PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Erik Friedrichsen (ranked 1160 p4p, 1104 weight class) and Fedor Shabanov (ranked 166 p4p, 159 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Fedor Shabanov was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Friedrichsen
vs
Shabanov

200 cm
35
286
24 - 17 - 0

197 cm
37
229
26 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 17 - 0, fighting out of London, Erik Friedrichsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Fedor Shabanov!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Ben Hemmingworth and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Friedrichsen.
A little jabbing left from Shabanov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A combination from Friedrichsen does no damage.
It seemed like Shabanov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A jab from Friedrichsen does it's job there.

It looks like Fedor Shabanov has been cut.
Friedrichsen throws a hook but Shabanov avoids it easily.
Friedrichsen will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Shabanov on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Friedrichsen throws the left hand but Shabanov avoids the punch easily.
Friedrichsen lands a nice shot that snaps Shabanov's head back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A shot to the body from Friedrichsen misses
enabling Shabanov to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like Erik Friedrichsen has been cut.
Friedrichsen stuns Shabanov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Friedrichsen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Friedrichsen connects with a right hand. Shabanov shakes it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friedrichsen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Shabanov. That did some damage!
Friedrichsen misses with a hook. Shabanov ducked under it nicely.
Shabanov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Shabanov walks into a straight right hand from Friedrichsen.
Friedrichsen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shabanov shapes to counter with a head kick.
Friedrichsen misses the shot to the body.
Shabanov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Shabanov ducks under a wild hook from Friedrichsen.
Shabanov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Friedrichsen throws a body punch but Shabanov moves out of range.
Friedrichsen swings away with a body shot that misses
and Shabanov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Shabanov misses with a kick to the body.
Friedrichsen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Shabanov doesn't seem bothered though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friedrichsen thows a leg kick but Shabanov checks it
enabling Shabanov to counter with a crisp jab.
Friedrichsen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Friedrichsen misses with a leg kick
and Shabanov counters with a low kick, right behind Friedrichsen 's knee.
Shabanov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Shabanov thinks about the counter body kick.
Friedrichsen blocks a jab.
Friedrichsen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Friedrichsen missing with a left hand there. Shabanov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A countering left hand to the body from Shabanov misses.
Friedrichsen scores with a leg kick.
Shabanov slips under a jab.
Friedrichsen swings widly with a right hand
and Shabanov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Erik Friedrichsen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Friedrichsen throws a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Friedrichsen misses with a shot to the body

and Shabanov counters with a head kick that drops Friedrichsen to the mat! Friedrichsen scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

Friedrichsen is rocked!
Shabanov looks for a left high kick but can't connect. Shabanov backs up to catch a breather... no he lunges forward with a huge flying knee that smacks Friedrichsen's temple! It sends Friedrichsen violently to the canvas! The crowd goes nuts as Shabanov celebrates and the doctors try to help Friedrichsen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:14 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Flying Knee). Fedor Shabanov!
Our winner, Fedor Shabanov, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
Erik Friedrichsen spoke after the fight, saying 'I am young. This is merely a slight delay'.