PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vasko Panchev (ranked 3698 p4p, 4314 weight class) and Dwight Shrute (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shrute has chosen Battlestart Galactica theme as his entrance music. Vasko Panchev has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Panchev
vs
Shrute

225 cm
25
200
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
200
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Great low kicks
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Vasko Panchev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dwight Shrute!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Panchev throws a leg kick

and Shrute counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Panchev pulls Shrute in close to his closed guard and prevents Shrute from doing any damage or advancing position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shrute lands a couple of elbows.
Panchev is adopting a defensive guard.
Panchev wants to get back to his feet but Shrute is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Shrute has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shrute won't allow Panchev to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panchev is controlling Shrute's posture.
Panchev wants to get back to his feet but Shrute is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Panchev on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Panchev tries to get out of the position.
Panchev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shrute.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Shrute dives in and scores a takedown into Panchev's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Panchev pulls Shrute in close to prevent any damage.
Panchev wants to stand and escape but Shrute is having none of it.
Panchev has his hands on Shrute's head, controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shrute stopping the sweep attempt from Panchev.
Panchev not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Panchev is pulling down on Shrute's head to control his posture.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Panchev shoots in and drives through. Shrute sprawls well.
Shrute fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Shrute tries to clinch up.
Panchev lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shrute circles away quickly and effectively.
Shrute goes for a double leg but Panchev avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Panchev continues to drive forward.
Shrute looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Panchev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Shrute pinned against the cage. Shrute gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Shrute looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Shrute shoots for a double leg takedown but Panchev sprawls well. He's pushed Shrute's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Vasko Panchev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dwight Shrute.
Panchev shoots in for a takedown but Shrute shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Shrute fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Panchev shoots for a takedown but Shrute saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Panchev with a poor takedown

so Shrute counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Panchev is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Shrute is controlling him.
Shrute is working Panchev over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shrute drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Shrute seems to have locked his on tight now - Panchev screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Shrute, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Dwight Shrute!
Dwight Shrute was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.