PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Muana Shylo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Luzhin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Luzhin has chosen Toccata and Fugue as his entrance music. Muana Shylo has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Shylo
vs
Luzhin

186 cm
26
182 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

181 cm
21
174 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Muana Shylo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikolai Luzhin!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luzhin feints and then cracks Shylo's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Shylo down.
We've been informed that Luzhin has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Luzhin scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A good leg kick by Luzhin.

Shylo feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Luzhin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Luzhin trying to pass the guard but Shylo defending well.
Luzhin content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Shylo wants to get back to his feet.
It looks like Luzhin is going to stand back up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Shylo actively working from the bottom here.

Shylo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Shylo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shylo wants to improve his position but Luzhin is controlling well.

Shylo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Luzhin tries to stand but can't do so whilst Shylo controls his leg.
Luzhin frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Luzhin controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shylo can't escape the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nikolai Luzhin was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Luzhin slips under a jab.
Shylo dives in and grabs Luzhin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Luzhin pushes down on Shylo's head and hops out.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Luzhin stuffs the takedown attempt from Shylo. Shylo gets slowly back to his feet.
Shylo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Luzhin's waist but Luzhin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Shylo off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Muana Shylo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shylo is breathing heavily.
Luzhin lands an overhand right.
Shylo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shylo tries for a takedown but Luzhin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Luzhin gets a clinch.
Luzhin lands a knee to the body.
Luzhin stops a takedown attempt from Shylo.
Luzhin gets through Shylo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Luzhin lands a knee to the head.
Luzhin is leaning against Shylo and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Luzhin landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luzhin lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Shylo.
Luzhin connects with a knee to the head.
Shylo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Luzhin gets through Shylo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Shylo is looking for a takedown.
Luzhin is leaning against Shylo and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Luzhin lands a hook that snaps the head of Shylo backwards.
Luzhin lands a good knee to the midsection. Shylo won't want to take too many of those.
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!
Luzhin lands an uppercut.
A nice left hand lands by Luzhin.
Still in the clinch, Luzhin scores with a nice short uppercut.
Luzhin lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Luzhin lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Shylo backwards.
Still in the clinch, Luzhin scores with a nice short uppercut.

Shylo is rocked!
Luzhin is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Oh Shylo is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Luzhin lands a good knee to the midsection. Shylo won't want to take too many of those.
Luzhin connects with a knee to the head.
Luzhin lands a nice shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luzhin has Shylo pressed up against the cage in a tight Thai clinch. Shylo is arching his back, trying to avoid the knees but a big one sneaks through from Luzhin - that's hurt Shylo badly! Oh, another knee lands and Shylo is covering up! The referee steps in to save him - possibly a bit early but Shylo doesn't seem to be complaining.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:10 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knees). Nikolai Luzhin!
An out of breath Nikolai Luzhin thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.