PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sammie Shelton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cleo McDowell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Shelton
vs
McDowell

163 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sammie Shelton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cleo McDowell!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Dean Styles and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McDowell drives through with a takedown into guard.
Shelton really is a fat lump.
McDowell trying to control the position from guard on top but Shelton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shelton trying to strike off his back.
Shelton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McDowell.
Shelton wants to improve his position but instead McDowell has moved into half guard.
Shelton scores with a few weak punches.

Shelton manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Shelton tries to clinch but McDowell moves away
and McDowell counters with a right hand to the body.

McDowell shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Shelton is trying to defend but McDowell finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shelton strikes from the bottom but McDowell uses the opportunity to move to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shelton is trying to work for a sweep but McDowell has mounted him!
McDowell looking to ground and pound but Shelton is blocking nicely.
Shelton is wriggling around trying to escape.
McDowell throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
McDowell controlling from mount.

McDowell jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Shelton manages to avoid the submission attempt.

McDowell wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Shelton, who protects the arm well.
McDowell in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shelton tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Shelton is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
McDowell not doing much here.
Shelton regains full guard. Nicely done.
McDowell sitting in guard here, content to control.
Shelton 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shelton doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
McDowell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shelton looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but McDowell puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
McDowell is trying to control. Shelton wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
McDowell content to control rather than advance.
Shelton is looking for a sweep. McDowell is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Shelton pushes McDowell off looking to stand but McDowell dives back in and keeps control.
Shelton is breathing heavily.
McDowell is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cleo McDowell has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Shelton fails to land the takedown.

McDowell fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Shelton sprawls well initially but McDowell persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
McDowell trying to mount his opponent but Shelton defends it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with McDowell in particular looking to stall.
McDowell is trying to control the action in half guard but Shelton is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

McDowell stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
A head kick misses from McDowell.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cleo McDowell dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

McDowell gets a takedown into half guard.
McDowell is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Shelton!
McDowell prevents Shelton from getting the reversal.
Shelton gets back to half guard.
Shelton is trying to get back to full guard.
Shelton is working hard here to advance position.
McDowell sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Shelton punching from the bottom.
Shelton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
McDowell wants to take a breather but Shelton is having none of it.

Cleo McDowell has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Shelton has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from McDowell finds it's way round the side to connect with Shelton's head.

McDowell scores with a takedown into Shelton's guard.
McDowell slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

McDowell is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDowell throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McDowell won't allow Shelton to sweep him here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McDowell trying to control the position from guard on top but Shelton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McDowell is stalling in the full guard.
Shelton wants to sweep here but McDowell controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Cleo McDowell wasn't active enough on the ground.
McDowell feints a jab promting Shelton to slip. McDowell then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Shelton slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

McDowell shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Shelton's guard.
McDowell is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Let's hope that McDowell 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.
McDowell postures up in Shelton's guard and throws a big left but Shelton blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cleo McDowell has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
McDowell throws the kick towards the body but Shelton avoids it.
Cleo McDowell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McDowell scores with a jab to the jaw.

It looks like Sammie Shelton has been cut.
Danga de danga de dang - McDowell scores with a four punch combination!
This has been an exciting period of action!
McDowell misses with a head kick.
McDowell takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Shelton fails with an attempt to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

McDowell scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

McDowell has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Shelton is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cleo McDowell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sammie Shelton's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

McDowell shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
McDowell blocks the strikes from Shelton.
Shelton wants to get back to full guard.
McDowell works his foot free and advances to mount.
Shelton wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Shelton covering up well under a barage of strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDowell missing with strikes.

McDowell looking for the choke from the back.
McDowell controlling well, preventing Shelton from escaping the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McDowell doesn't have the hooks in and Shelton manages to turn into his guard.

McDowell has his foot on Shelton's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Shelton works his way back into a safe position though.
Shelton throws a strike but McDowell rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

McDowell drops back looking for a leg! Shelton is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Shelton manages to kick McDowell off! McDowell jumps back into Shelton's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shelton wants to hit a switch here but McDowell passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Shelton there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDowell takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Cleo McDowell has got the better of the ground game so far.
McDowell looking to control but Shelton is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Shelton is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDowell tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

McDowell is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Shelton can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
McDowell controlling the position easily from mount.
Shelton is trying desperately to improve position.
McDowell thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDowell controlling from the full mount.
Shelton working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shelton avoids a series of strikes thrown by McDowell.
McDowell with shots to the head and body - Shelton looks very uncomfortable down there.
Sammie Shelton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cleo McDowell is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Shelton looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

And that's the end of the fight!
Cleo McDowell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McDowell 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cleo McDowell!
Cleo McDowell decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.