PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Shifflett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Spicey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Tony Spicey enters the cage!

Shifflett
vs
Spicey

177 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
180 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Shifflett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tony Spicey!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Anthony Taglia and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spicey throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Some wild striking there from Spicey.
Spicey moves out of range of the body kick.
Shifflett throws a combination that misses

and Spicey counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Shifflett!
Shifflett tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Shifflett slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Spicey wants to stand up but Shifflett is controlling the position.
Shifflett is trying to get back to full guard.
Shifflett is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Spicey's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Spicey's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.

Shifflett is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Spicey has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Shifflett working for a choke but Spicey is defending well.

Shifflett working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shifflett doesn't have the hooks in and Spicey manages to turn into his guard.
Spicey won't allow Shifflett to sweep him here.
Shifflett is breathing heavily.
Spicey wants to stand but Shifflett has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shifflett uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Spicey shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Shifflett is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Spicey tries to stand but Shifflett is controlling from the bottom.
Spicey must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shifflett wants to sweep but no luck.
Spicey postures up.

Shifflett looking for a guillotine here but Spicey defends easily.

Spicey gets to his feet - Shifflett follows without any prompting.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tony Spicey will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shifflett tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Spicey scores with a takedown into Shifflett's guard.

Shifflett throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Spicey escapes and throws Shifflett's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Shifflett is looking for a sweep.

Spicey decides to stand back up. Spicey steps back and let's Shifflett get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spicey shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shifflett is pressing down on Spicey's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Shifflett is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Spicey tries to stand but Shifflett is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shifflett trying to control the position here.
Spicey is looking to stand up but Shifflett won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shifflett uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Spicey circles away from the clinch attempt

and Spicey counters with a single leg into guard. Shifflett didn't expect that.

Shifflett kicks Spicey off and gets to his feet.
Spicey shoots in for a double leg but Shifflett sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A right-left combo lands from Shifflett.
The fight stays on the outside here - Spicey looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shifflett tries to clinch up but Spicey circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spicey dodges the punch combination from Shifflett.
Spicey shoots in for a takedown but Shifflett shows good takedown defense.

Spicey shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Spicey was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Shifflett is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Spicey showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Spicey misses with a takedown attempt - Shifflett sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Spicey attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Spicey moves away from the strike by Shifflett.

Shifflett moves into the clinch.
Spicey prevents a takedown attempt there.
Shifflett drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Spicey gets the underhooks and prevents it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Spicey decides to pull guard.
Spicey has his hands on Shifflett's head, controlling the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spicey is trying to control the position but Shifflett postures up.
Spicey is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spicey working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shifflett.
Shifflett slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Shifflett trying to control the position from guard on top but Spicey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two 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.
Spicey has momentary wrist control but Shifflett slips an elbow through the middle.

Shifflett is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Spicey keeping moving, preventing Shifflett from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Shifflett pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Spicey avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Spicey looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Shifflett is trying to keep Spicey in close.
Tony Spicey has got the better of the ground game so far.
Shifflett keeping moving, preventing Spicey from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michael Shifflett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tony Spicey is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Shifflett has his foot on Spicey's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Spicey works his way back into a safe position though.
Shifflett could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Shifflett throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Shifflett controlling Spicey's posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tony Spicey.
I've got Spicey winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Tony Spicey!