PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Russel Shak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocky Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shak
vs
Balboa

200 cm
25
260 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Russel Shak!
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, Rocky Balboa!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Sergei Dronov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balboa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shak sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Balboa somewhat.

Balboa clinches.
Shak jumps guard but Balboa turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Balboa is trying to drag Shak to the mat but Shak just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Shak goes for a takedown attempt but Balboa pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Shak misses with a combination
and Balboa counters with a two punch combo.
Shak tries to clinch up
and Balboa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Balboa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shak swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Balboa misses with a takedown

so Shak counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Russel Shak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocky Balboa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Balboa keeping full guard, as Shak tries to pass.
Shak stays in close to Balboa's body and controls the position.

Shak gets to his feet - Balboa follows without any prompting.
Shak stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Shak wants it to stay on the feet.
Shak wants to clinch.
Balboa fails with the takedown

and Shak counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Balboa blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shak.
Balboa wants to get back to full guard but Shak has mounted him!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shak controlling the pace for now.
Shak working the ground and pound effectively.
Balboa is bucking up trying to escape but Shak cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Shak 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.
Shak looking to control but Balboa is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Balboa wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Balboa is taking damage to the body and head.
Shak trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Balboa doesn't escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Shak is cranking Balboa's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Balboa! He's tightened the choke and Balboa is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Russel Shak!