PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Allen Cabrera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Shank (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Allen Cabrera has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Cabrera
vs
Shank

203 cm
25
279 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

200 cm
22
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Allen Cabrera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sam Shank!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, William Peck and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shank tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cabrera swivels and escapes.

Shank closes the distance and clinches.
Cabrera is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Cabrera taking a breather.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cabrera.
Shank is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Cabrera is trying to maintain a safe position but Shank gets an underhook and turns Cabrera into the cage.
Shank scores with a nice hook to the head.
Cabrera is trying to break the clinch but Shank is controlling him.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shank.
Shank lands a right hand.
Cabrera is pressed up against the cage. Shank has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Cabrera down to the mat. Cabrera avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Shank pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Shank moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabrera blocks the elbow strike.

Cabrera drags the fight down to the ground.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Shank is in close to Cabrera's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shank wants to stand but Cabrera has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Shank stopping the sweep attempt from Cabrera.
Cabrera keeping moving, preventing Shank from controlling successfully.
Shank throws an elbow that misses. Cabrera uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Shank's guard. Nice move by Cabrera!
Cabrera missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Cabrera stands up from Shank's guard - Cabrera perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shank.
Allen Cabrera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Shank.
Nice sprawl there from Cabrera as Shank shoots in.
Shank shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cabrera but Cabrera pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Shank moves into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shank.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shank is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Cabrera is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Cabrera manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shank wants to get up but he can't break Cabrera's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Shank must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Shank preventing the sweep.
Cabrera keeping moving, preventing Shank from controlling successfully.
Shank preventing the sweep.
Shank wanted to stand there but Cabrera had control of the position.
Shank postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shank won't allow Cabrera to sweep him here.
Shank throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Cabrera bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Shank's guard.
Cabrera lands a couple of digs.

Cabrera stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shank shoots in looking for a takedown but Cabrera manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Shank's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Cabrera gets a clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Cabrera.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cabrera seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Cabrera tries to circle away but Shank has him pinned against the cage.
Shank tries for a takedown. No joy.
Cabrera takes a shot to the head.

Cabrera breaks the clinch.

Cabrera gets tackled into the cage by Shank. Shank maintains the clinch.
Shank tries to work over Cabrera's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shank misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cabrera wants to stall.
Shank misses with the head strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sam Shank will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shank closes the distance and pushes Cabrera back into the cage.

Cabrera has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Shank uses from the top position.
Shank throwing strikes from guard but Cabrera blocks nicely.
Shank with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Shank really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cabrera. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cabrera 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.
Cabrera utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cabrera has momentary wrist control but Shank slips an elbow through the middle.
Cabrera keeping full guard, as Shank tries to pass.
Shank would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Shank looking to sit in guard and control but Cabrera gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabrera throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cabrera prevents Shank from getting back to his feet.

Shank is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Shank is looking to take this one to the mat.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Shank. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Shank creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Cabrera trying to stall but Shank improves his position.
Stalling in the clinch from Cabrera.
Shank misses with the head strike.
Cabrera avoids the elbow strike from Shank, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera blocks an elbow strike.
Shank throws a head punch that misses.
Shank is trying to stall.

Shank breaks from the clinch.

Shank moves into the clinch successfully.
Cabrera is looking to control Shank's arms but Shank gets an underhook and turns him. Now Cabrera has his back to the cage.
Shank misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cabrera is stalling here.

Cabrera breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cabrera tries to clinch but Shank moves out of range.

Shank has Cabrera up against the cage in a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cabrera wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shank manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cabrera looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shank fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shank with a poor takedown
and Cabrera counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Allen Cabrera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Shank.
Shank is breathing heavily.
Nice sprawl there from Cabrera as Shank shoots in.
Cabrera tries to clinch up but Shank circles away and keeps his distance.

Shank forces Cabrera back against the cage and clinches.

Cabrera pulls guard successfully.
Shank wants to stand but Cabrera is controlling his posture from full guard.
Cabrera lands an upkick as Shank stands over him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Shank wants to control from the top but Cabrera keeps moving.
Shank stopping the sweep attempt from Cabrera.

Cabrera kicks Shank off and gets to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shank dives in for a single leg takedown but Cabrera sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Cabrera's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shank looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cabrera is fending him off so far but Shank persists. Nope, Cabrera circles away and we're back to standing.

Cabrera instigates a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shank.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sam Shank will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Shank has a takedown stuffed.
Cabrera tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Shank instigates a clinch.

Shank gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Shank is working for a kimura but Cabrera is defending it quite comfortably.
Cabrera slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Shank takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shank scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Shank won't allow Cabrera to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabrera striking off his back.
Cabrera wants to sweep but no luck.
Cabrera is controlling Shank's posture.
Shank in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cabrera throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Shank lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Shank won't allow Cabrera to sweep him here.
Shank has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cabrera is proving hard to escape from.
Shank chips away with some ground and pound.
Cabrera throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Shank postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shank throws a strike but Cabrera rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Cabrera is looking to stand up but Shank won't let him.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Shank can do anything to dispel that myth.
Shank wants to stand and escape but Cabrera is having none of it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Cabrera stands and steps away. Shank gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Shank avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Allen Cabrera is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shank throws a head kick that misses
and Cabrera counters with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera tries to clinch but Shank is having none of it.
Shank throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cabrera's waist but Cabrera gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Shank off to one side.

Cabrera closes the distance and clinches.
Cabrera taking a breather.
Shank misses with a short punch on the inside.
Shank wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cabrera has him pressed against the cage.

Cabrera manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Shank with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cabrera keeping moving, preventing Shank from controlling successfully.
Shank missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Shank in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shank wants to stand and escape but instead Cabrera has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Shank wants to stand and escape but Cabrera is having none of it.
Cabrera trying to control the position from guard on top but Shank is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shank is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cabrera sitting in guard, not really doing much.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Shank has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Cabrera has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sam Shank.
Well Shank 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Shank!