PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James May (ranked 4749 p4p, 503 weight class) and Shane Tull (ranked 4517 p4p, 482 weight class). Shane Tull acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

May
vs
Tull

180 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

181 cm
24
192 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of London, James May!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Shane Tull!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Ryoma Takatsuka and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

May shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Tull napping and manages to drive through into side control!

May tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no May has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Tull tries to bench press May off him but May keeps the position.
May tries to score with some ground and pound. Tull controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Tull wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Tull is looking for a sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
May working away.
Tull gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Tull is squirming around, avoiding May's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.

May stands up from mount. Strange move.

May drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Tull tries to bench press May off him but May keeps the position.
Tull is working to avoid the ground and pound but May connects with a decent elbow.
Tull manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
May moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
May is trying to control the position but Tull postures up.
Tull slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
May 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tull wanted to stand there but May had control of the position.
May keeping moving, preventing Tull from controlling successfully.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tull wants to pass the guard but May is keeping the position.

May working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tull doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tull manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tull preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

May has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tull can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Tull showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
May manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tull manages to get himself to full guard.

May drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Tull manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now May has Tull in his guard.

May looking for a sweep. Not yet May, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
May wants to control but Tull passes easily into half guard.
Tull is thwarting May's attempts to control the position.
Tull takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

May looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
May has hold of Tull's hands but Tull slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Tull is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, May has managed to free his arm - good work.
May is trying to maintain the position but Tull is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that James May will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Tull throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent May stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

May tries to sprawl but Tull drives through with a takedown into half guard.
We've been informed that Tull has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
May wants to improve his position but Tull is controlling well.

May looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
May gets back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

May throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Tull escapes and throws May's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Tull trying to control the position but May is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
May sneaks back into half guard.
Tull is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
May is looking for a sweep. Tull is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
May is staying active underneath Tull, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

May looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
May keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are battling for position here. May manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Tull trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tull won't allow May to sweep him here.
Tull trying to control but May is working from the bottom.
May is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
May keeping full guard, as Tull tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tull throws a head kick but May moves out of range.
It looked like May was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Nice sprawl there from Tull as May shoots in.
Tull throws a counter combo.

Tull closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Tull wants to stand but May is controlling his arm.
Tull cracks May with a big right hand but May just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
May is looking for a sweep.
Tull trying to control the action but May is working from the bottom.
Tull wants to stand but May has his arm trapped.
Tull trying to control the position but May is working away.
Tull tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
May sneaks back into half guard.

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.
Tull thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Tull lands strikes from half guard.
May moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Tull missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tull is looking to stand up but May won't let him.
May is trying to control the position but Tull postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

May looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tull pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. May is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Tull showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Tull closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. May quickly recovers to half guard.

May is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tull pulls his head out easily.
Tull is looking to take a break and control but May is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
May avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tull.
Shane Tull has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tull trying to control the action but May is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tull wants to get back to his feet.
Tull seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but May does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like Tull is going to stand back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Tull is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

May shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Tull tries to kick May off in order to stand up. May Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

May looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tull is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
May controlling from side mount.
Tull tries to improve position but can't.
May wants to control but Tull is keeping him busy.
Tull is looking to regain half guard here but May keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tull prevents May from moving into mount.

May goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Tull rolls with the submission and now he's on top in May's guard! Nice work there by Tull!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tull trying to control but May is working from the bottom.

May is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tull pushing down on May's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Tull wants to take a breather but May is having none of it.
Tull stalling away here and it's allowed May to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tull trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Tull content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because May has locked up a guillotine! May's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Tull is holding on here and May must be using up a lot of energy. Tull has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! May gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). James May!