PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Itchy Sinclair (ranked 2095 p4p, 2799 weight class) and Wesley Shutes (ranked 301 p4p, 385 weight class). Itchy Sinclair could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Wesley Shutes's chin.

Sinclair
vs
Shutes

179 cm
18
182
7 - 1 - 0

182 cm
29
177
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Itchy Sinclair!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Wesley Shutes!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Josh West and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sinclair swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sinclair bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sinclair misses with a hook. Shutes ducked under it nicely.
Sinclair swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Despite the aggression on Shutes's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Shutes clinches up against the cage.
Shutes misses with a knee to the head.
Shutes scores with a shot to the side of Sinclair's head.
Sinclair is trying to drag Shutes to the mat but Shutes just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shutes obliges.
Shutes looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice elbow from Shutes.

It looks like Itchy Sinclair has been cut.
Shutes lands with a light punch inside.
Shutes throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shutes landing knees to the head.
Shutes misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short uppercut from Shutes.
Sinclair takes a knee right on the jaw!
With the fighters up against the cage, Shutes throws an elbow but misses.
Sinclair blocking some punches.
Shutes lands an elbow that stopped Sinclair in his tracks for a moment.
Shutes unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Shutes working aggressively here.
Sinclair tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sinclair takes an elbow to the forehead.
Sinclair wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shutes stops a takedown attempt from Sinclair.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Itchy Sinclair. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shutes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sinclair has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sinclair wants to take the fight to the mat but Shutes manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Shutes lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sinclair backwards.
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!
Sinclair blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Shutes tries to land a knee to the head but Sinclair blocks with his arms.
Shutes throws a knee to the head but misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Shutes as Sinclair tries to tie him up.
Shutes tries a knee to the head but Sinclair blocks it.
Shutes scores with a shoulder strike.
Shutes throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shutes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Shutes presses Sinclair against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Sinclair managing to block the knees to the body from Shutes.
Sinclair managing to block the knees to the body from Shutes.

Shutes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sinclair tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shutes was well out of range. Poor timing from Sinclair.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Shutes lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Itchy Sinclair's cut is getting worse.
Sinclair is trying to stall.
Shutes lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Shutes has a couple of punches blocked by Sinclair.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shutes is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A right hook to the body lands for Shutes.
Sinclair goes for a takedown attempt but Shutes pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Shutes is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Sinclair misses with a right hand
and Shutes counters with a thumping low kick.
Sinclair misses with a double jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shutes misses with a wild body shot.
Sinclair loads up on a big right hand but Shutes slips the punch.
Sinclair fails with the takedown
and Shutes counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Donk. Shutes catches Sinclair right on the button with a cross.

Sinclair gets a double leg takedown into Shutes's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wesley Shutes dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Itchy Sinclair's cut.
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.

Sinclair swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Shutes tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sinclair 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.
Shutes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sinclair misses with a takedown attempt - Shutes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Sinclair feints and as Shutes raises his hands in defense, Sinclair changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Shutes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sinclair is one step ahead there.
Shutes has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sinclair missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shutes working for a triangle but Sinclair defends it easily.
Sinclair is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sinclair chips away with some ground and pound.
Sinclair content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Shutes has Sinclair pulled in close to control his posture.
Sinclair 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.
Shutes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Shutes trying to control the position.
Shutes 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.
Shutes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shutes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sinclair is looking to work some ground and pound but Shutes has wrist control.
Shutes has his hands on Sinclair's head, controlling the position.
Shutes is trying to control the position but Sinclair postures up.
Sinclair trying to control but Shutes is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shutes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sinclair.
Shutes keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Shutes throws a leg kick but Sinclair checks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sinclair throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sinclair misses with a double jab.
Shutes lands a leg kick that knocks Sinclair off balance momentarily.
Nice straight punches there by Sinclair. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sinclair.
A big right from Shutes misses.
It looked like Sinclair wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Shutes scores with a jab to the jaw.
A cross from Sinclair lands.
Shutes moves away from the strike by Sinclair.
Shutes tries to score with a low kick but Sinclair moves his leg out of the way.
Shutes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sinclair.
Wesley Shutes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice uppercut there from Sinclair.
Shutes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sinclair.
Sinclair shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shutes but Shutes pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shutes swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sinclair looks to land a left hand but Shutes moved out of range nicely.
Shutes appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Sinclair misses with a straight right.
Shutes lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shutes throws a leg kick but Sinclair checks it.
Sinclair tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shutes swivels and escapes.
Shutes swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Itchy Sinclair. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Shutes tries to sprawl but Sinclair drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Sinclair is nestled in close to Shutes, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Shutes trying to control from the bottom.
Shutes is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sinclair's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sinclair's back!
Shutes controlling from the back.
Sinclair trying to control the hands but Shutes breaks the grip.
Sinclair is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Can Sinclair hold on?! Shutes is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Itchy Sinclair will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Itchy Sinclair's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Shutes avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sinclair looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Sinclair scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Shutes takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Sinclair throws a strike aimed at the side of Shutes's head but Shutes avoids it well.
Shutes can't do much from the bottom here.
Sinclair in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shutes manages to get back to half guard.
Shutes is looking for a sweep. Sinclair is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Shutes keeps trying to improve his position.
Shutes controlling the position well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sinclair is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Sinclair scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sinclair trying to control from Shutes's half guard. Shutes has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Shutes has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sinclair can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sinclair works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shutes is not content to let Sinclair control the position.
Sinclair is nestled in close to Shutes, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sinclair slips a nice elbow through Shutes's hands, connecting with Shutes's forehead.
Sinclair is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Shutes controlling the position for now.

Sinclair is working for a kimura but Shutes is defending it quite comfortably.
Shutes tries to roll over but Sinclair keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sinclair seems to be working for a kimura but Shutes defends the submission attempt.

Sinclair is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Shutes has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sinclair lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Shutes is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sinclair scores with a couple of nice shots.
Shutes controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Shutes gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shutes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sinclair.
Sinclair looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Sinclair throws a strike but Shutes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sinclair is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Itchy Sinclair overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shutes is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sinclair pulls Shutes in close to his closed guard and prevents Shutes from doing any damage or advancing position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Itchy Sinclair showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sinclair 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Itchy Sinclair!
Itchy Sinclair decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.