PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tristin Shonuck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leon Bridges (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Shonuck might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Johnny Cash - God's Gonna Cut You Down. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Shonuck
vs
Bridges

189 cm
25
195 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

184 cm
23
196 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Decent elbows
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Vitality
Crippler's Corner

Vitality
Steel Penn's Laundry 93%

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tristin Shonuck!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leon Bridges!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Alec Ball and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bridges looks to score with a jab to the body but Shonuck is just out of range.

Bridges looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Shonuck!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Bridges looking to finish with strikes here!
Bridges looking to finish with strikes here!
Bridges punishing his opponent with strikes.
Bridges wants to control the pace but Shonuck is squirming around nicely.
Shonuck is trying to stand.
Bridges misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Bridges looking for a guillotine from mount but Shonuck is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shonuck wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bridges wants to control the pace but Shonuck is squirming around nicely.
Bridges looking to ground and pound but Shonuck is blocking nicely.
Bridges looking to finish with strikes here!
Shonuck wants to get back to his feet.
Bridges landing strikes from the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shonuck squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Bridges throwing strikes here but Shonuck is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Bridges lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Bridges postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Shonuck looks a forlorn figure.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shonuck holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Bridges tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Bridges landing strikes from the mount.
Bridges wants to control the pace but Shonuck is squirming around nicely.
Bridges has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bridges is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bridges controlling the position easily from mount.

Shonuck somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Shonuck throws a right and a left that Bridges avoids nicely.
Bridges throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shonuck cracks the inside of Bridges's front leg.
Shonuck tries to clinch there but Bridges circles away.
Bridges fails with the takedown

and Shonuck moves into the clinch.
Shonuck lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bridges blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nice elbow from Shonuck.
Bridges wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Shonuck has him pressed against the cage.
Bridges letting Shonuck take a breather here.
Shonuck is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Bridges is keeping busy.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Shonuck misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bridges.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shonuck looking to throw knees to the head but Bridges is blocking nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shonuck is looking to control Bridges's arms but Bridges gets an underhook and turns him. Now Shonuck has his back to the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Tristin Shonuck.
Shonuck misses the shot to the body.
Shonuck throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Bridges dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shonuck takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Shonuck fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Bridges.
Bridges tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shonuck was well out of range. Poor timing from Bridges.
Shonuck throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Bridges counters with a right hand to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Shonuck.
A punch combination from Shonuck misses.
Shonuck avoids the body shot from Bridges.
Bridges takes one on the button.
Shonuck throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Bridges to counter with a crisp jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bridges lands a nice looking body shot.
Bridges just misses with a punch to the body.
Bridges fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bridges comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Shonuck turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Tristin Shonuck is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bridges tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shonuck swivels and escapes.
Bridges tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shonuck was well out of range. Poor timing from Bridges.
Bridges throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Shonuck's waist but Shonuck gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bridges off to one side.
Tristin Shonuck has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leon Bridges.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shonuck looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bridges shoots for a takedown but Shonuck saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Shonuck lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Bridges is breathing heavily.
Shonuck misses with an attempted mid kick.
Shonuck moves in looking to clinch but Bridges pushes him off.
Tristin Shonuck is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Shonuck, right into the meat.
Bridges shoots for a double leg takedown but Shonuck sprawls well. He's pushed Bridges's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
No joy there for Shonuck, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Shonuck throws a head kick but Bridges moves out of range.
Shonuck fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bridges works Shonuck's body with a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bridges shoots in for a takedown but Shonuck shows good takedown defense.

Bridges tries to keep at a distance but Shonuck has taken the fight into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shonuck tries a knee to the head but Bridges blocks it.
Shonuck with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Bridges cracks Shonuck with a nice body shot.
Bridges misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bridges misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Shonuck just leaning against Bridges, taking a breather.

Bridges manages to break the clinch.
Shonuck feints a jab promting Bridges to slip. Shonuck then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Bridges slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Shonuck fails with an attempt to clinch.
Shonuck throws a solid leg kick but Bridges takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Shonuck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bridges listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Shonuck misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bridges fails with a takedown attempt.
Bridges looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bridges checks a low kick from Shonuck.

Bridges bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Shonuck is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Shonuck's face as Bridges controls the position.
Leon Bridges has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bridges looking to control but instead Shonuck has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Shonuck is trying to stand up here but Bridges is controlling him well.
Bridges thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shonuck's head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bridges lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bridges wants to free his trapped foot but Shonuck is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Shonuck wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
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 Tristin Shonuck will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Bridges misses with a body shot.
Shonuck is looking to clinch.
Bridges lands an overhand right.
Shonuck feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Bridges's calf.
Shonuck avoids the body shot from Bridges.
Bridges tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shonuck sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bridges somewhat.

Shonuck takes the fight into the clinch.
Bridges tries to pull guard but Shonuck won't allow it.
Shonuck is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Bridges softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Shonuck misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bridges takes an elbow to the temple.
Bridges tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shonuck just stands there and leans against the cage.
Tristin Shonuck has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leon Bridges.
Bridges working aggressively here.
Bridges dodges an elbow strike from Shonuck.
Bridges tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Shonuck effectively controlling the action here.
Bridges avoiding damage as Shonuck throws knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Bridges.
Shonuck misses with a knee strike.
Shonuck tries to land a knee to the head but Bridges blocks with his arms.
Shonuck tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bridges is trying to pull guard but Shonuck has him pressed against the cage.
Bridges scores with a hook to the body.
Shonuck tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bridges misses with a hook to the ribs.
Shonuck lands a nice elbow.
Bridges stalling against the cage.

Bridges breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bridges.
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!
Bridges wants to control but Shonuck is keeping him busy.
Shonuck wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Bridges trying to control the action but Shonuck is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shonuck wants to get back to his feet.
Bridges trying to control the action but Shonuck is working from the bottom.

Bridges thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bridges scoring with punches and elbows.
Shonuck is not content to let Bridges control the position.

Bridges is trying to get an arm triangle but Shonuck is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shonuck is working to avoid the ground and pound but Bridges connects with a decent elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leon Bridges comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bridges 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leon Bridges!
Leon Bridges was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.