PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sander Loughlin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Ross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Loughlin comes to the cage accompanied by Metallica - No Remorse. The crowd seem to be enjoying Ross's choice of entrance music: Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Loughlin
vs
Ross

186 cm
21
183 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
182 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Blitzkrieg Formula 5000
Blitzkrieg Formula 5000

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sander Loughlin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Shane Ross!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Steve Montenegro and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Loughlin swings for the body but Ross moves out of range.
Loughlin works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

It looks like Shane Ross has been cut.
Ross checks the leg kick.
Ross fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ross fails with a takedown attempt.
Ross slips under a jab from Loughlin.
A combination from Loughlin does no damage.
Loughlin connects with a looping right hand.
Sander Loughlin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Loughlin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ross.
Ross will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Loughlin throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Ross takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ross scores with a jab to the jaw.
Sander Loughlin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ross slips a jab and a cross from Loughlin.
Ross avoids a kick to the body.
Loughlin throws a push kick but Ross slaps the foot to one side.
A big left from Loughlin misses.
Ross throws a jab when Loughlin was well out of range.
A slow jab from Ross misses its intended target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Loughlin is looking to score with low kicks.
Ross tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Loughlin misses the jab.
Loughlin throws a low kick but Ross avoids it.
Loughlin looks to land a right hand but Ross moved out of range.
Loughlin throws a hook but Ross avoids it easily.

Ross scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Ross trying to control the position but Loughlin is working away.
Ross tries to score with some ground and pound. Loughlin controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Loughlin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ross throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Loughlin works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Ross missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ross misses with a head shot. Loughlin uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ross lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ross trying to control the position from guard on top but Loughlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ross throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ross throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Loughlin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ross postures up in Loughlin's guard and throws a big left but Loughlin blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ross accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sander Loughlin will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Shane Ross's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ross just misses with a punch to the body.
Ross lands with a nice body kick.
A big left from Loughlin misses.
Ross looks to land a left hand but Loughlin moved out of range nicely.
Loughlin misses with the body kick

and Ross counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ross trying to control but Loughlin is working from the bottom.
Ross working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ross throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross is fighting to break Loughlin's control of his arms but Loughlin is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Ross trying to control the position from guard on top but Loughlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ross postures up and lands a big shot to Loughlin's brow.
Ross with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ross tries to free his leg and advance position but Loughlin is retaining full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nice sprawl there from Loughlin as Ross shoots in.
Loughlin misses with a hook to the body
and Ross counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ross fails with the takedown.
Loughlin finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Ross connects with a high kick.
Ross checks a leg kick.
A shot to the body from Loughlin misses
and Ross counters with a good low kick that Loughlin was not able to check.
Ross takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Ross moves out of range of the body kick from Loughlin.
Ross shoots for a double leg takedown but Loughlin sprawls well. He's pushed Ross's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sander Loughlin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shane Ross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross takes a jab right on the kisser.
A slow jab from Ross misses its intended target.
Ross ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ross shoots in for a takedown but Loughlin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Loughlin looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Loughlin misses with a looping right.
Loughlin throws a leg kick
and Ross counters with a stiff right hand.

Ross shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Loughlin because Ross loaded up on that one.
Loughlin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ross postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Loughlin looks a forlorn figure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ross landing shots from mount.
Loughlin is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Ross showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Shane Ross's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Loughlin loads up on a big right hand but Ross slips the punch.
Ross tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ross shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Loughlin as he avoids it easily.
Loughlin misses with a hook.

Ross fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Loughlin sprawls well initially but Ross persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ross is looking to take a break and control but Loughlin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ross stalling away here and it's allowed Loughlin to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Ross lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross looking to pass the guard.
Ross in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Loughlin trying to control the position.
Loughlin is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Loughlin keeping moving, preventing Ross from controlling successfully.

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.
Loughlin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ross is controlling him.
Loughlin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Loughlin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ross has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ross keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice shot by Ross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ross changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Loughlin looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ross with the ground and pound but Loughlin regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Ross thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Loughlin's head.
Ross is stalling here. Loughlin is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Ross seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Loughlin has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Loughlin decides to stand up, so the ref orders Ross to his feet.
Loughlin throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Loughlin.
Loughlin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ross moves away.
Loughlin throws a leg kick

and Ross counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ross postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ross loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ross trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ross chips away with some ground and pound.
Ross is looking to work some ground and pound but Loughlin has wrist control.
Loughlin keeping moving, preventing Ross from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shane Ross comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ross has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shane Ross!