PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pascal Barao (ranked 2712 p4p, 3206 weight class) and Biggie Shackleton (ranked 328 p4p, 389 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Barao
vs
Shackleton

178 cm
23
167
6 - 4 - 0

170 cm
25
156
4 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pascal Barao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Biggie Shackleton!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Richard Clark and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barao changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shackleton tries to avoid it but Barao manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shackleton to the ground. Shackleton escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Barao shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Shackleton trying to control here.
Shackleton wants to get back to full guard.
Barao takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Barao passes into side control, despite Shackleton's attempt to control the position.
Barao takes a little break here. Shackleton wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shackleton wants to control but Barao postures up.
Shackleton is being controlled here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shackleton sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Barao is pressing down on Shackleton's thigh, looking to free his foot. Shackleton is holding on for now.
Barao content to control rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Shackleton wants to improve his position but Barao is controlling well.
Shackleton is pressing down on Barao's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Barao is pushing down on Shackleton's leg trying to pass to half guard. Shackleton is fighting to maintain full guard but Barao has managed to sneak the leg through.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barao keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Shackleton is looking to improve his position.
Barao keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Barao wants to free his trapped foot but Shackleton is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Shackleton is trying to get back to full guard.
Barao is figuring out what he wants to do next.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shackleton tries to clinch but Barao is having none of it.
Shackleton will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Barao gets a takedown into half guard.
Barao controlling the action here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Shackleton is looking for a sweep. Barao is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Still in half guard, Barao seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shackleton trying to control from the bottom.
Shackleton wants to get back to his feet.
Shackleton wants to control but Barao is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Barao has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Barao tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pascal Barao dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Shackleton is looking to clinch.

Barao is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Shackleton's half guard.
Barao trying to control the pace.
Shackleton regains full guard. Nicely done.
Pascal Barao overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Barao tries to free his leg and advance position but Shackleton is retaining full guard.

Shackleton has his foot on Barao's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Barao works his way back into a safe position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shackleton is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Barao looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shackleton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shackleton being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Barao fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shackleton throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Barao tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Shackleton defends well and Barao ends up having to push Shackleton into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Shackleton looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Barao avoiding damage as Shackleton throws knees to the body.
Barao wants to take the fight to the mat but Shackleton manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pascal Barao. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Barao's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shackleton wants to clinch.
Shackleton misses with a shot to the body
and Barao counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Barao looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Barao 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.
Shackleton is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Barao passes Shackleton's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Barao controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shackleton is looking to improve his position.
Barao trying to mount his opponent but Shackleton defends it.
Shackleton has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Barao is working away from the top position though.
Barao is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shackleton can do to turn this around?
Still in half guard, Barao seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shackleton felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Barao is thwarting Shackleton's attempts to control the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Barao performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Pascal Barao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Barao drives through with a takedown into guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shackleton working a defensive guard here.
Shackleton can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Barao controls the pace.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pascal Barao dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Shackleton tries to close the distance and clinch but Barao swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A swing and a miss from Shackleton.

Barao shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Shackleton looking for a sweep. Not yet Shackleton, not yet.
Barao is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barao stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shackleton swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shackleton not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Shackleton has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Barao can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Barao preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A big right from Shackleton misses.

Barao manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Shackleton on his heels. He'll look to pass Shackleton's guard now, I'm sure.
Barao trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Barao won't allow Shackleton to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barao controlling from the top position.
Barao has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Shackleton looking for a sweep. Not yet Shackleton, not yet.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Shackleton controls Barao momentarily but Barao frees himself.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Shackleton misses the jab.
Barao uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Shackleton.
Barao shoots for a takedown but Shackleton saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barao shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shackleton but Shackleton pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shackleton misses with an uppercut.
Shackleton displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Barao.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pascal Barao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shackleton throws a right hand that Barao ducks under and follows up with a left that Barao also avoids with ease.
Shackleton looks to land a right hand but Barao moved out of range.
Shackleton misses with a two punch combination.

Barao shoots in and gets a takedown into Shackleton's guard.
Shackleton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Barao not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Barao.
Biggie Shackleton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shackleton wants to sweep here but Barao controlling him for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Shackleton working for a triangle but Barao defends it easily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Pascal Barao.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Barao, 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pascal Barao!
Pascal Barao seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.