PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michel Colucci (ranked 5867 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shaggy Shank (ranked 6817 p4p, 0 weight class). Colucci comes into the arena with Le temps des cerises blaring out of the sound system. Shaggy Shank told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Colucci
vs
Shank

176 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Michel Colucci!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Shaggy Shank!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, William Peck and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Colucci dives in for a single leg takedown but Shank sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Colucci is defended easily by Shank.
Colucci tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shank swivels and escapes.
Colucci looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michel Colucci. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shank scores with a nice strike.

It looks like Michel Colucci has been cut.
Colucci checks a low kick from Shank.
Shank throws a head kick that Colucci semi-blocks.
Colucci takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shank tries a low kick but Colucci avoids it.
Colucci tries to clinch there but Shank circles away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Shank! But no joy.
Colucci shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Shank sprawls well. Shank wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Colucci gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Colucci slips a straight right by Shank.
Colucci shoots in but no luck this time.
Shaggy Shank is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Colucci shoots in looking for a takedown but Shank manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Colucci's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Shank is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Colucci dodges the punch combination from Shank.
Colucci avoids the body shot from Shank.
Colucci doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Shank tries to bum rush Colucci with a series of wild strikes but Colucci uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Colucci tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Shank defends well and Colucci ends up having to push Shank into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Shank with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Shank.
Colucci misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Colucci takes a shot right to the bread basket.
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!
Shank lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Colucci misses with a jab, cross combination.
Shank fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Colucci is out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Shank as he connects with a hook.
Shank has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Colucci fails with the takedown
and Shank connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Colucci shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Shank pinned against the cage. Shank gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Colucci takes one to the chin there.
Shank's corner calls for a 1-2. Shank obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Colucci shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Shank pinned against the cage. Shank gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Shank throws a body shot but no joy.

Colucci pushes Shank up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shank's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shank throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
No luck for Colucci with that takedown attempt.
A little jabbing left from Shank on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Shank fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Colucci shoots in but no luck this time.
Shank throws a leg kick

and Colucci counters with a single leg into guard. Shank didn't expect that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shank is trying to keep Colucci in close.
Colucci missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Colucci in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shaggy Shank dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michel Colucci's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shank lands a nice looking body shot.
Colucci fails with a takedown attempt.
Shank lands a leg kick that knocks Colucci off balance momentarily.
Colucci slips under a jab.

Colucci closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Colucci lands a nice forearm strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shank is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shank tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Shank is pushing Colucci's head away, looking to escape. Colucci manages to hold on to the position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shank is not content to let Colucci control the position.

Colucci looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Colucci has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Shank!
Colucci cracks Shank with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shank tries to reverse the position but Colucci maintains control.

Colucci looking for a guillotine from mount but Shank is having none of it.
Colucci lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Shank hang on?

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Colucci is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Shank can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Shank has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Colucci landing strikes, looking to finish!
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!
Colucci thowing shots but they're missing.
Colucci has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Shank's face.
Shank really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Colucci. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Colucci get's back to his feet.
Shank jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shank throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Colucci.
Colucci blocks a head kick by Shank.
Colucci wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Colucci shoots in but no luck this time.
Colucci avoids the head kick by Shank.
Michel Colucci is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Colucci doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Shank counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Colucci thinking.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michel Colucci. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Colucci looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Shank! But no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shank lands a right hook to the body.
Colucci avoids the body shot from Shank.
Shank thows a left - swing and a miss!
Shank takes a swing at Colucci's ribcage but misses.
Colucci shoots in but Shank avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Colucci dives in and grabs Shank's left leg, looking for a takedown. Shank pushes down on Colucci's head and hops out.
Colucci is trying hard to land a takedown here. Shank sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Colucci shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Shank defends it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Michel Colucci will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Michel Colucci's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Colucci is trying hard to land a takedown here. Shank sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Shank scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Shank connects with a solid leg kick.
Shank throws a solid leg kick but Colucci takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Shank.
Shank throws a right and a left that both miss.
Shank throws a right hand that Colucci ducks under and follows up with a left that Colucci also avoids with ease.
Colucci fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Colucci fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shank scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Shank lands with a nice body punch.
Colucci takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Colucci could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Colucci shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shank but Shank pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michel Colucci. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Colucci has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Shank finds it's way round the side to connect with Colucci's head.
Shank throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Colucci stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Shank jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Shank misses with an uppercut. Colucci saw that one coming.
Colucci fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Colucci misses with a takedown attempt
and Shank connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shank throws a body punch but Colucci moves out of range.
Shank misses with a low kick.
A head kick by Shank misses

and Colucci counters with a single leg into guard. Shank didn't expect that.
Shank can't keep his opponent in guard - Colucci advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Colucci is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Shank defends it well.
Shank is looking to escape.
Shank is trying to get back to full guard.
Colucci passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Shank!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shank wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Colucci.
Shank is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Michel Colucci overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Colucci is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Colucci extends the arm and Shank is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Michel Colucci!
A very excited looking Michel Colucci made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.