PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jon Monroe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Shagger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Monroe might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to A Country Boy Can Survive. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Monroe
vs
Shagger

175 cm
25
174 lbs
12 - 7 - 1

180 cm
23
181 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $140

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 12 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jon Monroe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Craig Shagger!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Gregory Folan and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Monroe pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Monroe goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Shagger changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Shagger steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Monroe.
Monroe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice defenses there by Shagger.
Shagger uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Monroe.
Monroe doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Monroe looks to land a right hand but Shagger moved out of range.
Good exchange - Shagger coming out on top.
Shagger throws a head kick that Monroe semi-blocks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shagger throws a body punch but Monroe moves out of range.
Shagger lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Shagger throws a body punch but Monroe moves out of range.
Monroe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shagger manages to avoid it.
Shagger swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Monroe misses with an uppercut. Shagger saw that one coming.
Shagger is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Monroe rather than just go for the knockout.
Monroe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Shagger steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Monroe.
Monroe connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Monroe takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Shagger just misses with a punch to the body.
Shagger slips under a jab from Monroe.
Shagger tried to score with a low kick but Monroe checks it.
Monroe throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Shagger swats away the attempt to clinch by Monroe.
Shagger throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shagger tries to land a leg kick but Monroe saw it coming and moves away.
Shagger takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shagger throws a jab when Monroe was well out of range.
Shagger lands a nice looking body kick.
Shagger fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Shagger misses the target.
Monroe misses with a looping left.
Monroe just misses with a punch to the body.
Shagger cracks a nice hook into Monroe's ribs.
Shagger misses with a leg kick
and Monroe connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Monroe misses with a hook.
Monroe paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Monroe scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Monroe misses with a straight left.
Monroe lands with an uppercut that bounces Shagger off the cage and back into range.
Shagger keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Monroe.
Shagger throws the kick towards the body but Monroe avoids it.
Shagger throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A jab from Monroe finds it's way through Shagger's defenses.
Monroe throws a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Shagger.
Jon Monroe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Monroe looks to throw the jab but Shagger is out of range.
Monroe takes a swing at Shagger's ribcage but misses.
Monroe throws a body punch but Shagger moves out of range.
Shagger ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Monroe moves away.
Shagger defending well as Monroe loads up on a big left hand.
Monroe lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Shagger bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Shagger on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A slow jab from Shagger misses its intended target.
Monroe slips a straight right by Shagger.
Shagger throws an overhand right that lands on Monroe's shoulder, as Monroe tries to avoid the shot.
A cross from Monroe lands.
Monroe misses with a straight right.
An inside leg kick from Shagger misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Monroe throws a series of punches but Shagger avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shagger. Monroe does a little dance to reset his feet.
Monroe is looking to clinch.
Shagger misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Monroe.
Monroe digs a good body shot into Shagger's ribs.
Shagger misses with a head kick.
Monroe misses with a body shot.
Shagger keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Monroe.
Monroe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shagger manages to avoid it.
Monroe misses the jab.
Shagger blocks a jab.
Monroe throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nice uppercut there from Monroe.
Shagger throws a low kick, looking for Monroe's leg but Monroe calmly moves out of range.
Monroe throws a big shot that misses.
Monroe moves out of range of the body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Monroe dominated that round.
That's time! Monroe's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Shagger buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Shagger lands a jab.
Monroe moves out of range of the body kick.
Monroe misses with a looping right.
Shagger moves away from the strike by Monroe.
Good exchange - Shagger coming out on top.
Monroe displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Shagger throws out the jab.
Monroe scores with a nice head shot.
Shagger blocks a leg kick.
Shagger lands a head shot.
Monroe moves out of range of the body kick from Shagger.
Monroe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shagger was well out of range. Poor timing from Monroe.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shagger swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Monroe.
Monroe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shagger.
Shagger misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shagger just misses with a punch to the body.
Shagger drops his hands momentarily and Monroe takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Monroe attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Monroe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Monroe connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Monroe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shagger was well out of range. Poor timing from Monroe.
Shagger throws a hook but Monroe avoids it easily.
Shagger throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A slapping body kick lands there for Shagger.
A solid leg kick lands there for Shagger.
Shagger cracks Monroe with a good jab.
Monroe lands a jab to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shagger keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Monroe lands with a nice body punch.
Shagger lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monroe gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Shagger counters with a nice body shot.
Shagger slips a straight right by Monroe.
Shagger pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Monroe back to the cage. Shagger follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Monroe moves out of range as Shagger throws a body kick.
Monroe throws a nice outside leg kick.
Monroe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Shagger throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Monroe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shagger manages to avoid it.
Shagger lands a nice looking body shot.
Shagger lands with a thumping leg kick.
Shagger swinging wildly here.
Jon Monroe is winning the standup battle so far.
Monroe throws a jab when Shagger was well out of range.
A clash of legs there as Monroe blocks the low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Monroe walks forward, straight into a front kick from Shagger.
Monroe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shagger moves away.
A jab from Monroe misses.
Monroe tries to clinch but Shagger is having none of it.
Nice defenses there by Monroe.
Shagger throws a half hearted mid kick.
Shagger will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Monroe bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Shagger's head.
Shagger with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Monroe to score with a decent uppercut.
Monroe lands with a right hand.
Shagger misses with a double jab.
Shagger gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Monroe.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shagger scores with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shagger misses the jab.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Shagger does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Monroe rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Shagger counters with a straight right hand.

Monroe clinches with his opponent.

Monroe manages to break the clinch.
Monroe avoids the body shot from Shagger.
Shagger misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Monroe.
Monroe feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Shagger's calf.
Monroe throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Monroe tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Monroe lands a jab to the nose.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Monroe loads up on a big right hand but Shagger slips the punch.
Shagger takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Shagger walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
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 Jon Monroe will probably get the nod.
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!

Monroe dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The fighters circling - Monroe throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A head kick by Shagger misses
and Monroe counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Monroe misses with an uppercut. Shagger saw that one coming.
Shagger has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Monroe swings for the body but Shagger moves out of range.
Shagger throws a lazy head kick
and Monroe connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Shagger just misses with a punch to the body.
Shagger misses with a wild body shot.
Monroe cracks Shagger with an open hand slap.
Shagger connects with the punch.
Shagger throws a wild body kick that Monroe sees coming a mile off.
Shagger moves out of range of the strikes.
Monroe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Monroe cracks Shagger with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shagger avoids the body shot from Monroe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shagger tries a head kick but it misses.
Shagger steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Monroe.
Shagger connects with a leg kick. Monroe looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Monroe throws a poor cross that misses
and Shagger counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Shagger takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Shagger tries to land a front kick but Monroe steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Monroe on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Shagger avoids the body shot from Monroe.
Monroe takes a swing at Shagger's ribcage but misses.
Monroe looks to land a left hand but Shagger moved out of range nicely.
Shagger connects with an inside leg kick.
Shagger tries to land a front kick but Monroe steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Nice body kick from Shagger.
Monroe catches Shagger with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Monroe paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Shagger connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Shagger moves out of range as Monroe strikes.
Monroe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shagger moves away.
Monroe scores with a nice right hand.
Monroe thuds a left hand into Shagger's body.
Monroe looks to score with a jab to the body but Shagger is just out of range.
Monroe uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Shagger.

Monroe forces Shagger back against the cage and clinches.
Shagger prevents Monroe from breaking the clinch.
Shagger keeps control of Monroe as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Monroe has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Monroe wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Shagger has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Monroe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Monroe scores with a shot to the body.

Monroe moves into range and clinches up with Shagger.

Monroe escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Monroe takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Shagger throws a nice head kick!
Shagger throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Monroe stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Shagger scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Monroe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shagger moves away.
Shagger lands a nice leg kick that just misses Monroe's sensitive parts.
Shagger lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Craig Shagger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Monroe misses with a straight right.
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!
Nice uppercut lands for Monroe. That snapped Shagger's head back.
Shagger connects with a body shot that sends Monroe's belly button to the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shagger drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
An inside leg kick lands from Shagger.
Monroe is looking to clinch.
Monroe lands with a straight right. Shagger didn't see that one coming.
Shagger throws a looping overhand right but Monroe ducks down to avoid it.
Monroe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shagger manages to avoid it.
Monroe displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Shagger throws out the jab.
Shagger tries a low kick but Monroe avoids it.
A head kick by Monroe misses
and Shagger counters with a body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shagger ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Monroe moves away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Monroe fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Shagger walks into a jab.
Jon Monroe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shagger jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jon Monroe.
Well Monroe 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jon Monroe!
During a confident post fight interview, Jon Monroe thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.