PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ilya Porunov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rusty Shackleford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Porunov
vs
Shackleford

191 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ilya Porunov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rusty Shackleford!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Vladimir Khabensky and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shackleford closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Porunov to the mat! Porunov manages to get full guard.
Shackleford prevents Porunov from getting back to his feet.
Shackleford stopping the sweep attempt from Porunov.
Porunov being controlled here, momentarily.

Porunov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Shackleford is aware though and is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shackleford is pulling down on Porunov's head. It's preventing any offense from Porunov, at least for the moment.
Porunov passes into half guard.
Porunov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Porunov passes to full mount!
Shackleford is squirming around, avoiding Porunov's attempts to control the action.

That's two 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.
Porunov is breathing heavily.
Shackleford really wants to buck Porunov off and get back to his feet.
Shackleford takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Porunov trying to control but Shackleford is having none of it.
Shackleford wants to hold on but Porunov pushes him away.
Porunov putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Shackleford tries to strike from the bottom but he's left himself exposed and Porunov has taken his back.
Shackleford breaks Porunov's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Shackleford gets to his feet - Porunov follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shackleford clinches with his opponent.
Shackleford gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Porunov.
Porunov is working for takedown but Shackleford is calmly controlling the position for now.

Shackleford has picked Porunov up - he's going for a ride! Shackleford dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Shackleford is taking a breather. Porunov says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Shackleford wants to work for an arm triangle but Porunov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Porunov wants to get back to his feet.
Porunov tries to get to full guard but Shackleford has control of the leg.
Shackleford wants to pass to mount but Porunov is defending the position.
Porunov wants to improve his position but Shackleford is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rusty Shackleford dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Shackleford drives through with a takedown into guard.
Shackleford controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Shackleford won't allow Porunov to sweep him here.
Porunov is trying to keep Shackleford in close.
Shackleford controls from within his opponent's guard.

Shackleford gets to his feet. Porunov looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shackleford decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Porunov is controlling Shackleford's trapped leg to prevent Shackleford from advancing to side control.
Shackleford is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Porunov is trying to get back to full guard.
Shackleford keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Porunov wants to get back to his feet.
Shackleford wants to control but Porunov is keeping him busy.
Shackleford is controlling the pace.

Shackleford decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Porunov tries to clinch but Shackleford moves away

and Shackleford counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Shackleford lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Porunov gets full guard.
Shackleford looking to pass the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shackleford accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shackleford trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shackleford's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Shackleford drops back, looking for a kneebar! Porunov looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Porunov looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Porunov!
Porunov trying to control the position but Shackleford is working away.
Porunov in side control, throwing shots but Shackleford defends.
Porunov trying to control the action but Shackleford is working from the bottom.
Porunov landing a few strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rusty Shackleford showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Shackleford is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Porunov's half guard.

Porunov kicks Shackleford off and gets back to his feet.
No joy there for Shackleford, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Porunov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Shackleford decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Porunov's guard.
Rusty Shackleford has got the better of the ground game so far.
Shackleford looking to pass the guard.
Shackleford slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Porunov wants to sweep but no luck.
Porunov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shackleford sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Porunov looking for a sweep. Not yet Porunov, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Shackleford is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Porunov is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Porunov has escaped and now he's on top!
Shackleford keeping moving, preventing Porunov from controlling successfully.
Shackleford controlling Porunov's posture.
Porunov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shackleford is keeping the position for now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Shackleford can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Porunov trying to control but Shackleford is working from the bottom.
Porunov distracts Shackleford with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Porunov wants to control from the top but Shackleford keeps moving.
Porunov preventing the sweep.
Shackleford has his hands on Porunov's head, controlling the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Shackleford throws a push kick but Porunov slaps the foot to one side.

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.
Shackleford misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Porunov misses with a takedown attempt

and Shackleford counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Shackleford.
Shackleford tries to pull guard but Porunov holds him up against the cage and eventually Shackleford drops back down to his feet.

Porunov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Porunov avoids the body shot from Shackleford.

Shackleford moves into the clinch.

Shackleford manages to break the clinch.
Porunov wants to clinch but Shackleford slips to the side

and Shackleford counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Porunov is trying to keep Shackleford in close.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rusty Shackleford comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Shackleford has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rusty Shackleford!