PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Icaro Asas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Shanks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shanks has chosen Dethklok - The Cyborg Slayers as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Icaro Asas has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Icaro Asas seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Asas
vs
Shanks

196 cm
36
198 lbs
19 - 18 - 0

190 cm
30
188 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

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 19 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Icaro Asas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Shanks!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Seu Braga and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shanks scores with a spinning back kick!
Asas throws a leg kick but Shanks checks it.
Asas avoids the head kick by Shanks.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Shanks with a knee to the head.
Asas misses with some punches.

Asas manages to pull guard.
Shanks passes Asas's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Asas misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Asas misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Asas is trying to maintain the position but Shanks is very close to passing his half guard.
Asas wants to get back to full guard.
Shanks controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Shanks has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Michael Shanks.
Asas throws a series of punches but Shanks moves out of range.
Asas tries to bum rush Shanks with a series of wild strikes but Shanks uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Michael Shanks is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shanks jabs Asas to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Asas wants to land a leg kick but Shanks is out of range.
Shanks misses with a kick to the body.
Asas on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shanks. Shanks obviously looking to wear him down.
Asas avoids the body shot from Shanks.
Asas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shanks lands a nice leg kick that just misses Asas's sensitive parts.
Asas tries to clinch there but Shanks circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Shanks.
Shanks lands a jab to Asas's midsection.
Shanks lands a leg kick that knocks Asas off balance momentarily.
Shanks fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Asas.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Good shot there by Shanks.
Shanks swats away the attempt to clinch by Asas.
Shanks slaps away a takedown attempt from Asas, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Shanks lands with a shot to the body.
Shanks stuffs the takedown attempt from Asas. Asas gets slowly back to his feet.

Shanks has taken the fight to the clinch.
Asas is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Shanks is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Icaro Asas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shanks pushes Asas back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asas misses with a punch on the inside.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shanks obliges.
Asas is breathing heavily.
Shanks is leaning against Asas and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Shanks lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Shanks is stalling here.
Still in the clinch, Shanks scores with a nice short uppercut.
Shanks effectively controlling the action here.
A right handed body shot lands from Shanks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A hook to the body from Shanks.
A short left from Shanks.
A short right from Shanks.
Shanks lands a left hand that snaps the head of Asas backwards.
Shanks scores with a nice hook to the head.
Shanks lands a shoulder strike.
Shanks lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Asas.
Shanks cracks Asas with a nice body shot.
Shanks scores with a hook to the body.
Nice body punch from Shanks.
Shanks lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Asas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Shanks.
Shanks landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Shanks lands with a right to the head.
Good body shot from Shanks.
Shanks lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shanks working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Shanks lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shanks lands with a light punch inside.
A short body shot lands from Shanks as the two fighters clinch.
Shanks connects with a knee to the head.
A hook to the body from Shanks.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shanks obliges.
Shanks is leaning against Asas and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Shanks landing knees to the head.
Shanks lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shanks lands a body shot in the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shanks lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nice body punch from Shanks.
Shanks lands a body punch.
Shanks lands a shot to the body.
Shanks putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Asas in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Shanks dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Shanks feints and then cracks Asas's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Asas down.
Shanks with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Shanks moves into the clinch.
Shanks has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Shanks lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Nice body punch from Shanks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shanks works on Asas's body with a couple of short punches.
Shanks lands a body punch.
A short uppercut from Shanks.
A right hand to the body from Shanks.
Shanks landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Shanks works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Nice body punch from Shanks.
Shanks scores with a hook to the body.
Michael Shanks seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Shanks unloads a knee to the mid-section. Asas lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Shanks taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shanks throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Asass head.
Shanks stalling against the cage.
Shanks prevents Asas from breaking the clinch.
Shanks dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shanks stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Shanks lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Shanks lands with a short shot to the head.
Shanks works on Asas's body with a couple of short punches.
Shanks lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Shanks.
Asas's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Shanks digs a right hand underneath Asas's ribcage. Asas let out a lung full of air as it connected.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shanks pushes Asas back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Shanks lands a nice shot to the body.
Shanks throws an elbow but it misses.
Asas fails to pull guard.
Shanks lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Asas or not.
Shanks scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Shanks throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Shanks stalling against the cage.
Nice body punch from Shanks - that landed with a thud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shanks presses Asas against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Shanks lands a knee to the body.
Shanks is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Shanks crunches a lovely knee into Asas's ribcage.
Shanks landing knees to the body.
Shanks manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Shanks lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Asas or not.
Shanks connects with a knee to the head.
A right hand to the body from Shanks.
Shanks landing knees to the body.
Shanks scores with a shot to the side of Asas's head.
Shanks scores with a hook to the body.
Asas's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Shanks scores with a knee to the head.
Shanks working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Knees in the clinch landing for Shanks.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Shanks.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shanks obliges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shanks is leaning against Asas and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Shanks makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Shanks slowing the pace effectively.
Shanks using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Shanks lands a left hand.
Shanks scores with a knee to the head.
Shanks lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Shanks lands a right hand that snaps the head of Asas backwards.
Shanks working Asas over with knees to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Shanks.
Shanks connects with a nasty looking knee right to Asas's face.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shanks holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Shanks throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Shanks has Asas pushed against the cage.
Shanks receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Shanks lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shanks managing to block the knees to the body from Asas.
Shanks lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Asas.
Shanks throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Shanks lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Shanks lands a left hand that snaps the head of Asas backwards.
Shanks stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Shanks landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Shanks lands a shot to the body.
Shanks leaning his opponent against the cage.
Shanks lands a body punch in the clinch.
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 lands a body punch in the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Asas is trying to push Shanks away but Shanks has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Asas is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Shanks is defending well.
Shanks crunches a lovely knee into Asas's ribcage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Shanks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Shanks fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Asas, pushing him back against the cage.
Shanks is leaning against Asas and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Shanks pushes Asas back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Shanks connects with a nasty looking knee right to Asas's face.
Shanks lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Shanks.
Shanks lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Shanks is working Asas over against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shanks digs a right hand into Asas's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Asas's gas tank.
Asas's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Shanks working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Asas tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Shanks smiles and moves away.

Shanks instigates a clinch.
Asas takes a shot to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A nice left hand lands by Shanks.
Asas looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shanks digs a right hand into Asas's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Asas's gas tank.
A nice left hand lands by Shanks.
Knees to the body from Shanks.
Shanks lands a shot to the body.
Shanks utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shanks unloads a knee to the mid-section. Asas lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Shanks with a knee to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Shanks.
Shanks throws an elbow but it misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Shanks.
A knee to the head by Shanks.

Asas is rocked!
A body shot lands from Shanks.
Oh Asas is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Shanks lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Asas or not.
Asas seems to have got his legs back now.
Shanks landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Shanks throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Shanks digs a right hand underneath Asas's ribcage. Asas let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Shanks taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shanks obliges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Shanks.
Shanks throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Shanks lands a left hand that snaps the head of Asas backwards.
Shanks with a knee to the head.
Shanks scores a nice knee to the body.
Shanks is leaning against Asas and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Shanks.
Shanks connects with a nasty looking knee right to Asas's face.
Shanks lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Asas.
Asas avoids a wild elbow strike from Shanks.
Asas fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Icaro Asas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shanks crunches a lovely knee into Asas's ribcage.
Shanks throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Asass head.
Shanks landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Shanks pushes off an throws an elbow but Asas leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A short right from Shanks on the inside.
Shanks throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Shanks pushes Asas back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shanks pushes Asas back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Asas's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Shanks lands a shot to the body.
Shanks cracks Asas with a nice body shot.
A right handed body shot lands from Shanks.
A left hand lands to the body for Shanks.
Shanks landing knees to the head.
Shanks lands an uppercut.
Shanks putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Asas in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Shanks crunches a lovely knee into Asas's ribcage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shanks putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Asas in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Shanks lands a body shot.
Shanks lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Shanks lands a body punch.
Shanks dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Shanks with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Asas jumps guard but Shanks turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asas is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Asas is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Shanks to keep the fight standing.
Nice body punch from Shanks.
Stalling in the clinch from Shanks.
Shanks lands a left hand that snaps the head of Asas backwards.
Shanks controlling the action here for a moment.
Shanks lands a nice shot to the body.
Icaro Asas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shanks lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Shanks slows down the pace here.
Asas wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shanks landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Shanks with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Michael Shanks is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Shanks throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Shanks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Shanks has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 25:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 25:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Shanks!
A less than humble Michael Shanks misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.