PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Silvio Briatore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Schimberlake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Schimberlake has chosen Justin Timberlake-Sexy Back as his entrance music. Justin Schimberlake has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Briatore
vs
Schimberlake

170 cm
26
198 lbs
8 - 2 - 1

187 cm
25
190 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

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 8 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Silvio Briatore!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Justin Schimberlake!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Illya Tyunina and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schimberlake shoots in looking for a takedown. Briatore tries to sprawl out of it but Schimberlake keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Briatore manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Briatore misses with a two punch combination.
Schimberlake blocks a jab.
Schimberlake staying out of range there.
Briatore looks to land a left hand but Schimberlake moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schimberlake bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Schimberlake uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Briatore.
Schimberlake avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Briatore staying out of range there.
Briatore uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Schimberlake.
Briatore misses the jab.
Schimberlake shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Briatore sprawls well. Briatore wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Schimberlake gets slowly back to his feet.
Briatore connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Schimberlake momentarily.
A punch combination from Briatore misses.
Schimberlake fails with a takedown attempt.
Silvio Briatore has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Schimberlake.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Schimberlake takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Briatore throws the left hand but Schimberlake avoids the punch easily.
Briatore connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Schimberlake staying out of range there.
A jab from Briatore does it's job there.
Briatore fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Briatore lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Schimberlake circles away quickly and effectively.
Schimberlake shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Briatore but Briatore pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Schimberlake misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Schimberlake fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Briatore manages to avoid it.
Schimberlake shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Briatore pinned against the cage. Briatore gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Schimberlake moves out of range as Briatore strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Briatore misses with a hook. Schimberlake ducked under it nicely.

Briatore changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Schimberlake looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Schimberlake dodges the ground and pound from Briatore.
Briatore with the ground and pound but Schimberlake regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Briatore throwing shots but Schimberlake is blocking nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Schimberlake has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Briatore is working away from the top position though.
Briatore trying to control the action but Schimberlake is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Silvio Briatore dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Briatore with a poor takedown

and Schimberlake counters with a shoot takedown. Briatore fights it but they end up in guard.
Schimberlake trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Briatore is pulling down on Schimberlake's head. It's preventing any offense from Schimberlake, at least for the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Schimberlake accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Schimberlake preventing the sweep.
Schimberlake wants to control from the top but Briatore keeps moving.
Briatore is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Briatore fails with the takedown

and Schimberlake counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schimberlake not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Schimberlake wants to lay and pray for a moment but Briatore keeps working.
Schimberlake missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Schimberlake not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Schimberlake not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Briatore trying to control but Schimberlake postures up.
Briatore might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Briatore keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Schimberlake misses with a takedown attempt
and Briatore counters with a one-two to the body.
Justin Schimberlake is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

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.
Schimberlake misses with a takedown attempt
and Briatore connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Briatore is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Briatore looks to land a combination but Schimberlake avoids it well.
Briatore lands with an overhand left.
Schimberlake misses with a takedown attempt

and Briatore counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Schimberlake!
Silvio Briatore has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Schimberlake.
Briatore fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Briatore unloads with some shots from mount but Schimberlake bucks and avoids them well.
Briatore throwing strikes here but Schimberlake is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Briatore lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schimberlake wants to hold on but Briatore pushes him away.
Briatore tries to control but Schimberlake wriggling away.
Schimberlake is trying to escape the mount.
Briatore is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Briatore landing punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Briatore throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Schimberlake wants to try and get back to his feet.
Schimberlake is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Schimberlake blocking the ground and pound.
Schimberlake blocking the ground and pound.
Briatore thowing shots but they're missing.
A nice elbow there by Briatore.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Briatore postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Schimberlake looks a forlorn figure.
Schimberlake really wants to buck Briatore off and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Silvio Briatore dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Schimberlake tries to move into range but Briatore moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Schimberlake with a lazy takedown attempt

and Briatore counters with a nice double leg into side control. Schimberlake won't be happy with that.
Briatore is looking to take a break and control but Schimberlake is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Briatore tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Briatore looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Schimberlake is avoiding damage well.
Briatore working the strikes but Schimberlake uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Schimberlake is refusing to be controlled, as Briatore sits in half guard.
Briatore is just content to waste time from the top position. Schimberlake takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Briatore trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Briatore gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Schimberlake to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Briatore bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Schimberlake's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Briatore throws and elbow that misses. Schimberlake uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Briatore's guard. Nice move by Schimberlake!
Briatore keeping moving, preventing Schimberlake from controlling successfully.
Schimberlake with a flurry of punches that miss.
Schimberlake throwing strikes from guard but Briatore blocks nicely.
Schimberlake works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Briatore tries to get to full guard but Schimberlake has control of the leg.
Briatore keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Briatore wants to control but Schimberlake is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Schimberlake not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Briatore throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Schimberlake fails with the takedown

and Briatore counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Briatore takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Briatore performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Schimberlake is staying active underneath Briatore, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Silvio Briatore is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Briatore has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Briatore looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Briatore is pressing down on Schimberlake's thigh, looking to free his foot. Schimberlake is holding on for now.
Justin Schimberlake has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Briatore slows the pace down in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Silvio Briatore showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Briatore has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Silvio Briatore!