PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Huell Alabama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shovel Knight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alabama comes to the cage accompanied by Sweet Home Alabama. 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 Shovel Knight was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Alabama
vs
Knight

165 cm
29
140 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

170 cm
22
144 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Huell Alabama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shovel Knight!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Cecil Peabody and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Donk. Knight catches Alabama right on the button with a cross.

Alabama drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Alabama looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Knight regains half guard.
Alabama missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Knight tries to get to full guard but Alabama has control of the leg.
Knight wants to control but Alabama is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Alabama lands strikes from half guard.
Alabama working Knight over with strikes.

Knight actively working from the bottom here.
Alabama missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Alabama working Knight over with strikes.
Knight slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight trying to control the position.
Knight wants to sweep here but Alabama controlling him for the moment.
Knight is adopting a defensive guard.

Knight has his foot on Alabama's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Alabama works his way back into a safe position though.
Alabama throwing strikes but missing.
Alabama won't allow Knight to sweep him here.
Knight working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Alabama.
Alabama trying to control the position from guard on top but Knight is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Alabama avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Knight working a defensive guard here.
Alabama has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Alabama is working Knight over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Knight is trying to keep Alabama in close.
Alabama with a nice head shot there.

Knight has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Alabama can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Knight is trying to keep Alabama in close.
Alabama lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alabama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Knight keeping moving, preventing Alabama from controlling successfully.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Alabama's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Knight is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Alabama is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Alabama is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Knight is trying to control the position but Alabama postures up.
Alabama throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Knight works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Alabama trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Knight avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Knight wants to hit a switch here but Alabama passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Knight there!
Knight regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight wants to control but Alabama is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Knight holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Alabama takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Alabama winds up and cracks Knight with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Knight controlling the position for now.
Knight trying to control here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alabama prevents Knight from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Huell Alabama dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Alabama tries for a takedown but Knight circles away easily
and Knight counters with a nice uppercut.
Knight pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Alabama back to the cage. Knight follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Knight has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Alabama is landing a low percentage of strikes.
A slapping leg kick lands for Knight.
Alabama with a lazy takedown attempt
and Knight counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Alabama on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Alabama looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Knight is fending him off so far but Alabama persists. Nope, Knight circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Huell Alabama. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alabama gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Knight counters with an outside leg kick.
Alabama looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Knight is fending him off so far but Alabama persists. Nope, Knight circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice straight punches there by Knight. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Knight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alabama looks for a takedown but Knight sprawls well.
Knight lands a right hook to the body.
Shovel Knight seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight feints and then cracks Alabama's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Alabama down.

A head kick lands from Knight that sends Alabama to the canvas. Alabama tries to scramble back to his feet but Knight brings him back down into side control.

Alabama is rocked!
Knight has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Knight looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Oh Alabama is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Knight content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Alabama tries to buck Knight off but Knight is having none of it.

Knight is trying to get an arm triangle but Alabama is defending well.
Alabama trying his best to control but Knight has mounted him.

Knight swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Shovel Knight!
During a confident post fight interview, Shovel Knight thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.