PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Shanks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hoban Washburn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shanks comes into the arena with Dethklok - The Cyborg Slayers blaring out of the sound system. Washburn has chosen Magic Carpet Ride as his entrance music. Michael Shanks has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Shanks
vs
Washburn

190 cm
27
180 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

180 cm
27
177 lbs
16 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Shanks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hoban Washburn!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shirou Masuda and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Washburn fails with a takedown attempt.

Shanks moves into the clinch.

Washburn tightens his grip and picks Shanks up, before dumping him to the ground. Shanks manages to land in guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Shanks trying to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shanks utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Washburn with a flurry of punches that miss.
Washburn trying to control but Shanks is working from the bottom.
Shanks is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Washburn postures up.
Washburn trying to control the position from guard on top but Shanks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Washburn throwing strikes from guard but Shanks blocks nicely.
Shanks bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Washburn's guard.
Washburn looking to control.
Shanks won't allow Washburn to sweep him here.
Washburn is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Shanks is controlling him.
Shanks wanted to stand there but Washburn had control of the position.

Washburn is working an open guard so Shanks takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Washburn uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shanks.
Washburn displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Shanks throws out the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Washburn shoots in and bounces Shanks off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Washburn stands up over Shanks, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Washburn trying to control the position from guard on top but Shanks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Washburn working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shanks preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shanks working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Washburn.
Washburn is looking to work some ground and pound but Shanks has wrist control.
Washburn trying to control the position from guard on top but Shanks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Washburn tries to free his leg and advance position but Shanks is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shanks trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Washburn looking to pass the guard.
Shanks is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shanks keeping full guard, as Washburn tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Michael Shanks.
Washburn avoids the body shot from Shanks.
Nice takedown defense from Shanks. No joy for Washburn on that attempt.
Shanks keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Michael Shanks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hoban Washburn.
Shanks misses with a straight left.

Shanks clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shanks misses with a punch to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Shanks just misses with a elbow thrown towards Washburn's brow.
Shanks tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Washburn throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Washburn lands a takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Washburn accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shanks is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Shanks knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Washburn on the ground.
Washburn working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Shanks's head.
Shanks working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Washburn.
Washburn has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Washburn lands a couple of digs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Washburn pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shanks is keeping the position for now.
Shanks utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hoban Washburn dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Washburn closes the distance and clinches up with Shanks, looking for a takedown. Washburn pushes Shanks against the cage but Shanks circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Washburn fails with the takedown.
Washburn takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Washburn fails with a takedown attempt.
Michael Shanks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hoban Washburn.

Shanks gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Washburn lands a right hand that snaps the head of Shanks backwards.
Washburn has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Shanks after a bit of a struggle.
Washburn blocks a body shot from Shanks.
Shanks tries a body shot but Washburn blocks it.
Shanks gets underhooks to prevent Washburn's takedown attempt.
Shanks misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Shanks swings wildly with an uppercut but Washburn uses good head movement to avoid it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shanks.
Shanks prevents a body shot from Washburn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Washburn drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Shanks gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Shanks tries to work over Washburn's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Washburn changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Shanks fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Washburn looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Washburn checks a leg kick.
Michael Shanks is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shanks bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Washburn needs to keep his hands up - Shanks had a free shot at his head there.
Shanks sizes up Washburn with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Shanks misses with a body kick.
Washburn fails with a takedown attempt.
Shanks misses with a straight left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Washburn takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Shanks has closed the distance and engaged Washburn in a clinch.
Shanks presses Washburn against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shanks lands with a left to the head.
Shanks tries a body shot but Washburn blocks it.
Shanks lands a body punch.
Shanks comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Washburn tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Washburn misses with a hook from the clinch.
Shanks is trying to maintain a safe position but Washburn gets an underhook and turns Shanks into the cage.
Shanks misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Shanks lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Washburn backwards.
Shanks misses with a punch to the body.
Washburn misses with a hook to the ribs.
Shanks tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Washburn avoids it.
Shanks tries to work over Washburn's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Shanks slowing the pace effectively.
Shanks misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Washburn.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Washburn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Shanks as Washburn tries to tie him up.
Washburn on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Washburn has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Shanks after a bit of a struggle.
Shanks misses with a punch to the body.
Shanks misses with a body punch.
Washburn throws a punch but it's blocked by Shanks.
Shanks is pressed up against the cage. Washburn has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Shanks down to the mat. Shanks avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Washburn tries to clinch up.
Shanks misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Washburn.

Shanks has managed to clinch.
Shanks misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Washburn.
Shanks lands a right hand.
Washburn is looking for a takedown.
Washburn lands a left hand that snaps the head of Shanks backwards.
Shanks tries to work over Washburn's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Shanks as the two fighters clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shanks lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A short left from Washburn.
Shanks misses with a hook to the ribs.
Shanks works on Washburn's body with a couple of short punches.
Shanks stops a takedown attempt from Washburn.
Washburn is breathing heavily.
Shanks is working Washburn over against the cage.
Shanks connects with a nasty looking knee right to Washburn's face.

It looks like Hoban Washburn has been cut.
Shanks lands with a short shot to the head.
Shanks lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shanks lands a right hand.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Shanks stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Shanks is looking to control Washburn's arms but Washburn gets an underhook and turns him. Now Shanks has his back to the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Washburn is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Shanks is defending well.
Shanks goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Shanks avoiding damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Shanks dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Hoban Washburn's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Washburn misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Horrible takedown by Washburn or perhaps it was just good defense by Shanks which made him look bad.
Washburn tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shanks sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Washburn somewhat.
Michael Shanks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hoban Washburn.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Shanks lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Shanks gets underhooks to prevent Washburn's takedown attempt.
Shanks prevents the takedown attempt.
Washburn's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Shanks lands a left hand that snaps the head of Washburn backwards.
Washburn is looking for a takedown.
Washburn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shanks gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Washburn.
Shanks misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shanks lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Washburn or not.
Shanks tries to stall but Washburn uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Shanks misses with a hook to the ribs.
Shanks lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Washburn or not.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Shanks creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Shanks lands a nice shot to the body.
Shanks makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Shanks stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Shanks misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shanks lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Washburn.
Shanks lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Shanks lands with a light punch inside.
Shanks taking a breather.
Washburn's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Washburn looking for a takedown.
Shanks gets underhooks to prevent Washburn's takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shanks lands with a short shot to the head.
Shanks digs a right hand into Washburn's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Washburn's gas tank.
Shanks scores with a hook to the body.
Shanks lands a hook that snaps the head of Washburn backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Shanks creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Shanks.

Washburn is rocked!
Knees in the clinch landing for Shanks.
Washburn is still on wobbly legs! Can Shanks finish him?
Nice body punch from Shanks - that landed with a thud.
Washburn seems to have recovered his senses.
Washburn takes an elbow to the temple.
Shanks digs a right hand into Washburn's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Washburn's gas tank.
Shanks is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Shanks landing knees to the body.
Shanks lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Washburn.
A left hand lands to the body for Shanks.
A short body shot lands from Shanks as the two fighters clinch.
Shanks is working Washburn over against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Shanks creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Shanks misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Shanks misses with a hook to the ribs.
Shanks scores with a hook to the body.
A body shot lands from Shanks.
Michael Shanks has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Shanks can't find room to land a body shot as Washburn controls the action.
Washburn managing to block the knees to the body from Shanks.
Shanks is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Washburn can do to turn this around?
Shanks lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Washburn has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Shanks is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Shanks lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Shanks can't find room to land a body shot as Washburn controls the action.
Washburn prevents a body shot from Shanks.
Shanks digs a right hand into Washburn's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Washburn's gas tank.
Washburn is trying to drag Shanks to the mat but Shanks just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shanks tries to throw a body punch but Washburn avoids it by throwing Shanks back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Washburn prevents a body shot from Shanks.
Washburn prevents a body shot from Shanks.
Shanks lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Washburn backwards.
Shanks lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Washburn backwards.
Shanks blocks an uppercut.
Shanks lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Washburn tries to score a body lock takedown but Shanks shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Shanks pushes Washburn back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Shanks works on Washburn's body with a couple of short punches.
Washburn takes a knee to the side of the body.
Shanks struggles to land a body shot inside as Washburn controls his hands.
Shanks lands a hook that snaps the head of Washburn backwards.
Washburn is looking to take this one to the mat.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shanks taking a breather.
Shanks tries to throw a body punch but Washburn avoids it by throwing Shanks back against the cage.
Shanks lands a hook to the side of the head.
Washburn avoiding damage as Shanks throws knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Shanks showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shanks 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Shanks!
Michael Shanks very nearly forgot to thank Hell's Balls Recovery (160) amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.