PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Shanks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Anthony (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shanks comes to the cage accompanied by Dethklok - The Cyborg Slayers. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Shanks
vs
Anthony

190 cm
29
180 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

184 cm
33
189 lbs
23 - 11 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 17 - 7 - 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 23 - 11 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Justin Anthony!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Leandro Rodrigues and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anthony lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shanks circles away quickly and effectively.

Anthony clinches with his opponent.
Anthony managing to block the knees to the body from Shanks.
Shanks works on Anthony's body with a couple of short punches.
Shanks trying to stall but Anthony improves his position.
Shanks tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Anthony prevents a body shot from Shanks.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Anthony as Shanks tries to tie him up.
Anthony misses with the head strike.
Anthony tries to throw a body punch but Shanks avoids it by throwing Anthony back against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Shanks blocks an uppercut.
Shanks lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Shanks lands an uppercut.
Anthony is trying to stall.
Shanks tries to work over Anthony's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Anthony misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Shanks lands a right hand.
Shanks blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anthony's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Anthony taking a breather.
Shanks goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Shanks.
Shanks lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Anthony.
Shanks blocks a body shot from Anthony.
Anthony tries a body shot but Shanks blocks it.
Shanks lands a nice uppercut.
Anthony avoiding damage as Shanks throws knees to the body.
Shanks lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Anthony has a couple of punches blocked by Shanks.
Anthony taking a breather.
Anthony is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Anthony scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Anthony is trying to stall.
Anthony fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Anthony tries a body shot but Shanks blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Shanks as the two fighters clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shanks tries to throw a body punch but Anthony avoids it by throwing Shanks back against the cage.
Shanks presses Anthony against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Shanks misses with a punch to the body.
Still in the clinch, Shanks scores with a nice short uppercut.
Shanks tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Anthony avoids it.
Shanks gets through Anthony's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Shanks content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Anthony taking a breather.
Shanks pressing his opponent against the cage.
Shanks misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Shanks struggles to land a body shot inside as Anthony controls his hands.
Anthony taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shanks putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Anthony in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Anthony.
Anthony takes a shot to the head.
Anthony misses with a punch on the inside.
Anthony misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Shanks lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Shanks throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Shanks struggles to land a body shot inside as Anthony controls his hands.
Anthony blocks a body shot from Shanks.
Anthony is looking to control Shanks's arms but Shanks gets an underhook and turns him. Now Anthony has his back to the cage.
Anthony prevents a body shot from Shanks.
Anthony avoiding damage as Shanks throws knees to the body.
Shanks misses with a body punch.
Anthony's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Shanks misses with a punch to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice body punch from Shanks - that landed with a thud.
Anthony holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Shanks struggles to land a body shot inside as Anthony controls his hands.
Anthony taking a breather.
Shanks putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Anthony in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Anthony looks winded!
Shanks lands a knee to the body.
Shanks lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Anthony misses with a body punch.
Anthony throws a head punch that misses.
Shanks lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Anthony.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Shanks 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.

Nice body punch from Shanks.
Anthony ducks right into an uppercut from Shanks.
Shanks is looking to clinch but Anthony is avoiding it.
Shanks throws a low kick but it's checked well by Anthony.
Nice shot by Shanks.
Shanks misses with a right hand
and Anthony counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Anthony avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shanks lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Shanks bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Anthony's head.
Anthony misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Anthony throws a right and a left that Shanks avoids nicely.
A nice inside leg kick there by Shanks. That's going to slow Anthony down.
Nice shot by Shanks.
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!
Shanks lands a high kick!
Shanks bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anthony ducks right into an uppercut from Shanks.
Anthony throws a series of punches but Shanks moves out of range.
Shanks throws a body punch but Anthony moves out of range.
Shanks lands a jab-cross combination.
Shanks keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Shanks dips to his left and cracks Anthony with an uppercut!

Anthony is rocked!
Shanks comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Anthony is still on wobbly legs! Can Shanks finish him?
Shanks lands a nice shot to the body.
Anthony is breathing heavily.
Shanks throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Anthony seems to have recovered his senses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Anthony throws a leg kick but Shanks sees it coming and moves out of range.
Anthony misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shanks.
Shanks tries to clinch there but Anthony circles away.
Anthony thows a body shot but no joy.
Anthony throws a body punch but Shanks moves out of range.
Shanks fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shanks gets a clinch.
Shanks blocking some punches.
Michael Shanks has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Shanks working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Anthony blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Shanks.
Shanks misses with a hook to the ribs.
Shanks prevents a body shot from Anthony.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Shanks is pushing Anthony up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Shanks tries to throw a body punch but Anthony avoids it by throwing Shanks back against the cage.
Shanks misses with a punch to the body.
Shanks misses with a hook to the ribs.
Shanks is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Shanks tries a body shot but Anthony blocks it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Anthony.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Shanks - that landed with a thud.
Shanks tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A hook to the body from Shanks.
Shanks blocking some punches.
Anthony tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Shanks's elbow.
Shanks tries to work over Anthony's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Anthony doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Anthony blocks a body shot from Shanks.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shanks obliges.
Shanks lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shanks lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Anthony backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shanks with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Anthony misses with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Anthony fails to land.
Shanks is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Anthony can do to turn this around?
Shanks stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Shanks throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Shanks misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Shanks scores with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shanks scores with a hook to the body.
Shanks tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Anthony's elbow.
Shanks misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Shanks with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A right hand to the body from Shanks.
Shanks lands a hook that snaps the head of Anthony backwards.
Shanks trying to land knees to the body.
Shanks displaying some good clinch control by pressing Anthony up against the cage.
Shanks struggles to land a body shot inside as Anthony controls his hands.
Shanks throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Shanks unloads a knee to the mid-section. Anthony lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shanks goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Shanks lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Shanks trying to land knees to the body.
Anthony blocks a body shot from Shanks.
Shanks tries to work over Anthony's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Shanks dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Shanks jabs Anthony to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Shanks tries to clinch there but Anthony circles away.
Shanks scores with a nice head shot.
Anthony tries a head kick but it misses.
The crowd cheers as Shanks lands an impressive looking overhand right. Anthony doesn't seem phased though.
A nice leg kick lands there from Shanks.
Anthony throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shanks lands a really nice looking cross but Anthony seems unphased.
Shanks tries to close the distance and clinch but Anthony swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Shanks. Those never looked like landing.
Anthony throws the left hand but Shanks avoids the punch easily.
Michael Shanks is winning the standup battle so far.
Anthony doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Anthony takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Anthony takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Shanks rushes Anthony and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shanks softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Shanks lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A shot in the inside from Shanks.
A body shot lands from Shanks.
Shanks is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Shanks working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The referee calls for Anthony to work.
Shanks tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Anthony tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Shanks's elbow.
Anthony lands a hook that snaps the head of Shanks backwards.
Shanks lands a shoulder strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Anthony misses with a punch to the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Shanks takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Shanks tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Anthony's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shanks stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Shanks tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Shanks pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Shanks is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Shanks tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Shanks tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Shanks misses with a hook to the ribs.
A nice right hand lands inside from Shanks.
Anthony tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Shanks misses with a knee to the head.
Anthony misses with a hook from the clinch.
Anthony lands a left hand that snaps the head of Shanks backwards.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Anthony tries a body shot but Shanks blocks it.
Anthony is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Shanks is keeping busy.
Shanks scores with a shot to the side of Anthony's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shanks throws a head punch that misses.
Shanks goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Shanks throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Anthonys head.
Shanks makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Shanks with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Shanks pushes Anthony back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shanks lands a hook that snaps the head of Anthony backwards.
Shanks tries to throw a body punch but Anthony avoids it by throwing Shanks back against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Anthony struggles to land a body shot inside as Shanks controls his hands.
Anthony's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Shanks blocks an uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Anthony taking a breather.
Shanks struggles to land a body shot inside as Anthony controls his hands.
Shanks missing with knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shanks obliges.
Shanks is struggling to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Shanks.
Shanks works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Shanks tries a knee to the head but Anthony blocks it.
Shanks effectively controlling the action here.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Shanks for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Shanks can't find room to land a body shot as Anthony controls the action.
Anthony lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Shanks backwards.
A right handed body shot lands from Shanks.
Shanks is struggling to control the position.
Justin Anthony has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shanks lands a right hand.
Michael Shanks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Anthony lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Shanks or not.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Shanks showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Shanks has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Shanks!
Michael Shanks seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.