PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ralfus Presting (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Shanks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shanks has chosen Dethklok - The Cyborg Slayers as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Michael Shanks was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Presting
vs
Shanks

182 cm
32
180 lbs
21 - 17 - 1

190 cm
36
187 lbs
26 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Cripplers Corner (starting at $25)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Ralfus Presting!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Shanks!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Ian Loll and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Presting closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Shanks to the mat! Shanks manages to get full guard.
Shanks looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Presting thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Presting trying to control the position from guard on top but Shanks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Presting won't allow Shanks to sweep him here.
Shanks working a defensive guard here.
Presting showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Presting slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Presting wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shanks keeps working.

Presting tries for a kimura but Shanks is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Presting tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Shanks tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Presting wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Shanks is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.

Presting is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Shanks knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Shanks prevents Presting from improving position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Presting tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Presting has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Shanks is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Shanks is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Shanks manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Shanks is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Presting looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Shanks wants to free his trapped foot but Presting is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Presting gets back to full guard.
Presting looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shanks is one step ahead there.
Shanks wants to pass the guard but Presting is keeping the position.
Presting can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Shanks controls the pace.
Presting controls Shanks momentarily but Shanks frees himself.
Shanks 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.
Shanks is continuing to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shanks stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Presting swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Presting has his foot on Shanks's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Shanks works his way back into a safe position though.

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

Presting looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Shanks wants to pass the guard but Presting is keeping the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Presting is looking for a triangle but Shanks pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shanks 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralfus Presting dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Shanks takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Presting dives in and scores a takedown into Shanks's guard.
Shanks pulls Presting in close to his closed guard and prevents Presting from doing any damage or advancing position.
Presting slips nicely into half guard.
Presting tries to pass to full mount but Shanks defends it.
Shanks wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Presting seems to be looking for submissions.

Shanks is defending against the submission attempts here by Presting.
Shanks moves into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shanks pulls Presting in close to prevent any damage.
Presting stopping the sweep attempt from Shanks.

Presting drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Presting jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Shanks is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shanks wants to sweep here but Presting controlling him for the moment.
Presting trying to control the position from guard on top but Shanks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Shanks bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Presting's guard.

Presting looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Shanks wants to control from the top but Presting keeps moving.

Presting looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Presting working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Shanks doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Shanks manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Shanks controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shanks wants to pass the guard but Presting is keeping the position.
Presting not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ralfus Presting overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shanks looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Presting is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shanks can do to turn this around?
Shanks's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Shanks looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Presting shoots in but Shanks avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Shanks throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Presting stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Shanks tries to close the distance and clinch up but Presting swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Presting tries to clinch but Shanks moves out of range.
Shanks tries to counter by closing the distance.
Presting looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Shanks is fending him off so far but Presting persists. Nope, Shanks circles away and we're back to standing.
Shanks cracks Presting with a right hand to the side of the head.
Michael Shanks is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Presting doesn't manage to clinch there - Shanks circles away.

Shanks has Presting up against the cage in a clinch.
Presting takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Ralfus Presting has been cut.
Presting is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Shanks is defending well for now.
Shanks managing to block the knees to the body from Presting.
Shanks misses with a body punch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shanks obliges.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shanks is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Presting looking to throw knees to the head but Shanks is blocking nicely.
Presting letting Shanks take a breather here.
Presting missing with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Shanks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ralfus Presting's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Presting fails in his attempt to clinch.
That kick from Shanks tenderised Presting's leg. Presting is trying to keep his angry face on.
Shanks jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Presting changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shanks tries to avoid it but Presting manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shanks to the ground. Shanks escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Shanks throws a body kick that misses.
Presting walks forward, straight into a front kick from Shanks.
Presting shoots in looking for a takedown but Shanks manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Presting's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Shanks fakes the leg kick and cracks Presting in the body.

Presting shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Shanks is trying to defend but Presting finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Shanks is trying to control but can't.

Presting is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Shanks is just riding it out for now. Presting eventually gives up the hold.
Shanks is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shanks makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Shanks.
Presting forces his way into half guard.

Presting is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Shanks is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Presting throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shanks is refusing to be controlled, as Presting sits in half guard.
Presting works his foot free and advances to mount.
Presting cracks Shanks with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

It looks like Michael Shanks has been cut.
Presting trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Presting working for a submission but Shanks is keeping him at bay.
Shanks gets back to half guard.
Presting wants to free his trapped foot but Shanks is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Shanks is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Presting trying to pass the guard but Shanks defending well.
Presting prevents Shanks from improving his position.
Shanks is trying to maintain the position but Presting is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Shanks manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Presting postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Shanks is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Presting, into his guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shanks stays in close to Presting's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Presting has his foot on Shanks's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Shanks works his way back into a safe position though.
Shanks trying to control the position from guard on top but Presting is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Presting working for a triangle but Shanks defends it easily.

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 Ralfus Presting.
I think Presting 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ralfus Presting!
A very excited looking Ralfus Presting made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.