PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jake Smith (ranked 5310 p4p, 3728 weight class) and Biggie Shackleton (ranked 514 p4p, 400 weight class). Jake Smith has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Smith
vs
Shackleton

176 cm
20
155
4 - 3 - 0

170 cm
23
156
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jake Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Biggie Shackleton!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Patrick Alders and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shackleton manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Smith on his heels. He'll look to pass Smith's guard now, I'm sure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Shackleton is controlling him.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Smith pushes Shackleton off and scrambles back to his feet.
Shackleton fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Smith digs a good body shot into Shackleton's ribs.

Smith scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Shackleton has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shackleton taking some punishment here, with Smith in his half guard.
Smith working Shackleton over with strikes.
Smith trying to control the pace.
Smith seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Shackleton for as long as he can get away with.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Smith seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shackleton tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
Shackleton is trying to control but can't.
Shackleton tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
Smith 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.
Smith is controlling the pace.
Shackleton taking some punishment here, with Smith in his half guard.
Smith trying to pass the guard but Shackleton defending well.
Shackleton wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.
Shackleton trying to control but Smith postures up.
Shackleton has hold of Smith's hands but Smith slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
We've been hearing good reports from Smith's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Smith connects with a nice short shot to Shackleton's temple.
Smith is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Shackleton is staying active underneath Smith, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Smith perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Smith looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Shackleton with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Smith is nestled in close to Shackleton, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Smith landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Smith working the head and body with strikes.
Smith trying to control from Shackleton's half guard. Shackleton has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Shackleton looking to control.
Smith throws an elbow that misses. Shackleton uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Smith's guard. Nice move by Shackleton!

Smith is trying to control the position but Shackleton postures up.
Shackleton trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shackleton preventing the sweep.
Smith pulls Shackleton in close to prevent any damage.
Shackleton trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shackleton looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Smith wants to stand and escape but Shackleton is having none of it.
Shackleton missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Shackleton is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

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.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith wants to stand and escape but Shackleton is having none of it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smith is on top in guard.

Shackleton keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Shackleton manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.

Shackleton stops Smith from standing up.
Shackleton is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Shackleton from controlling successfully.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shackleton is stalling in the full guard.
Smith is pulling down on Shackleton's head. It's preventing any offense from Shackleton, at least for the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Smith dominated that round.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Smith lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Smith.
Shackleton moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Smith lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Nice body punch from Smith.
Shackleton throws a body shot but no joy.
Shackleton misses with a body shot.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Smith!

Smith closes the distance and pushes Shackleton back into the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Smith.
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!

Shackleton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith lands a really nice looking cross but Shackleton seems unphased.
Smith throws a push kick but Shackleton slaps the foot to one side.

Smith shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Smith was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Shackleton is looking for a sweep.
Smith lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Shackleton down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shackleton keeps working.
Check out the look on Smith's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Smith trying to control the action but Shackleton is working from the bottom.
Shackleton gets back to half guard.
Jake Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Smith is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Shackleton is looking to improve his position.
Smith scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Shackleton wants to control but Smith is keeping busy.
Shackleton wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Shackleton manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Smith stands up over Shackleton, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Shackleton looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Smith is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shackleton can do to turn this around?
Smith scoring with punches to the head and body.
Smith connects with a couple of short punches.

Shackleton working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Smith trying to control but Shackleton is working from the bottom.
Shackleton looking for a sweep. Not yet Shackleton, not yet.
Smith is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Smith postures up and lands a big shot to Shackleton's brow.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Shackleton's head.
Shackleton avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith works over Shackleton with some ground and pound from guard.
Smith stands up over Shackleton, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Shackleton keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Shackleton's head.
Shackleton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smith postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Smith works over Shackleton with some ground and pound from guard.

Shackleton has his foot on Smith's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smith works his way back into a safe position though.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Shackleton's head.

Shackleton is rocked!
Smith lands a couple of elbows.
Shackleton is still in real trouble! Can Smith finish him?
Smith postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Smith makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Smith controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Shackleton had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.
Smith 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Smith trying to control but Shackleton is working from the bottom.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Shackleton's head.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Shackleton's head.
Shackleton lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

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!
Smith keeping moving, preventing Shackleton from controlling successfully.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Smith manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Smith struggles to land a body shot inside as Shackleton controls his hands.
Smith keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Shackleton's efforts to push away.
Smith works on Shackleton's body with a couple of short punches.
Shackleton is breathing heavily.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jake Smith is winning the standup battle so far.
Smith closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Smith moves into the clinch.
Smith gets through Shackleton's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Shackleton is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Smith is defending well for now.
Smith scores with a hook to the body.
Smith lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Smith lands a right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Smith dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A shot to the liver by Smith. Beautiful body shot.
Smith cracks Shackleton on the jaw with a powerful right hand and Shackleton falls backwards against the cage. Smith follows up with more strikes that drop Shackleton to his knees. Smith keeps the pressure on and the referee jumps in to save Shackleton! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:08 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jake Smith!
Jake Smith took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'Im just glad to finally get a win in the organization. '.