PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam Shank (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Carson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carson is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: strke back. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Shank
vs
Carson

200 cm
22
230 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
230 lbs
1 - 7 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sam Shank!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joe Carson!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Dillan Fox and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shank has managed to clinch.
Carson looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Shank landing knees to the head.

It looks like Joe Carson has been cut.
Carson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Shank throws a punch but it's blocked by Carson.
Carson blocking some punches.
Shank is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Shank breaks from the clinch.
Shank wants to clinch but Carson slips to the side

so Carson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Carson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Shank wants to stand up but Carson is controlling him.
Carson wants to stand and escape but instead Shank has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Carson told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Carson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Shank gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Shank stands and steps away. Carson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Shank tries to clinch there but Carson circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carson throws a head kick that misses.

Shank pushes Carson up against the cage in a clinch.
Shank pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Shank throws a head punch that misses.

Shank's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shank tries to clinch but Carson is having none of it.
Shank tries to clinch but Carson is having none of it.
Sam Shank is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Carson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Shank is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sam Shank has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Carson.

Shank breaks the clinch.

Shank clinches up against the cage.
Carson blocks an elbow strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A short right from Shank.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shank throws a punch but it's blocked by Carson.
A head punch on the inside from Shank fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shank working aggressively here.
Carson wants to break free but Shank has control.

Shank breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shank moves in looking to clinch but Carson pushes him off.

Carson tries to keep at a distance but Shank has taken the fight into the clinch.

Shank's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shank wants to clinch up but Carson keeps it at a distance.
Shank tries to clinch but Carson moves out of range.
Carson swats away the attempt to clinch by Shank.
Shank tries to clinch up.
Shank throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Carson has eaten all the pies!
Shank moves in looking to clinch but Carson pushes him off.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Shank fails with an attempt to clinch.
Shank wants to clinch up but Carson keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carson keeps the fight on the outside.
Carson tries a head kick but it misses.

Shank instigates a clinch.

Shank breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shank is looking to clinch but Carson is avoiding it.

Shank rushes Carson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Shank fails to land.
Carson blocks an uppercut.

Shank pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Shank gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Shank lands a body shot.

Shank escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shank tries to clinch but Carson moves out of range.
Shank is looking to clinch.
Shank fails with an attempt to clinch.

Shank pushes Carson up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Shank dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joe Carson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Shank tries to clinch but Carson moves out of range.
Shank fails in his attempt to clinch.

Shank moves into the clinch.

Shank manages to break the clinch.
Shank tries to clinch there but Carson circles away.
Shank tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Carson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shank tries to clinch but Carson moves out of range.
Shank blocks a head kick by Carson.

Shank pushes Carson up against the cage in a clinch.

Carson breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Shank misses with a punch on the inside.
Shank lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Carson is breathing heavily.
Carson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Shank breaks the clinch.
Shank tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shank is looking to clinch.
Shank fails to land with a series of punches.

Shank moves into the clinch successfully.

Shank breaks from the clinch.

Shank clinches up against the cage.
Shank taking a breather.

Shank breaks from the clinch.
Shank misses with the combination.
Carson on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Shank tries to clinch but Carson moves out of range.

Shank forces Carson back against the cage and clinches.

Shank pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shank scores with a one two! Carson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Shank closes the distance but Carson moves to the side

and Carson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Shank's guard now.
Shank on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Shank tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carson wants to stand but Shank is controlling his posture from full guard.
Carson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Carson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Carson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Shank working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Carson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shank keeping moving, preventing Carson from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Sam Shank just wasn't active enough.
Carson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shank tries to clinch there but Carson circles away.
Shank tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Carson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shank fails with an attempt to clinch.
Carson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shank tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Carson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Shank has taken the fight to the clinch.

Shank manages to break the clinch.
Shank tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Shank clinches up with Carson and pushes him back against the cage.
Shank tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Shank fails to land.
Shank misses with a punch on the inside.

Shank breaks the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shank looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shank tries to clinch up.
Shank moves in looking to clinch but Carson pushes him off.
Carson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sam Shank is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shank tries to clinch up but Carson circles away and keeps his distance.
Shank is looking to clinch.
Shank tries to clinch up but Carson circles away and keeps his distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Carson swats away the attempt to clinch by Shank.

Shank clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shank prevents the takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Shank dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Joe Carson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Shank fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Carson, pushing him back against the cage.
Carson prevents a body shot from Shank.
Carson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Shank is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Shank swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Carson blocking some punches.

Shank breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Carson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Carson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Shank tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Carson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Shank is looking to clinch.
Shank moves in looking to clinch but Carson pushes him off.
Shank is looking to clinch.
Shank tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Carson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Carson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shank looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shank is looking to clinch.
Shank walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Carson checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Carson loads up on a big right hand but Shank slips the punch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shank looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shank misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Shank tries to close the distance and clinch up but Carson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Carson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shank moves in looking to clinch but Carson pushes him off.
Shank is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shank doesn't manage to clinch there - Carson circles away.
Joe Carson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shank keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Shank wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carson on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Carson keeps the fight on the outside.
Carson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shank misses with a series of wild punches.
Sam Shank is winning the standup battle so far.
Shank tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Carson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shank wants to get back to his feet but Carson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Carson trying to control but Shank is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Joe Carson.
Carson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shank tries to clinch but Carson is having none of it.
Shank is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Carson swats away the attempt to clinch by Shank.

Shank has taken the fight to the clinch.
Carson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Shank pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sam Shank has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Carson.
Shank swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shank escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Carson swats away the attempt to clinch by Shank.
Shank tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Carson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shank wants to clinch.

Shank drives through and clinches with Carson against the cage.

Shank breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shank fails with an attempt to clinch.
Carson keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shank looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Carson throws a sloppy head kick and Shank moves out of range easily.
Joe Carson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sam Shank is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shank tries to clinch but Carson moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Shank showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shank, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27

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