PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Macklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shawn Shurk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shurk comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Achy Breaky Heart kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Macklin
vs
Shurk

172 cm
23
152 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

170 cm
24
155 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joseph Macklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shawn Shurk!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Alan Glass and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Macklin connects with a body shot.
Shurk staying out of range there.
Shurk throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Macklin throws a nice looking combination but Shurk bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Macklin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Macklin thows a body shot but no joy.
Macklin jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shurk takes a swing at Macklin's ribcage but misses.
Macklin avoids the body shot from Shurk.
Shurk is looking to clinch but Macklin is avoiding it.
Macklin tests Shurk's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Macklin scores with a jab. Shurk acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Macklin fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Macklin connects with a crisp jab.
Macklin looks to land a combination but Shurk avoids it well.
Shurk slips a straight right by Macklin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Macklin. Shurk does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shurk keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Macklin.
Macklin keeps the fight on the outside.
A jab from Macklin does it's job there.
Macklin misses with a left hand

and Shurk counters with a single leg into guard. Macklin didn't expect that.
Macklin keeping moving, preventing Shurk from controlling successfully.
Shurk throws a strike but Macklin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Macklin postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macklin is stalling in the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joseph Macklin wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Shurk darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Macklin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Shurk thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Macklin is not content to let Shurk control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Macklin is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Shurk scores with a couple of nice shots.
Shurk thows a huge punch but Macklin dodges it nicely.
Shurk lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Shurk thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Shurk missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Shurk throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Shurk not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Macklin is not content to let Shurk control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shurk is looking to stall here but Macklin recovers full guard.
Shurk must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Macklin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shurk wants to pass the guard but Macklin is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shurk trying to control but Macklin is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Macklin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Shurk dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Shurk scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Shurk throwing shots but Macklin is blocking nicely.
Macklin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shurk.
Macklin regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Shurk.
Shurk stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Macklin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Shurk preventing the sweep.
Shurk trying to control but Macklin is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shurk lands a couple of elbows.
Shurk trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Macklin manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Macklin controlling from the top position.

Joseph Macklin has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Shurk feints and as Macklin raises his hands in defense, Shurk changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shurk stays in close to Macklin's body and controls the position.
Shurk trying to control but Macklin is working from the bottom.
Macklin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shurk working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Macklin's head.
Shurk throws a strike but Macklin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Macklin decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shurk moves out of range of the strikes.
Macklin bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Shurk's head backwards.
Macklin tries to clinch up.
Macklin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Macklin throws a shot from downtown. Shurk moves away and avoids it.
Macklin tries to clinch but Shurk moves out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Shurk.
Macklin slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A punch combination from Shurk misses.
Macklin is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shurk shoots in for a takedown but Macklin shows good takedown defense.
Shurk wants to clinch up but Macklin keeps it at a distance.
Joseph Macklin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shurk gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Macklin connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Shawn Shurk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Macklin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Macklin misses the jab.
The fighters circle momentarily. Macklin darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Nice shot lands for Macklin.
Shurk thuds his right hand into Macklin's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shurk throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Joseph Macklin has been cut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shurk showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Macklin.
Macklin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shurk was well out of range. Poor timing from Macklin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Shawn Shurk will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Joseph Macklin's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Shurk keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Macklin.
Shurk throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Macklin.
Shurk misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Macklin thuds his right hand into Shurk's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Shurk doesn't manage to clinch there - Macklin circles away.
Shurk takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Macklin scores with a punch to the head.
Macklin with a nice cross.
Shurk fails with a takedown attempt.
Macklin connects with a good right hand that stumbles Shurk. Shurk circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Macklin on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Shurk displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Macklin throws out the jab.
Joseph Macklin is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macklin lands a right hook to the body.

Shurk closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Shurk lands with a punch from half guard.
Shurk working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Macklin is rocked!
Macklin is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Shurk scores with a couple of nice shots.
Oh Macklin is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Shurk lands a massive shot from half guard that has rocked Macklin! More strikes land and this one is all over! Shurk jumps to his feet and is applauded loudly by the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Shawn Shurk!
A less than humble Shawn Shurk misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.