PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Magomed Utkin (ranked 3209 p4p, 4948 weight class) and Owen McShane (ranked 402 p4p, 503 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.

Utkin
vs
McShane

193 cm
25
155
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
163
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good takedowns
Good elbows
Granite chin

Barry Bonds Performance Enhancers $110 160q Rec&St

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Magomed Utkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Owen McShane!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, John Kavanagh and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McShane misses with a takedown attempt
and Utkin counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
McShane shoots in looking for a takedown but Utkin manages to keep the fight standing, pushing McShane's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Utkin was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
McShane takes a body punch but keeps moving.
McShane wants to clinch up but Utkin keeps it at a distance.
McShane takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
McShane connects with a body shot that sends Utkin's belly button to the back.
Utkin scores with a shot to the body.
McShane throws a head kick that misses.
McShane fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Magomed Utkin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Owen McShane.
Utkin misses with a body shot.

McShane closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Utkin to the mat! Utkin manages to get full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Utkin 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 one minute gone in the round.
Utkin wants to stand and escape but McShane is having none of it.
McShane trying to control but Utkin is working from the bottom.
McShane stops Utkin from standing up.

McShane is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Utkin really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Utkin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Utkin wants to stand but McShane is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Utkin can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as McShane controls the pace.
McShane wants to control from the top but Utkin keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
McShane slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
McShane tries to advance to mount but can't.
Utkin gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Utkin on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Utkin tries to get out of the position.
McShane in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

McShane working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Utkin is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Utkin taking shots to the head.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Utkin is squirming around, avoiding McShane's attempts to control the action.
Utkin tries to lock up and control but McShane gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McShane looking to finish Utkin with some ground and pound. This is bad for Utkin!
McShane wants to control the pace but Utkin is squirming around nicely.
Utkin is in a horrible position here. McShane smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
McShane trying to control but Utkin is having none of it.
Utkin is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
McShane with a couple of short strikes.
McShane has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
McShane looking to control but Utkin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Utkin is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
McShane controlling from mount.
McShane can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Utkin is looking to escape.
McShane landing strikes, looking to finish!
McShane sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
McShane fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Owen McShane dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Utkin lands a right hook to the body.
McShane darts in looking for a takedown but Utkin gets double underhooks and turns McShane into the cage.
McShane jabs Utkin right on the nose. Utkin blinks but takes it well.
Utkin fails to land the takedown.
McShane tries to clinch up but Utkin circles away and keeps his distance.
Utkin seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Utkin is looking to wear down McShane with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Utkin misses with the combination.
McShane fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Utkin looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McShane shoots in but no luck this time.
Utkin went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
McShane throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McShane shoots in looking for a takedown but Utkin manages to keep the fight standing, pushing McShane's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Utkin quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Magomed Utkin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Owen McShane.
Utkin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Utkin misses with a series of wild punches.
McShane throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Utkin's waist but Utkin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McShane off to one side.
As McShane looks to move away, Utkin throws a big counter combo but McShane just gets out of the way.
Magomed Utkin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A looping hook to the body misses from McShane. Utkin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Utkin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Good exchange - McShane coming out on top.
A looping hook to the body misses from McShane. Utkin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Utkin was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
McShane lands with a nice body punch.
A head kick by Utkin misses

and McShane decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Utkin's guard.
Utkin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst McShane is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McShane is working Utkin over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
McShane postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
McShane advances to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Utkin is looking to escape.
McShane wants to take a breather but Utkin is having none of it.
McShane prevents Utkin from improving his position.
McShane takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. McShane lands a nice short elbow.
Utkin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McShane on the ground.
Utkin misses with some strikes from the bottom.
McShane uses his free foot to push down on Utkin's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Utkin.
McShane controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McShane tries to control but Utkin wriggling away.
Utkin manages to regain half guard. Good work.
McShane keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
McShane prevents Utkin from standing back up.
McShane passes the guard and advances to mount!
McShane connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Utkin wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McShane postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Utkin looks a forlorn figure.
McShane tries to control but Utkin wriggling away.
Utkin sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Owen McShane has got the better of the ground game so far.
McShane wants to control but Utkin is keeping him busy.
Utkin tries to roll over but McShane keeps him under control.
Utkin is looking to escape.
McShane wants to take a breather but Utkin is having none of it.
McShane is controlling the pace.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Owen McShane showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

McShane shoots for a takedown but Utkin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Utkin is looking for a counter combo.
McShane wants to clinch.
Utkin is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from McShane.
Magomed Utkin is winning the standup battle so far.
Utkin misses with a leg kick

and McShane counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Utkin!
McShane works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Utkin is trying to get back to his feet.
Utkin trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
McShane trying to control the action but Utkin is working from the bottom.
McShane has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McShane is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Utkin prevents McShane from moving into mount.
McShane in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
McShane works to advance to full mount. Utkin defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Utkin throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
McShane tries to control but Utkin wriggling away.
Utkin is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Owen McShane is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Utkin swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
McShane controlling the pace for now.
McShane won't let Utkin get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
McShane content just to control the position here.
McShane connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
McShane looking to control but Utkin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Utkin wants to try and get back to his feet.
McShane trying to control but Utkin is having none of it.
Utkin is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McShane punishing his opponent with strikes.
McShane trying to control but Utkin is having none of it.
McShane controlling the position easily from mount.
Utkin is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Utkin in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Utkin squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
McShane controlling from the full mount.
Utkin wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Utkin throwing punches despite being mounted.
Utkin taking shots to the head.
McShane looking to control but Utkin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
McShane looking to finish Utkin with some ground and pound. This is bad for Utkin!
Utkin is looking to improve his position but McShane isn't that keen on the idea.
McShane controlling the position easily from mount.
Utkin is trying to stand up.
Magomed Utkin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

McShane looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Owen McShane comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got McShane winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Owen McShane!
Owen McShane seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.