:54 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Stan Shamrock!
Stan Shamrock retains his middleweight title!
A relieved looking Stan Shamrock thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.