PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between M J Shain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Clooten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Shain might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Thunderstruck. Clooten has chosen Hot Ride by The Prodigy as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

J Shain
vs
Clooten

178 cm
22
185 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

180 cm
28
182 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Rivers Edge Nutrition

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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, M J Shain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Clooten!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Anthony Taglia and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clooten misses with an uppercut. Shain saw that one coming.
Shain loads up on a big right hand but Clooten slips the punch.
Shain misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Clooten.
Shain throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Clooten throws a hook to the side of Shain's head but Shain sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Clooten throws a jab when Shain was well out of range.
Clooten uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Shain.
M J Shain seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Clooten swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Shain counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Shain takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Shain slips under a jab.
Shain steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Clooten.
Shain throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shain throws a nice inside leg kick.
Shain uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Clooten.
Clooten misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shain.
Shain misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Clooten.
Shain slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good shot there by Shain.
Shain chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Clooten can pounce on him.
Shain clobbers Clooten with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Shain steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Clooten.
Shain moves away from the strike by Clooten.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Shain.
Clooten throws the left hand but Shain avoids the punch easily.
Clooten misses with a body shot.
Clooten avoids the body shot from Shain.
Shain throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Clooten lands a nice shot that snaps Shain's head back.
Shain throws a jab when Clooten was well out of range.
A slow jab from Clooten misses its intended target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clooten throws a lazy right hand but Shain sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Shain shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Clooten napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Clooten can't do much from the bottom here.
Shain scoring with punches from side control.
Clooten takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
You can see the frustration on Clooten's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Clooten tries to improve position but can't.
Shain scoring with punches from side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shain creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Shain working the ground and pound but Clooten is defending the strikes.
Clooten manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clooten looks to land a strike but Shain avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Clooten wants to control from the top but Shain keeps moving.
Clooten is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Clooten trying to control the position from guard on top but Shain is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Clooten scoring with punches to the head and body.
Clooten with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Clooten trying to control but Shain is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clooten throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shain works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shain has a closed guard, preventing Clooten from standing up.
Shain keeping moving, preventing Clooten from controlling successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Matt Clooten wasn't active enough on the ground.
Shain misses with a straight left.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Clooten misses the jab.
Shain cracks Clooten with a right hand to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

M J Shain dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Shain throws a big shot that misses.
Some wild striking there from Shain.
A telegraphed right hand from Shain misses the target.
Clooten misses with a hook. Shain ducked under it nicely.
Clooten throws a hook but Shain blocks it.
Shain connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Clooten smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Shain connects with a body shot that sends Clooten's belly button to the back.
Clooten swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Shain scores with a decent looking hook.
Shain misses with a straight left.
Clooten throws a head kick that misses
and Shain counters with a stiff right hand.
Clooten rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Shain moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shain tests Clooten's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Clooten uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Shain.
Shain throws a lazy right hand but Clooten sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Shain looks to land a left hand but Clooten moved out of range nicely.
Shain rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Clooten moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Shain takes a swing at Clooten's ribcage but misses.
Shain walks into a straight right hand from Clooten.
Shain scores with a shot to the body.
Shain throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Shain misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Clooten counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A big right from Shain misses.
Matt Clooten is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shain swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Clooten misses with a hook. Shain ducked under it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clooten walks into a straight right hand from Shain.
A swing and a miss from Shain.
Clooten's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Shain connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Clooten scrambles back to his feet.
Clooten tries to land a front kick but Shain steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Shain thows a left - swing and a miss!
Clooten misses with a head kick.
Shain steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Clooten.
Good standup being displayed there by Clooten as he connects with a hook.
Shain throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Clooten looks to land a left hand but Shain moved out of range nicely.
Shain loads up on a big right hand but Clooten slips the punch.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Clooten in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Shain dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Shain slips under a jab.
Shain blocks a head kick by Clooten.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shain uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Clooten.
Clooten dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Clooten misses with a double jab.
Clooten stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Clooten misses the shot to the body.
Clooten throws out a loose jab but Shain uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shain loads up on a big right hand but Clooten slips the punch.
Shain scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Shain takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Shain ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Shain looks to land a right hand but Clooten moved out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Shain misses the target.
Clooten throws a nice inside leg kick.
Shain misses with a body punch
and Clooten counters with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shain uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Clooten.
Shain misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Clooten slips a jab and a cross from Shain.
Clooten with a nice cross.
Clooten throws a front kick aimed at Shain's knee but Shain avoids it well.
Shain throws a looping overhand right but Clooten ducks down to avoid it.
Clooten takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Shain loads up on a big right hand but Clooten slips the punch.
Some bone on bone action there as Shain checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Shain misses with an uppercut. Clooten saw that one coming.
A big right from Shain misses.
A jab from Shain misses.
Shain moves away from the strike by Clooten.
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 M J Shain will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Shain throws a sloppy body shot
and Clooten counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Shain's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Clooten connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Shain scrambles back to his feet.
Clooten throws the left hand but Shain avoids the punch easily.
Shain misses with a wild combination.
Shain scores with a jab. Clooten acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Clooten throws a shot from downtown. Shain moves away and avoids it.
Clooten takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Shain misses with a wild body shot.
A shot to the liver by Shain. Beautiful body shot.
Clooten misses with a looping left.
Shain looks to land a combination but Clooten avoids it well.
Shain misses the body punch
and Clooten counters with a body kick.
Shain throws a body punch but Clooten moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clooten scores with a sloppy right hand. Shain should have avoided that one.
Shain works Clooten's body with a nice hook.
Nice body punch from Shain.
Clooten misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shain.
Shain misses with a shot to the body
and Clooten counters with a nice kick to the body.
Shain shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Clooten defends it nicely.
Clooten throws a sloppy body shot
and Shain counters with a straight right hand.
Shain keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Clooten.
Clooten connects with a good right hand that stumbles Shain. Shain circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Shain dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A shot to the liver by Clooten. Beautiful body shot.
Clooten lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Clooten pivots, looking for a leg kick but Shain is out of range and Clooten settles back down.
Clooten uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Shain.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clooten misses with a shot to the body
and Shain counters with a two punch combo.
Clooten displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Shain throws out the jab.
Clooten ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shain moves away.
Clooten lands a nice leg kick that just misses Shain's sensitive parts.
A head kick misses from Shain.
Nice defenses there by Shain.
Shain lands the left hand.
Shain misses with a straight left.
Clooten pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Clooten works Shain's body with a nice hook.
Shain throws a hook but Clooten blocks it.
Clooten takes a swing at Shain's ribcage but misses.
Shain misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clooten walks into a left hand.
Clooten tries to score with a low kick but Shain moves his leg out of the way.
Clooten chopping away at his opponent's legs.
The fighters circling - Clooten throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Clooten chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A punch combination from Shain misses.
Clooten misses the jab.
Shain with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Clooten scores with the left hand. Shain knows he should have avoided that one.
Clooten looks to score with a jab to the body but Shain is just out of range.
Shain fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Shain ducks right into an uppercut from Clooten.
Clooten misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shain.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shain throws an overhand right that lands on Clooten's shoulder, as Clooten tries to avoid the shot.
Some wild striking there from Shain.
Clooten closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Clooten uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Shain has time to react.
Clooten lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Matt Clooten has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Clooten looks to throw the jab but Shain is out of range.
Shain is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Clooten.
Clooten just misses with a punch to the body.
Shain with a body punch. A glancing blow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Clooten misses with a low kick.
Clooten throws a sloppy body shot
and Shain counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
M J Shain is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shain swinging wildly here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Clooten comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Shain has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... M J Shain!