PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Russel Shak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Harris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Shak
vs
Harris

200 cm
26
260 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

218 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good in bed

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 3 - 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, Craig Harris!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Viktor Lagutenko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shak tries for a takedown but Harris circles away easily
and Harris finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Shak misses with a double jab
and Harris counters with a nice kick to the body.
Shak fails with an attempt to clinch.

Harris moves into the clinch successfully.
Shak gets underhooks to prevent Harris's takedown attempt.
Shak trying to control the position but instead, Harris has worked for underhooks and has pushed Shak into the cage.

Harris wants the takedown. Shak is fighting it off but Harris persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Shak's guard against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Harris has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Shak is proving hard to escape from.
Harris trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Harris wants to stand but Shak is controlling his posture from full guard.
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.

Harris decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Shak, up you get!

Harris gets a clinch.
Harris goes for a takedown in the clinch but Shak prevents it.
Harris is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Shak pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Russel Shak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Harris.
Harris keeps control of Shak as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Harris's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Harris fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Shak has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Russel Shak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shak has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Harris.
Shak on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Harris. Harris obviously looking to wear him down.
Craig Harris is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice takedown defense from Harris. No joy for Shak on that attempt.
No luck for Shak with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shak shoots in looking for a takedown. Harris tries to sprawl out of it but Shak keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Harris manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Harris.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shak misses with a head kick.
Harris is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Some wild striking there from Shak.
Harris keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Harris thumps Shak with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harris throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Shak.
Harris throws a nice inside leg kick.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Shak. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

Harris has Shak up against the cage in a clinch.

Harris breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shak throws an off balance right hand
and Harris counters with a solid body kick.
Harris fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Harris scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Shak shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Harris pinned against the cage. Harris gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Harris gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Harris blocks an elbow strike.

Harris has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Shak clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Harris has the hooks in. Shak is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Shak just trying to survive but Harris is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Shak is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Harris controls the action.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Harris avoiding Shak 's attempts to control his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Harris dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Harris scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Harris goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Shak looks to land a combination but Harris avoids it well.
Harris scores with a push kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Shak can't break the clinch.

Harris has Shak pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Harris pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Shak tumbling to the mat - Harris dives into Shak's guard.
Harris looking to pass the guard.
Shak is trying to control the position but Harris postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harris wants to stand but Shak is controlling his posture from full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Shak is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Shak being controlled here, momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Russel Shak just wasn't active enough.
Harris lands a two punch combo.
Harris buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Shak tries to clinch up but Harris circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Harris.
Harris moves in looking to clinch but Shak pushes him off.
Shak shoots for a double leg takedown but Harris sprawls well. He's pushed Shak's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shak wants to clinch.
Shak fails to land the takedown.
Shak has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Harris.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shak.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russel Shak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Harris turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shak on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Shak fails with the takedown.
Harris lands a nice leg kick that just misses Shak's sensitive parts.
Harris fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Shak shoots in for a takedown but Harris shows good takedown defense.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Harris connects with an inside leg kick.
Shak is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Harris lands with a kick to the ribs.
Harris scoring well with a low kick there.
Harris is looking to slow Shak down with leg kicks.
Harris scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Shak takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Shak looks to throw a body kick
and Harris counters with a thumping low kick.
Harris feints and then cracks Shak's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Shak down.
Harris lands a nice leg kick that just misses Shak's sensitive parts.
Harris moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Harris. That's going to slow Shak down.
Harris feints and then cracks Shak's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Shak down.
Russel Shak is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Shak.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Harris connects with a high kick.
Harris cracks the inside of Shak's front leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Harris showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Harris clinches.
Shak gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Harris.
Shak is looking to break free of the clinch but Harris has double underhooks.

Shak lands a takedown into guard.
Harris keeping moving, preventing Shak from controlling successfully.
Harris looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shak is one step ahead there.
Harris looking to control but Shak passes into half guard.
Harris gets full guard.
Harris really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shak. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shak gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Harris cracks Shak with a right hand to the side of the head.
Harris slips a jab and a cross from Shak.
Shak shoots in for a double leg but Harris sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Harris throws a nice outside leg kick.
Harris moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Harris clinches up with Shak and pushes him back against the cage.

Harris has clasped his hands together around Shak's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shak seems a little lost for a moment, as Harris dominates the positioning.
Shak struggling a bit here.
Shak is not content to let Harris control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shak manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Harris is trying to control but can't.
Shak is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Harris is positioning himself well to prevent Shak advancing to mount.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Harris taking some punishment here, with Shak in his half guard.
Shak wants to lay and pray for a moment but Harris keeps working.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Harris can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Shak has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Harris.
Harris turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Shak is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shak takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Harris scores with a nice strike.
Harris lands with a kick to the temple. Shak shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Shak closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Harris's guard.

Harris is working an open guard so Shak takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Harris feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Shak's calf.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Shak scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Check out the look on Shak's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shak lands some shots froms side control.
Shak is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Shak trying to control the action but Harris is working from the bottom.
Shak happy to just control the position for now.
Russel Shak has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Craig Harris is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shak trying to control the position but Harris is working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Russel Shak.
I think Harris has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Harris!