PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shakhbulat Shamkhalaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Fadden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Fadden has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Shakhbulat Shamkhalaev's chin.

Shamkhalaev
vs
Fadden

175 cm
25
154 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
26
149 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Shakhbulat Shamkhalaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, John Fadden!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Peter Branson and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shamkhalaev throws a hook but Fadden avoids it easily.

Fadden has taken the fight to the clinch.

Fadden breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A lazy left from Shamkhalaev finds it's target.
Fadden throws a solid leg kick but Shamkhalaev takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Fadden.
We've been hearing reports that Shamkhalaev has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Shamkhalaev instigates a clinch.
Shamkhalaev lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Shamkhalaev with a knee to the head.
Fadden avoiding damage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Fadden throws an elbow but misses.
Fadden trying to land knees to the body.
Fadden lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Shamkhalaev backwards.
Fadden working hard to break the clinch.
Fadden cracks Shamkhalaev with a nice body shot.
Fadden throws an elbow that misses.
Fadden lands a body punch in the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shamkhalaev pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

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

Fadden gets tackled into the cage by Shamkhalaev. Shamkhalaev maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shamkhalaev on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shamkhalaev blocks an elbow strike.
Fadden looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
With the fighters up against the cage, Shamkhalaev throws an elbow but misses.
Fadden connects with a knee to the head.
Fadden lands a nice uppercut.
Shamkhalaev looking to throw knees to the head but Fadden is blocking nicely.
Shamkhalaev throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Fadden dodges an elbow strike from Shamkhalaev.
Shamkhalaev lands an elbow just above Fadden 's eye.
Fadden's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Fadden receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Fadden using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shamkhalaev has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Shamkhalaev looking to throw knees to the head but Fadden is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shamkhalaev avoiding damage as Fadden throws knees to the body.

Fadden ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Fadden no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Shamkhalaev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Shamkhalaev postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Fadden is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Shamkhalaev, into his guard.
Fadden connects with a couple of short punches.
Shamkhalaev knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fadden on the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shamkhalaev can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Fadden controls the pace.
Fadden postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fadden distracts Shamkhalaev with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Fadden cracks Shamkhalaev with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fadden showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Fadden stands up from Shamkhalaev's guard - Fadden perhaps looking for a knockout.
Nice shot lands for Shamkhalaev.
Fadden darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Shamkhalaev misses with a double jab.

Fadden fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Shamkhalaev to the ground. Fadden is now in Shamkhalaev's guard.
Fadden postures up.
Fadden lands a couple of digs.

Fadden stands and steps away. Shamkhalaev gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Shakhbulat Shamkhalaev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fadden shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Shamkhalaev as he jumps to the side.

Shamkhalaev closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fadden has Shamkhalaev pushed against the cage.
Shamkhalaev tries to land a knee to the head but Fadden blocks with his arms.
Shamkhalaev misses with a knee to the head.
Fadden trying to land knees to the body.
Shamkhalaev with a knee to the head.
Fadden scores with a shot to the side of Shamkhalaev's head.
Fadden working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Shamkhalaev wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Shamkhalaev looking to throw knees to the head but Fadden is blocking nicely.
Fadden stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Shamkhalaev looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Fadden prevents Shamkhalaev from breaking the clinch.
Fadden trying to land knees to the body.
Shamkhalaev is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Fadden is defending well for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Fadden dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Fadden throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Shamkhalaev was covering up waiting for the punch and Fadden finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Fadden advances to half guard.
Shamkhalaev taking some punishment here, with Fadden in his half guard.

Fadden is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Shamkhalaev sees it coming and defends easily.
Fadden sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Fadden is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shamkhalaev scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Fadden manages to mount him!
Shamkhalaev tries to lock up and control but Fadden gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Fadden has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Fadden.

Fadden has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Shamkhalaev is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). John Fadden!
John Fadden thanked the fans post fight for their support.