PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between David Letter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franciscus Shamrogue (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Letter
vs
Shamrogue

175 cm
21
178 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

178 cm
19
184 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, David Letter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Franciscus Shamrogue!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shamrogue avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Letter throws a series of punches but Shamrogue moves out of range.
Shamrogue closes this distance looking for a takedown but Letter circles away.
David Letter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shamrogue is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Letter tries to close the distance and clinch but Shamrogue swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shamrogue will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nice uppercut there from Letter.
Letter lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Letter scores with a jab. Shamrogue acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Letter cracks Shamrogue with an open hand slap.
Shamrogue takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Shamrogue shoots in and drives through. Letter sprawls well.
David Letter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franciscus Shamrogue.
Shamrogue tries a head kick but it misses.
A swing and a miss from Letter.
Shamrogue on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Letter fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shamrogue manages to avoid it.
Letter comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Shamrogue shoots in for a takedown but Letter shows good takedown defense.
Letter misses the jab.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Letter.
Shamrogue shoots in but Letter avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Letter gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Letter slowing the pace effectively.

Letter breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Letter listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Shamrogue on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A punch combination from Letter misses.
Shamrogue fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Letter breaks from the clinch.
Letter stuffs the takedown attempt from Shamrogue. Shamrogue gets slowly back to his feet.

Letter forces Shamrogue back against the cage and clinches.
Shamrogue tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Shamrogue tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Letter wants the takedown. Shamrogue is fighting it off but Letter persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Shamrogue's guard against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Letter cracks Shamrogue with a solid left hand.
Letter has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Letter is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Shamrogue is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Shamrogue looks gassed!
Letter looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Letter's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Shamrogue escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Letter gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Letter showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Shamrogue doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Letter passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shamrogue is trying to get back to half guard.
Shamrogue is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Letter is staying tight to Shamrogue's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Letter tries to move into full mount but can't pass Shamrogue's legs.
Shamrogue being controlled for a moment.
Shamrogue tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Letter wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Letter trying to control the action but Shamrogue is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shamrogue is trying to buck Letter off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Letter dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Letter lands a head shot.
Letter misses with a jab, cross combination.

Letter closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Letter leaning his opponent against the cage.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Letter for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Letter wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Shamrogue has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Letter wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Letter's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shamrogue.
Letter tests Shamrogue's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Letter avoids the head kick by Shamrogue.
Shamrogue shoots for a double leg takedown but Letter sprawls well. He's pushed Shamrogue's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Letter clobbers Shamrogue with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Letter tries to bum rush Shamrogue with a series of wild strikes but Shamrogue uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Shamrogue takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Letter misses with a series of wild punches.
Letter tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Letter doesn't manage to clinch there - Shamrogue circles away.
Letter looks to land a combination. Shamrogue sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
A lazy left from Shamrogue finds it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Letter misses with a double jab.
Letter misses with an uppercut. Shamrogue saw that one coming.
Shamrogue moves away from the strike by Letter.

Shamrogue closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Letter to the mat! Letter manages to get full guard.

Shamrogue thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Shamrogue is breathing heavily.
Letter has his hands on Shamrogue's head, controlling the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Shamrogue thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Letter wants to sweep here but Shamrogue controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shamrogue is fighting to break Letter's control of his arms but Letter is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Letter knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shamrogue on the ground.
Letter not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Letter wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Shamrogue won't allow Letter to sweep him here.
Shamrogue pushes down on Letter's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Letter is trying is best to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shamrogue is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Letter is just riding it out for now. Shamrogue eventually gives up the hold.
Letter landing a few short strikes.
Shamrogue trying to control the action but Letter is working from the bottom.
Letter is looking for a sweep. Shamrogue is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Letter controlling the position well.
Letter is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Letter controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Letter 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!

Letter jabs Shamrogue right on the nose. Shamrogue blinks but takes it well.
A chopping leg kick lands by Letter.

Letter takes the fight into the clinch.
Letter manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Shamrogue has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Letter avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Letter pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shamrogue shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Letter but Letter pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Letter scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shamrogue has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Shamrogue takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
The fighters circling - Letter throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Letter connects with a crisp jab.

Letter drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Shamrogue tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Letter content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Letter grinds an elbow into Shamrogue's temple.
Shamrogue taking punishment in the form of punches.
Shamrogue taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Letter controlling from side mount.
Shamrogue tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Letter wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Shamrogue is not content to let Letter control the position.
Shamrogue is trying to get back to half guard.
Letter taking a breather here.
Shamrogue gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Letter wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shamrogue keeps working.
Letter works his way into full mount!
Shamrogue working to try and regain half guard.
Shamrogue takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shamrogue tries to hold on but Letter postures up.
Franciscus Shamrogue has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Letter trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Letter controlling from the full mount.
David Letter is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee stands the fighters back up. David Letter just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Shamrogue doesn't manage to clinch there - Letter circles away.
Shamrogue doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Letter counters with a right hand to the body.
David Letter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franciscus Shamrogue.
Jab, jab by Letter - just one landing.
Shamrogue throws a sloppy head kick and Letter moves out of range easily.
Letter throws a sloppy head kick and Shamrogue moves out of range easily.
Letter takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Letter fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Shamrogue shoots and misses

and Letter holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Letter showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Letter has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Letter!