PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Shanks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Holden James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shanks comes to the cage accompanied by Dethklok - The Cyborg Slayers. James has chosen Aerials as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shanks
vs
James

190 cm
31
188 lbs
22 - 10 - 0

178 cm
34
184 lbs
25 - 16 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 22 - 10 - 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 25 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Holden James!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Thiago Cunha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shanks misses with a low kick.
Good exchange - James coming out on top.
Shanks throws a body kick that misses.
Shanks misses with a body shot.
James scores with a sloppy right hand. Shanks should have avoided that one.
James scores with a nice body kick.
A head kick misses from James.
James throws a lazy right hand but Shanks sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Shanks tries to move into range but James moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

It looks like Michael Shanks has been cut.
Shanks cracks James with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
This has been an exciting period of action!
James moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Shanks on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Shanks with a jab.
Shanks misses with a series of wild punches.
Shanks tries to clinch there but James circles away.
Shanks lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
James throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Shanks avoids a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shanks throws a right hand that misses
and James makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Shanks really felt that one!
An inside leg kick from James misses.
No joy there for Shanks, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
James moves out of range of the body kick.
James tries to bum rush Shanks with a series of wild strikes but Shanks uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
James throws the left hand but Shanks avoids the punch easily.
Crunch! Shanks slams his shin into James's torso.
James dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A jab from Shanks finds it's way through James's defenses.
James staying out of range there.
A slapping leg kick lands for James.
James looks to throw the jab but Shanks is out of range.
James throws a left and a right that both miss
and Shanks counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Shanks looks to throw the jab but James is out of range.
Shanks connects with a body shot that sends James's belly button to the back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shanks defending well as James loads up on a big left hand.
Shanks fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Shanks slips a straight right by James.
Shanks is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Shanks takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice uppercut lands for James. That snapped Shanks's head back.
A slapping leg kick lands for James.
A jab lands there for James.
Nice body kick from Shanks.
James throws out a loose jab but Shanks uses good head movement to avoid it.
James missing with a left hand there. Shanks was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Shanks fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt James.
James connects with the punch.
A big right from James misses.
A jab lands there for James.
James uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Shanks.
Shanks connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Shanks staying out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Shanks scores with a hook to the body. James takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Shanks is looking to clinch.
James ducks under a wild hook from Shanks.

Shanks moves into the clinch.
James misses with a punch to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Shanks.
Shanks misses with a short punch on the inside.

James's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
James on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
James lands a nice hook to Shanks's body. Shanks takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
James pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Shanks throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
James throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Shanks throws a head kick that misses.
Shanks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shanks fakes high and swings low for a body shot but James manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shanks is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
James thows a leg kick but Shanks checks it
and Shanks counters with a nice low kick that buckles James's knee momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shanks throws a head kick that James semi-blocks.
Shanks tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
James blocks the body kick.
James throws a hook to the side of Shanks's head but Shanks sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shanks tries to clinch there but James circles away.
Shanks will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Shanks.
Shanks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nice body kick from Shanks.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Shanks checks a leg kick.
Good work by James as he checks the leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Holden James will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Michael Shanks's cut.
That's time! Shanks's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Shanks connects with a looping right hand.
James scores with a hook to the body. Shanks takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Nice body kick from James.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Shanks.
James cracks Shanks with an open hand slap.
James has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
James fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Shanks checks it well.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts James, as that shot connected.
Shanks cracks the inside of James's front leg.
Shanks on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by James. James obviously looking to wear him down.
James fails to land with a series of punches.
James throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Shanks pushes James up against the cage in a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shanks misses with the head strike.
Shanks tried to land a shot to the body but connects with James's elbow.

James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shanks tries to clinch but James moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shanks moves into the clinch successfully.
Shanks tries to throw a body punch but James avoids it by throwing Shanks back against the cage.
James blocks a body shot from Shanks.
James can't break the clinch.
James lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Shanks or not.
Shanks tried to land a shot to the body but connects with James's elbow.
Shanks goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Shanks lands a body shot.
Shanks working some nice short punches in the clinch.
James tries to break free but Shanks pushes him back against the cage.
Shanks tried to land a shot to the body but connects with James's elbow.
James tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Shanks's elbow.
James is trying to break free.
Shanks tries to stall but James uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Shanks stalling against the cage.
Shanks tries a knee to the head but James blocks it.
Shanks lands a nice knee to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Shanks has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shanks lands a nice shot to the body.
Shanks misses with a hook to the ribs.
Shanks lands an uppercut.
James blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Shanks lands a body punch in the clinch.
Shanks tried to land a shot to the body but connects with James's elbow.
James wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Michael Shanks has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Shanks misses with a shot to the kidneys.
James is trying to push Shanks away but Shanks has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A short right from Shanks.
James has had enough of the clinch but Shanks keeps him there for the moment.
James wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
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 knee to the body.
Shanks struggles to land a body shot inside as James controls his hands.
James wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Shanks keeps the fight in the clinch, despite James's efforts to push away.
A nice left hand lands by Shanks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shanks unloads a knee to the mid-section. James lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Shanks has James pressed against the cage, preventing James from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
James wants to get back to striking at distance but Shanks won't allow it.
Shanks misses with a punch to the body.
A frustrated look appears on James's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Our sources have told us that Shanks has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Shanks scores with a hook to the body.
Shanks lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt James or not.
James is breathing heavily.
Shanks scores with a shot to the side of James's head.
Shanks keeps the fight in the clinch, despite James's efforts to push away.

James breaks from the clinch.
James throws a leg kick but Shanks sees it coming and moves out of range.
James connects with a high kick.
James connects with a jab.
James avoids a kick to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James throws the left hand but Shanks avoids the punch easily.
A decent looking cross lands there for Shanks.
Shanks throws a nice looking combination but James bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Shanks.
Shanks looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Shanks ducks down and throws a hook to the body but James moves away.
Shanks looks to land a left hand but James moved out of range nicely.
James throws an overhand right that lands on Shanks's shoulder, as Shanks tries to avoid the shot.
James misses with a body shot.
Holden James seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Shanks blocks a low kick nicely.
James gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Shanks.
A jab from James misses.
Jab by Shanks.
Jab by Shanks.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
James tries to bum rush Shanks with a series of wild strikes but Shanks uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
James misses with a wild body shot.
Shanks dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice defenses there by James.
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 Michael Shanks's cut.
That's time! Shanks's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Shanks tries to land a leg kick but James saw it coming and moves away.
James throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Shanks.
James loads up on a big right hand but Shanks slips the punch.
James throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A nice inside leg kick there by Shanks. That's going to slow James down.
James throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Shanks sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Shanks pushes James away with a front kick.
Shanks swinging wildly here.
A swing and a miss from James.
Shanks takes a swing at James's ribcage but misses.
Shanks slips under a jab from James.
Shanks scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
A jab from Shanks finds it's way through James's defenses.
Shanks tries to move into range but James moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
James is looking to score with low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Shanks darts in trying to clinch
and James counters with a head kick.
Shanks clobbers James with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Shanks throws a body punch but James moves out of range.
Shanks just misses with a punch to the body.
James misses with a head kick.
James takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A clash of legs there as Shanks blocks the low kick.
Shanks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shanks checks a leg kick.
Shanks misses with a jab, cross combination.
James checks a leg kick.
Shanks misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shanks connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
James misses the jab.
Shanks misses with a wild body shot.
Shanks slips under a jab.
James throws a head kick but Shanks moves out of range.
James feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Shankss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shanks misses with a kick to the body.
Nice cross by James.
Shanks misses with a double jab.
Shanks attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
James chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Some wild striking there from Shanks.
James misses with a low kick.
James misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James moves out of range of the body kick.
James avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Shanks fakes high and swings low for a body shot but James manages to avoid it.
Shanks looks to land a body kick but James moved away.
James tests Shanks's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Shanks slips a jab from James.
A big left from James misses.
Nice body kick there by Shanks.
Shanks misses with a low kick.
Shanks blocks the body kick.
James goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Shanks throws a looping overhand right but James ducks down to avoid it.
James misses with a head kick.
Shanks misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from James.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James takes a swing at Shanks's ribcage but misses.
James throws a head kick but Shanks moves out of range.
Shanks pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Shanks.
James throws a nice looking combination but Shanks bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
James throws a body punch but Shanks moves out of range.
James throws a leg kick but Shanks moved away.
Shanks tries to clinch but James moves out of range.
Shanks with a nice cross.
James slips a jab from Shanks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shanks throws a nice outside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shanks lands a leg kick that knocks James off balance momentarily.
Shanks wants to slow James down by chopping away at his legs.
James chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Shanks can pounce on him.

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 Michael Shanks.
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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Michael Shanks!
Michael Shanks thanked the fans post fight for their support.