PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sammie Shelton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Curtis Harold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sammie Shelton has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Shelton
vs
Harold

163 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 2 - 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, Curtis Harold!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Reed Andrews and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shelton gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Harold to score an easy takedown into full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Shelton wants to hit a switch here but Harold passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Shelton there!
Harold tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Harold lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Harold dominating with strikes here.
Harold is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Harold controlling his opponent.
Let's hope that Harold 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shelton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Curtis Harold.

Harold clinches with his opponent.

Harold pulls guard successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harold has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Shelton could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Harold is on top in guard.

Harold avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Harold passes Shelton's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Still in half guard, Harold seems content to control.
Shelton is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harold looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Harold is looking for a kimura but Shelton is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Harold to get the leverage.
Harold is controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shelton is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Well, if Harold is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Harold wants to stand up but Shelton is controlling the position.
Harold looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Curtis Harold hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Harold tries to keep at a distance but Shelton has taken the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Curtis Harold dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Harold closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Shelton quickly recovers to half guard.
Harold wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shelton tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Harold working the head and body with strikes.
Shelton is looking for a sweep. Harold is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Harold is working for a kimura but Shelton is defending it quite comfortably.
Harold performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shelton tries to kick Harold off but Harold keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Shelton on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Harold slows the pace down in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Curtis Harold was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Shelton wants to clinch but Harold slips to the side

and Harold counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Shelton tries to pull guard but Harold won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harold jumps guard.
Harold has control of Shelton's left arm, preventing Shelton from doing any damage.
Harold is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Harold lands strikes from half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice strikes from Harold there.

Harold is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Harold controlling the action here.
Shelton taking some punishment here, with Harold in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harold controlling the pace.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Harold is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Shelton doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Harold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Harold decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Shelton fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Harold sprawls well initially but Shelton persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Harold desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Harold is trying to stand up here but Shelton is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Curtis Harold showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Harold keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Harold drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Harold advances to mount.
Harold controlling the pace for now.
Harold has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Shelton is looking to get to half guard.
Curtis Harold has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harold working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Harold in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Shelton tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Harold manages to capitalize on a mistake by Shelton to take his back!

Harold is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Shelton has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Shelton knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Harold on the ground.
Harold keeps control of the position easily here as Shelton tries to buck him off.
I really don't envy Shelton right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Harold is trying to stick to Shelton's back but Shelton is turning into Harold. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Harold's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Shelton.
Harold has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shelton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Harold pulls Shelton in close to his closed guard and prevents Shelton from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Curtis Harold.

Shelton tries to sprawl but Harold drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Harold lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Harold not doing much here.
Harold is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Harold seems content to control.
Shelton tries to get to full guard but Harold has control of the leg.
Harold not doing much here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Curtis Harold wasn't active enough on the ground.
Shelton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Harold paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Curtis Harold is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Harold shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Shelton is trying to defend but Harold finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Sammie Shelton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Curtis Harold is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Harold takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Curtis Harold comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Harold 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Curtis Harold!