PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Rackham (ranked 5444 p4p, 6559 weight class) and Jakub Shea (ranked 615 p4p, 655 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Rackham
vs
Shea

186 cm
20
195
4 - 4 - 0

195 cm
20
195
1 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Vegan Gains

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Rackham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jakub Shea!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Steve Smith and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rackham throws a sloppy head kick and Shea moves out of range easily.

Rackham closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Shea's guard.
Shea working a defensive guard here.
Shea is pulling down on Rackham's head to control his posture.
Shea working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rackham.
Shea utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rackham wants to control from the top but Shea keeps moving.
Shea seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rackham throwing strikes but missing.
Rackham 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.
Rackham trying to control the position from guard on top but Shea is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shea is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rackham preventing the sweep.
Rackham keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Shea's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rackham stopping the sweep attempt from Shea.
Rackham scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rackham with a flurry of punches that miss.
Shea looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rackham postures up in Shea's guard and throws a big left but Shea blocks it.
Rackham preventing the sweep.
Rackham is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rackham throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shea works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shea preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rackham postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Shea tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Shea looking to control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Shea can do anything to dispel that myth.
Shea looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rackham postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rackham tries to free his leg and advance position but Shea is retaining full guard.
Rackham loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rackham loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Shea wants to sweep but no luck.
Rackham postures up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Shea has momentary wrist control but Rackham slips an elbow through the middle.
Shea preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shea wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shea is pulling down on Rackham's head to control his posture.
Rackham won't allow Shea to sweep him here.
Rackham throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shea working a defensive guard here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Rackham misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shea blocks a head kick by Rackham.
Shea tries a head kick but it misses.
Shea is looking to land body kicks.
Shea pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Rackham throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shea tries a head kick but it misses.
Rackham keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Shea blocks a head kick by Rackham.
Shea with the counter takedown but Rackham avoids it easily.

Shea shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rackham bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Shea's guard.

Rackham trying to control the position from guard on top but Shea is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shea is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shea throwing shots but Rackham is blocking nicely.
Shea prevents Rackham from improving his position.
Rackham has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shea is working away from the top position though.
Rackham tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Rackham is pressing down on Shea's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Rackham dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rackham throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rackham throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shea looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rackham drops down looking for a counter takedown but Shea sprawls and moves away.
Shea throws a head kick that misses.

Rackham has Shea up against the cage in a clinch.
Rackham misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Shea.
Rackham with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Shea looking to throw knees to the head but Rackham is blocking nicely.
Rackham blocks an elbow strike.
Rackham managing to block the knees to the body from Shea.
Shea is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rackham is defending well for now.
Rackham is struggling to control the position.
Shea misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rackham.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rackham tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Shea avoids it.
Shea with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Shea blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rackham wants a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shea obliges.
Rackham avoiding damage as Shea throws knees to the body.
Shea is trying to stall.
Rackham managing to block the knees to the body from Shea.

Rackham is trying to trip Shea. He has hold of a leg but Shea is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Rackham persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Rackham won't allow Shea to sweep him here.
Shea working a defensive guard here.
Rackham tries to free his leg and advance position but Shea is retaining full guard.
Rackham throwing strikes but missing.
Shea trying to keep a closed guard but Rackham is proving a slippery customer.
Rackham throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rackham in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rackham is fighting to break Shea's control of his arms but Shea is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Shea preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rackham working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Shea managing to control the position.
Shea trying to keep a closed guard but Rackham is proving a slippery customer.
Rackham advances position into side control!
You can see the frustration on Shea's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shea is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rackham lands a decent elbow from side control.
Shea takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Shea struggling a bit here.
Rackham working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Rackham working the ground and pound but Shea is defending the strikes.
Rackham fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Rackham fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Rackham in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shea tries to improve position but can't.
Rackham tries to score with some ground and pound. Shea controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Shea is looking to reverse the position.
Rackham tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Rackham throws an elbow but Shea slips to the side and avoids it well.
Rackham working away.
Rackham lands a nice forearm strike.
Rackham throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Shea works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rackham drops an elbow to the side of Shea's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rackham throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Rackham dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Shea throws a sloppy head kick and Rackham moves out of range easily.
Shea looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Shea misses with a low kick.
Rackham tries a head kick but it misses.
Shea changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Rackham blocks a leg kick.
Rackham sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

Rackham shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rackham showed some decent athleticism there.
Rackham throwing shots but Shea is blocking nicely.
Rackham throwing shots but Shea is blocking nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rackham missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rackham sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shea defending well though.
Rackham scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Rackham thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shea's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shea regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rackham loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Shea is trying to keep Rackham in close.
Shea preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rackham lands a couple of digs.
Rackham being controlled here momentarily.
Rackham with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rackham trying to control but Shea is working from the bottom.
Rackham postures up.

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.
Rackham postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rackham working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Shea working a defensive guard here.
Shea is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rackham tries to get to full guard but Shea has control of the leg.
Shea scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Shea prevents Rackham from improving his position.
Rackham moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rackham lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Shea looking for a sweep. Not yet Shea, not yet.
Rackham being controlled here momentarily.
Rackham makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
John Rackham overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shea looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rackham is one step ahead there.
Rackham is looking to work some ground and pound but Shea has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rackham with a nice head shot there.
Shea is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rackham throwing strikes but missing.
Rackham preventing the sweep.
Rackham throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shea working a defensive guard but Rackham manages to pass into side control anyway.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rackham is putting a hurting on Shea here, landing some big shots from side control.
Jakub Shea has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Rackham is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rackham lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Shea down.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Rackham showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rackham, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Rackham!
John Rackham thanked the fans post fight for their support.