PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shahram Sheikhan (ranked 4045 p4p, 4617 weight class) and Rafa Peziev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sheikhan
vs
Peziev

170 cm
33
146
3 - 5 - 0

161 cm
24
147
4 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Experienced

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shahram Sheikhan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rafa Peziev!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Dmitry Maklakov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Peziev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sheikhan.
Peziev throws out a counter right but Sheikhan avoids it with no problem.

Sheikhan clinches.
Sheikhan misses with a body punch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Sheikhan tries to land a knee to the head but Peziev blocks with his arms.
Sheikhan tries a body shot but Peziev blocks it.
Peziev is looking for a takedown.

Peziev turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Peziev manages to end up in side control.

Peziev wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sheikhan, who protects the arm well.
Sheikhan is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Peziev off and has taken his back!
Sheikhan is riding his opponent, not letting Peziev buck him off.
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!
Peziev can't escape the position.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peziev is keeping busy.
I really don't envy Peziev right now.
Peziev rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Peziev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sheikhan stalling.
Sheikhan prevents Peziev from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Peziev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Peziev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sheikhan pulls his head out easily.

Peziev looking for submissions off his back.
Sheikhan trying to mount his opponent but Peziev defends it.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Peziev actively working from the bottom here.
Peziev is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peziev is in trouble now - Sheikhan has advanced to mount!
Peziev is trying to escape the mount.
Sheikhan sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Peziev is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Sheikhan content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sheikhan'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.
We've been hearing good reports from Sheikhan's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Peziev is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Sheikhan is trying to take his opponent's back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sheikhan prevents Peziev from getting the reversal.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shahram Sheikhan dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Sheikhan comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sheikhan darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Sheikhan misses with a hook

so Peziev counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Peziev postures up.

Sheikhan working for a triangle but Peziev defends it easily.
Sheikhan controlling Peziev's posture.
Peziev throwing strikes but missing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Peziev looking to pass the guard.
Peziev trying to control but Sheikhan is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peziev preventing the sweep.
Peziev trying to control the position from guard on top but Sheikhan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Peziev passes into half guard.
Sheikhan tries to get to full guard but Peziev has control of the leg.
Peziev is controlling the pace.
Peziev missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sheikhan trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Peziev is looking for a kimura here.
Sheikhan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Peziev can do to turn this around?
Sheikhan looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sheikhan trying to control but Peziev postures up.
Peziev trying to control from half guard but Sheikhan is working away.
Sheikhan has hold of Peziev's hands but Peziev slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Peziev is working for a kimura but Sheikhan is defending it quite comfortably.
Sheikhan wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheikhan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Peziev.
Peziev is thwarting Sheikhan's attempts to control the position.
Sheikhan regains full guard. Nicely done.
Peziev with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sheikhan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Peziev working some strikes from top position.
Peziev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Peziev with a flurry of punches that miss.
Peziev throwing strikes from guard but Sheikhan blocks nicely.
Peziev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Peziev has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Peziev postures up.
Peziev with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sheikhan has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Peziev off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Sheikhan scores with a shot to the body.
Peziev takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Peziev avoids the body shot from Sheikhan.
As Sheikhan backs off Peziev throws a huge counter combo but Sheikhan manages to avoid it all.
Peziev shoots in for a double leg but Sheikhan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Sheikhan closes the distance and clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Peziev is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sheikhan struggles to land a body shot inside as Peziev controls his hands.
Sheikhan misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sheikhan misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Peziev looking for a takedown.
Shahram Sheikhan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafa Peziev.
Peziev goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sheikhan prevents it.
Sheikhan trying to control the position but instead, Peziev has worked for underhooks and has pushed Sheikhan into the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Shahram Sheikhan will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sheikhan throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Jab from Sheikhan.
Sheikhan scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
We've been informed that Peziev has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Peziev throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Sheikhan tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Peziev is in Sheikhan's guard.

Sheikhan pushes Peziev off and gets back to his feet.
Sheikhan looks to land a right hand but Peziev moved out of range.
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!
Sheikhan shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Peziev eats them both and turns towards Sheikhan to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Sheikhan connects with a body shot.
Peziev blocks the body kick.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sheikhan enables Peziev to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sheikhan manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sheikhan wants to sweep here but Peziev controlling him for the moment.
Peziev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sheikhan trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheikhan can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Peziev controls the pace.
Peziev wants to pass the guard but Sheikhan is keeping the position.
Peziev postures up in Sheikhan's guard and throws a big left but Sheikhan blocks it.

Sheikhan is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Peziev frees his head nicely. Oh but Sheikhan has switched to an armbar! Peziev is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Shahram Sheikhan!
Rafa Peziev spoke after the fight, saying 'I be back, fuuuk the rucians!'.