PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steven Fredriksson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Shevchenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fredriksson comes to the cage accompanied by System Of A Down - Vicinity Of Obscenity!. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Fredriksson
vs
Shevchenko

203 cm
26
251 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

198 cm
27
232 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Powerful

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 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Steven Fredriksson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alex Shevchenko!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Gwen Towbar and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shevchenko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fredriksson.
Fredriksson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Fredriksson tries to sprawl but Shevchenko drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Fredriksson wants to get back to full guard.
Fredriksson is trying to stand up here but Shevchenko is controlling him well.
Fredriksson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shevchenko is working away from the top position though.
Shevchenko wants to stand up but Fredriksson is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fredriksson wants to get back to full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Fredriksson darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Shevchenko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shevchenko slips a straight right by Fredriksson.
Shevchenko closes this distance looking for a takedown but Fredriksson circles away.
Fredriksson misses with a looping left.
A swing and a miss from Fredriksson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Fredriksson looks to land a right hand but Shevchenko moved out of range.
Fredriksson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Alex Shevchenko has been cut.
Fredriksson fails with an attempt to clinch.

Fredriksson rushes Shevchenko and presses him up against the cage.

Fredriksson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A jab from Fredriksson misses.
Nice shot lands for Fredriksson.

Fredriksson clinches.
Shevchenko tries to pull guard but Fredriksson holds him up against the cage and eventually Shevchenko drops back down to his feet.
Steven Fredriksson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Shevchenko.
Fredriksson lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Fredriksson breaks the clinch.
Fredriksson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Fredriksson misses with a straight left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shevchenko staying out of range there.
Fredriksson tries to clinch up but Shevchenko circles away and keeps his distance.
Fredriksson throws a series of punches but Shevchenko moves out of range.
Fredriksson loads up on a big right hand but Shevchenko slips the punch.
Fredriksson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Shevchenko. Shevchenko circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Fredriksson looks to throw the jab but Shevchenko is out of range.
Shevchenko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shevchenko swats away the attempt to clinch by Fredriksson.
Fredriksson misses with an uppercut. Shevchenko saw that one coming.
Fredriksson connects with a body shot.
Fredriksson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shevchenko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shevchenko steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Fredriksson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fredriksson lands a body shot.
Fredriksson wants to clinch.
Shevchenko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Fredriksson.
Fredriksson throws a shot from downtown. Shevchenko moves away and avoids it.

Fredriksson closes the distance and clinches.
Fredriksson lands a hook that snaps the head of Shevchenko backwards.
A right hand to the body from Fredriksson.
Fredriksson misses with the head strike.
Fredriksson effectively controlling the action here.
Shevchenko fails to pull guard.
Shevchenko tries to pull guard but Fredriksson holds him up against the cage and eventually Shevchenko drops back down to his feet.
Fredriksson scores with a nice hook to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Fredriksson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alex Shevchenko's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

The fighters circling - Fredriksson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Shevchenko steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Fredriksson.
Fredriksson thows a body shot but no joy.
Fredriksson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Fredriksson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Shevchenko staying out of range there.
Fredriksson is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Fredriksson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Shevchenko.
Fredriksson throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Fredriksson clinches.

Fredriksson manages to break the clinch.
Fredriksson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shevchenko moves away.
Shevchenko closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Fredriksson moves into the clinch successfully.

Fredriksson manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fredriksson lands a nice hook to Shevchenko's body. Shevchenko takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Fredriksson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Shevchenko moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A combination from Fredriksson does no damage.
Shevchenko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fredriksson.
Fredriksson misses the jab.
Fredriksson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Fredriksson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shevchenko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fredriksson connects with a right hand. Shevchenko shakes it off.
Fredriksson looks to score with a jab to the body but Shevchenko is just out of range.
Shevchenko tries to move into range but Fredriksson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Shevchenko takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Fredriksson misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shevchenko slips under a jab.
Steven Fredriksson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Fredriksson moves into the clinch successfully.
Shevchenko tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Fredriksson manages to break the clinch.

Fredriksson rushes Shevchenko and presses him up against the cage.
Shevchenko jumps guard but Fredriksson stands there with Shevchenko around his waist. Shevchenko gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Fredriksson pushes Shevchenko back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Fredriksson throws a punch but it's blocked by Shevchenko.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Fredriksson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Shevchenkos head.

Fredriksson manages to break the clinch.
Shevchenko shoots in but no luck this time.
Steven Fredriksson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Shevchenko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fredriksson scores with a shot to the body.
Shevchenko ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Fredriksson misses with a hook. Shevchenko ducked under it nicely.
Shevchenko shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Fredriksson but Fredriksson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Fredriksson tries to clinch but Shevchenko moves out of range.
Shevchenko ducks under a wild hook from Fredriksson.
Shevchenko shoots for a takedown but Fredriksson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Fredriksson forces Shevchenko back against the cage and clinches.
Shevchenko tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Fredriksson smiles and moves away.

Fredriksson has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fredriksson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Shevchenko backwards.
Fredriksson pushes Shevchenko back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Shevchenko jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Fredriksson walks away with a smile on his face. Shevchenko gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Fredriksson misses with the combination.
Fredriksson with a nice cross.
Shevchenko circles away from the clinch attempt.
A combination from Fredriksson does no damage.

Fredriksson forces Shevchenko back against the cage and clinches.
Fredriksson presses Shevchenko against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A right handed body shot lands from Fredriksson.
Fredriksson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Shevchenko backwards.
Shevchenko is breathing heavily.
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!
Fredriksson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Shevchenko backwards.

Fredriksson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Fredriksson forces Shevchenko back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Fredriksson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alex Shevchenko's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Shevchenko changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Fredriksson tries to avoid it but Shevchenko manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Fredriksson to the ground. Fredriksson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Shevchenko avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Fredriksson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Shevchenko slips a straight right by Fredriksson.

Fredriksson rushes Shevchenko and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Fredriksson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shevchenko ducks under a wild hook from Fredriksson.
Fredriksson moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Fredriksson misses with a body shot.
Shevchenko takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Fredriksson works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That has opened up Alex Shevchenko's cut even more.
Shevchenko has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Shevchenko there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fredriksson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Shevchenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fredriksson cracks Shevchenko with an open hand slap.

Fredriksson closes the distance and clinches.

Fredriksson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shevchenko uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fredriksson.
Fredriksson swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Fredriksson moves into the clinch.

Fredriksson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fredriksson loads up on a big right hand but Shevchenko slips the punch.
Fredriksson throws out a loose jab but Shevchenko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fredriksson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Fredriksson connects with a right hand. Shevchenko shakes it off.

Fredriksson forces Shevchenko back against the cage and clinches.
Alex Shevchenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fredriksson breaks from the clinch.
Fredriksson tries to close the distance and clinch but Shevchenko swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fredriksson scores with a nice strike.

The cut above Alex Shevchenko's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Fredriksson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Fredriksson tries to clinch up but Shevchenko circles away and keeps his distance.
Fredriksson throws a jab but it's blocked by Shevchenko.

Shevchenko shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fredriksson tries to kick Shevchenko off but Shevchenko keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fredriksson pushes Shevchenko off and gets back to his feet.
Fredriksson misses with a two punch combination.
Fredriksson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Fredriksson catches Shevchenko with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Shevchenko uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fredriksson.
Fredriksson throws a lazy right hand but Shevchenko sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Fredriksson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Shevchenko.
Fredriksson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Fredriksson cracks Shevchenko with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Fredriksson just misses with a punch to the body.
Shevchenko tries to score a power double leg takedown but Fredriksson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Shevchenko somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Fredriksson misses.
Shevchenko slips a jab and a cross from Fredriksson.
Fredriksson misses with a hook.
Alex Shevchenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Fredriksson clinches up with Shevchenko and pushes him back against the cage.
Fredriksson lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Fredriksson slows down the pace here.
Shevchenko tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Fredriksson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Steven Fredriksson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Shevchenko.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A short left from Fredriksson.

Fredriksson breaks from the clinch.
Fredriksson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven Fredriksson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Fredriksson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:26
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:26
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Fredriksson!