PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kraig Macias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyrus Shakur (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Macias
vs
Shakur

193 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kraig Macias!
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, Tyrus Shakur!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Alyssa Summers and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shakur gets a double leg takedown into Macias's guard.
Macias seems keen to control Shakur's posture.
Shakur stopping the sweep attempt from Macias.
Macias is working hard here to advance position.
Macias has his hands on Shakur's head, controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shakur with a nice head shot there.
Macias utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shakur looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shakur throwing strikes but missing.
Macias lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Shakur working for a triangle but Macias defends it easily.
Macias really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Macias looking to sit in guard and control but Shakur gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Macias controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macias is trying to keep Shakur in close.
Macias seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Shakur won't allow Macias to sweep him here.
Macias seems keen to control Shakur's posture.
Macias keeping moving, preventing Shakur from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shakur stands and throws Macias's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Shakur wants to stand but Macias has his arm trapped.
Macias can't do much from the bottom here.
Shakur throws an elbow but Macias slips to the side and avoids it well.
Macias is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Shakur trying to control the position but Macias is working away.

That's four 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.
Macias wants to control but Shakur postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Shakur closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Macias to the mat! Macias manages to get full guard.
Macias is looking to sweep but instead, Shakur has passed into half guard.
Shakur looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Macias is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyrus Shakur dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Shakur clinches.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Macias takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Macias's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Macias wants to clinch up but Shakur keeps it at a distance.
Shakur steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.

Shakur drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tyrus Shakur has got the better of the ground game so far.
Macias looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Macias trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shakur wants to control from the top but Macias keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shakur preventing the sweep.
Shakur trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Macias bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Shakur's guard.

Shakur has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Macias working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Shakur's head.
Macias would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Shakur working for submissions but it's allowed Macias to get to half guard.
Macias misses with a head shot. Shakur uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macias looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Shakur striking off his back but it's not causing Macias any problems.
Macias has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Shakur is proving hard to escape from.
Macias's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Macias postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Macias gets to his feet - Shakur follows without any prompting.

Shakur closes the distance and pushes Macias back into the cage.

Shakur pulls guard.
Shakur trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Macias wants to get up but he can't break Shakur's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Shakur trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Macias trying to control the position from guard on top but Shakur is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Macias postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Macias trying to control the position from guard on top but Shakur is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Macias throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shakur clinches up against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Macias.

Macias breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Shakur throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Macias tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Shakur is in Macias's guard.
Shakur is breathing heavily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Macias is on top in guard.

Shakur not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Macias pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shakur is keeping the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Macias trying to control but Shakur is working from the bottom.
Macias prevents Shakur from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tyrus Shakur will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Macias fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Shakur sprawls well initially but Macias persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Shakur looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Macias wants to control but Shakur is keeping him busy.
Macias seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Shakur is looking to get back to is feet but Macias passes into side control.
Shakur taking punishment in the form of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Macias connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Shakur some visible discomfort.
Macias scoring with punches from side control.
Check out the look on Macias's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Macias controlling the position from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macias wants to control for a moment but Shakur uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Macias slows the pace down in half guard.
Shakur is looking for a sweep. Macias is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Macias decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Shakur tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Shakur clinches up against the cage.

Shakur pulls guard.
Macias is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Shakur is trying to keep Macias in close.
Macias connects with a couple of short punches.
Macias is in close to Shakur's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Macias sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Macias won't allow Shakur to sweep him here.
Shakur takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Macias is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Shakur is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Macias throwing strikes but missing.
Macias won't allow Shakur to get back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The fight stays on the outside here - Macias looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Shakur closes the distance and pushes Macias back into the cage.
Shakur stalling the fight.

Macias breaks from the clinch.

Macias drives through and clinches with Shakur against the cage.
Macias is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Shakur is keeping busy.
Macias fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Macias has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Shakur clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Shakur trying to control but not successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Macias doesn't have the hooks in and Shakur manages to turn into his guard.

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 Kraig Macias.
I think Shakur has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyrus Shakur!