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). Shonuck kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Johnny Cash - God's Gonna Cut You Down. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Shonuck
vs
Bridges

189 cm
26
195 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

184 cm
24
196 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Crippler's Corner
Vitality

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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tristin Shonuck!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leon Bridges!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Steve Smith and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shonuck takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Bridges cracks Shonuck with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Shonuck throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Shonuck finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Shonuck tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shonuck takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Bridges shoots and misses
and Shonuck counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shonuck wants to clinch up but Bridges keeps it at a distance.
Shonuck pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bridges fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Bridges shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Shonuck is looking for a sweep. Bridges is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Shonuck is staying active underneath Bridges, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Shonuck is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bridges wants to pass to mount but Shonuck is defending the position.
Shonuck holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Bridges is looking to pass Shonuck's guard but actually Shonuck recovers to full guard.
Bridges sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Shonuck's guard.
Bridges is trying to control. Shonuck wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bridges is just content to waste time from the top position. Shonuck takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Shonuck looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Bridges passes into half guard.
Bridges slips a nice elbow through Shonuck's hands, connecting with Shonuck's forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shonuck looking for submissions off his back.
Shonuck trying to control from the bottom.
Bridges trying to pass the guard but Shonuck defending well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bridges wants to control but Shonuck is keeping him busy.
Shonuck is trying to stand back up but Bridges is controlling him
Shonuck moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Shonuck can't keep his opponent in guard - Bridges advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Shonuck looking for subs from the bottom but Bridges mounts him!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shonuck is desperately trying to improve his position but Bridges has a good base and remains in mount.
Bridges working Shonuck over with strikes here.
Bridges wants to control the pace but Shonuck is squirming around nicely.
Shonuck working to try and regain half guard.
Bridges tries to control but Shonuck wriggling away.
Bridges landing strikes from the mount and Shonuck is in trouble!
Shonuck is desperately trying to improve his position but Bridges has a good base and remains in mount.
Bridges trying to control but Shonuck is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shonuck manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Shonuck makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Shonuck defends well against a solid takedown attempt from 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 takes a swing at Shonuck's ribcage but misses.
Shonuck doesn't manage to clinch there - Bridges circles away.
Bridges fails with a takedown attempt.
Tristin Shonuck has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leon Bridges.
Shonuck defending well as Bridges loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bridges takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Bridges keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Bridges dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Shonuck forces Bridges back against the cage and clinches.
Shonuck will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Bridges up against the cage.
Shonuck connects with a knee to the head.
Bridges tries to work over Shonuck's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bridges is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Shonuck is defending well.
Shonuck taking a breather.
Shonuck tries to land a knee to the head but Bridges blocks with his arms.
Shonuck lands an elbow that stopped Bridges in his tracks for a moment.
Shonuck lands an elbow inside that Bridges shrugs off.

It looks like Leon Bridges has been cut.
Shonuck throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bridges blocks it with crossed arms.
Bridges displaying some good clinch control by pressing Shonuck up against the cage.
Bridges tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Shonuck as Bridges tries to tie him up.
Bridges tries a body shot but Shonuck blocks it.
Bridges stalling.
Bridges avoiding damage as Shonuck throws knees to the body.
Shonuck trying to control the position but instead, Bridges has worked for underhooks and has pushed Shonuck into the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Bridges's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Shonuck is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Shonuck with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Shonuck blocks a body shot from Bridges.
Bridges is trying to break the clinch but Shonuck is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shonuck with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Shonuck with a knee to the head.
Bridges on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shonuck misses with a knee strike.
Shonuck comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Bridges pushes Shonuck back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Shonuck tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A right handed body shot lands from Bridges.
Bridges works on Shonuck's body with a couple of short punches.
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!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Shonuck creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Shonuck tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bridges avoids it.
Shonuck missing with knees to the body.
Bridges trying to stall but Shonuck improves his position.
Bridges lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Shonuck backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shonuck looking to stall.
Bridges dodges an elbow strike from Shonuck.
Shonuck throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bridges blocks it with crossed arms.
Bridges throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Bridges struggles to land a body shot inside as Shonuck controls his hands.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Bridges.
Shonuck blocks a body shot from Bridges.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Shonuck blocks a body shot from Bridges.
Bridges stalling in the clinch but Shonuck improves position.
Shonuck slows down the pace here.
Shonuck looking to stall.
Bridges tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shonuck just stands there and leans against the cage.
Leon Bridges seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shonuck is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Tristin Shonuck has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leon Bridges.
Shonuck is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Bridges takes a knee right on the jaw!
Bridges is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Shonuck.
Bridges avoiding damage as Shonuck throws knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Bridges's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Shonuck misses with a knee strike.
Shonuck tries to land knees in the clinch but Bridges avoids the damage to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bridges tries to work over Shonuck's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Shonuck putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Bridges in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Bridges can't find room to land a body shot as Shonuck controls the 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 cut man is working on Leon Bridges's cut.
That's time! Shonuck's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Bridges lands a nice shot to the body.
Shonuck lands with a kick to the temple. Bridges shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Bridges shoots in but no luck this time.
Bridges swats away the attempt to clinch by Shonuck.
Bridges takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Bridges jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Bridges drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Shonuck gets back to half guard.
Bridges is looking to take a break and control but Shonuck is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bridges takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shonuck kicks off Bridges and gets to his feet.
Shonuck uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bridges.
Shonuck tries to clinch but Bridges moves away

and Bridges counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bridges.
Shonuck is looking to stand up but Bridges isn't so interested in that idea.
Shonuck trying to control the position.
Bridges won't allow Shonuck to get back to his feet.
Shonuck looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Shonuck has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bridges can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bridges postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bridges wants to control from the top but Shonuck keeps moving.
Bridges distracts Shonuck with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bridges working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Shonuck's head.
Bridges controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Shonuck trying to control the position.

Shonuck has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bridges can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bridges working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bridges content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bridges must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bridges passes Shonuck's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bridges lands a nice short elbow.
Bridges prevents Shonuck from standing back up.
Bridges throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bridges trying to mount his opponent but Shonuck defends it.
Shonuck is trying to stand up here but Bridges is controlling him well.
Shonuck wants to control but Bridges is keeping busy.
Bridges is trying to control the action in half guard but Shonuck is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shonuck is trying to stand.

Shonuck is defending against the submission attempts here by Bridges.
Bridges moves nicely into side control.
Shonuck wants to control but Bridges postures up.
Shonuck is trying to get back to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shonuck tries to escape but Bridges is in control.
Bridges wants to control but Shonuck is keeping him busy.

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 William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leon Bridges!
Leon Bridges tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.