PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Aljamain Shining (ranked 3044 p4p, 6716 weight class) and Mike Rotchburns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Rotchburns will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Shining
vs
Rotchburns

180 cm
18
154
1 - 0 - 0

167 cm
18
145
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Aljamain Shining!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mike Rotchburns!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Ryoma Takatsuka and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rotchburns lands a two punch combo.

Shining throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rotchburns tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Shining is in Rotchburns's guard.
Rotchburns wants to get back to his feet but Shining passes into half guard.
Rotchburns looks winded!

Shining is controlling the pace.
Shining wants to pass the guard but Rotchburns is defending well.
Shining trying to control the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rotchburns is trying to stand up here but Shining is controlling him well.
Shining wants to pass to mount but Rotchburns is defending the position.
Shining keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Shining seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rotchburns for as long as he can get away with.
Shining will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shining's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Rotchburns looks like he's trying to stand up.
Shining controlling the action here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rotchburns scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Shining shoots in but Rotchburns avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Shining closes the distance and clinches.

Shining jumps guard.

Shining is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shining connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Mike Rotchburns has been cut.

Shining gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Shining content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Shining stops Rotchburns from getting back to his feet.
Shining tries to pass to full mount but Rotchburns defends it.
Shining content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rotchburns wants to stand back up but Shining manages to pass into side control.
Rotchburns is trying to buck Shining off.

Shining decides to stand back up.

Shining moves into the clinch.

Shining breaks the clinch.
Rotchburns misses with a double jab

and Shining counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Shining.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shining controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aljamain Shining dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mike Rotchburns's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Shining shoots in and drives through. Rotchburns sprawls well.
A right-left combo lands from Rotchburns.

Shining drives through with a takedown into Rotchburns's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Shining is stalling in the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shining gets to his feet - Rotchburns follows without any prompting.

Shining takes the fight into the clinch.
Shining tries to work over Rotchburns's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rotchburns is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shining has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rotchburns after a bit of a struggle.
Shining drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rotchburns pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aljamain Shining. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rotchburns fails to land with a series of punches.
Aljamain Shining is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick by Shining misses
and Rotchburns counters with a three punch combo that has Shining backing up. Shining nods at Rotchburns to acknowledge the strikes.
Rotchburns swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Shining fails to land with a series of punches.
Shining fails with a takedown attempt.
Rotchburns's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Rotchburns duly obliges.
Rotchburns lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Rotchburns on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shining. Shining obviously looking to wear him down.
Mike Rotchburns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A right-left combo lands from Rotchburns.

Shining has closed the distance and engaged Rotchburns in a clinch.

Shining drags the fight down to the ground.

Shining kicks Rotchburns off and gets to his feet.
Rotchburns throws a series of punches but Shining moves out of range.
Shining throws a nice looking combination but Rotchburns bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Despite the aggression on Rotchburns's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Shining closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rotchburns to the mat! Rotchburns manages to get full guard.
Shining not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shining pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rotchburns is keeping the position for now.
Shining is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shining won't allow Rotchburns to get back to his feet.

Shining decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rotchburns, up you get!

Shining shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rotchburns's guard.
Shining controlling from the top position.
Rotchburns is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Shining is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shining is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Shining has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rotchburns throws a left and a right that both miss

and Shining moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Aljamain Shining will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mike Rotchburns's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Shining lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rotchburns circles away quickly and effectively.
Rotchburns avoids the head kick by Shining.
Rotchburns works over Shining's head and body with a nice combination.
Rotchburns checks the leg kick nicely there.

Shining pushes Rotchburns up against the cage in a clinch.

Shining pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Shining feints and as Rotchburns raises his hands in defense, Shining changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Shining seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rotchburns is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shining is stalling in the full guard.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Shining.
Shining stops Rotchburns from standing up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Shining seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Rotchburns gets tackled into the cage by Shining. Shining maintains the clinch.

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.
Shining is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rotchburns pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rotchburns tries to break free but Shining pushes him back against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Shining.
Shining controlling the action here for a moment.
Shining keeps control of Rotchburns as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Shining can't get the takedown.

Shining's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rotchburns lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shining circles away quickly and effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shining fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rotchburns, pushing him back against the cage.
Rotchburns can't break the clinch.

Shining gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Rotchburns is trying to escape back to his feet but Shining uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Shining is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rotchburns can do to turn this around?
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Shining continues to hold on tight.
Rotchburns bucks up and tries to throw Shining off but instead Shining has got his back!
Shining controlling the position well here. Rotchburns rolled but Shining kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rotchburns wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mike Rotchburns has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aljamain Shining is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aljamain Shining showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shining, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aljamain Shining!