PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Speedy Light (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arman Shaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arman Shaker has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Light
vs
Shaker

185 cm
32
180 lbs
13 - 12 - 0

180 cm
20
182 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
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 13 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Speedy Light!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arman Shaker!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Light misses with a double jab.
Shaker takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Shaker scores with a head kick.
Speedy Light seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shaker shoots in but no luck this time.
Light fails to land with a series of punches.
Shaker will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Light throws a series of punches but Shaker moves out of range.
Shaker staying out of range there.
Nice defenses there by Light.
Sloppy strikes from Light. Those never looked like landing.
Light throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Light.
Shaker fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shaker throws a head kick that Light semi-blocks.
Light lands a jab to the nose.
A jab from Shaker misses.
Light fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shaker throws a low kick but Light moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from Shaker.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Light steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Shaker.
Light displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Shaker.
Speedy Light has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arman Shaker.
A big right from Light misses.
Shaker is looking to slow Light down with leg kicks.
Light with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Light pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Shaker back to the cage. Light follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shaker is looking to score with low kicks.
Shaker pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Light misses.
Shaker throws a low kick but Light moves out of range easily.
Shaker shoots in looking for a takedown. Light tries to sprawl out of it but Shaker keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Light manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shaker. Light does a little dance to reset his feet.
Light slips a jab and a cross from Shaker.
Speedy Light is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Light lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shaker circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaker takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Shaker has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Light throws a hook to the side of Shaker's head but Shaker sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shaker fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Light avoids it really well and circles away.
Light blocks a head kick by Shaker.

Shaker is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Light's half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Shaker is trying to control. Light wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Arman Shaker will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A head kick misses from Shaker.
Shaker misses with a head kick.
Shaker avoids the body shot from Light.
Light tries to clinch but Shaker moves out of range.
Shaker throws a looping overhand right but Light ducks down to avoid it.
A big left from Light misses.
Light throws out a loose jab but Shaker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Light doesn't manage to clinch there - Shaker circles away.
Shaker lands a nice shot that snaps Light's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaker throws a head kick that misses.
Shaker fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Light avoids it really well and circles away.
Light lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Light throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Shaker.
Light throws a right and a left that Shaker avoids nicely.
Light misses with a wild body shot.
Shaker throws a sloppy head kick and Light moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Light tries to clinch up.
Light tries to clinch there but Shaker circles away.
Shaker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shaker swings widly with a right hand
and Light counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Shaker thinking.
Shaker misses with a body kick.
Shaker shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Shaker feints and as Light raises his hands in defense, Shaker changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shaker wants to control from the top but Light keeps moving.
Shaker with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaker stands and throws Light's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Shaker happy to just control the position for now.
Light stops Shaker from passing to mount.

Shaker tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shaker tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Light gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arman Shaker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Light throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Light takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Shaker throws a head kick but Light moves out of range.

Light rushes Shaker and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Light taking a breather.

Shaker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shaker lands with a cross.
Light moves in looking to clinch but Shaker pushes him off.
Shaker connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Light misses with a body shot.
Light scores with a jab to the head.
Light takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Shaker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shaker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shaker shoots in but no luck this time.
Light misses with a wild combination.
Shaker misses with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Light blocks a head kick by Shaker.
Shaker throws a head kick that misses.
Light misses with the combination.
A combination from Light does no damage.

Shaker is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Light's half guard.
Shaker thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaker seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Light does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Shaker is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Light has managed to free his arm - good work.

Shaker is trying to work for a kimura but Light is defending well.
Shaker wants to take a breather but Light is having none of it.
Arman Shaker is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaker perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Speedy Light has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

OK we're going to have a standup here. Arman Shaker hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Shaker misses with a body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arman Shaker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shaker winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arman Shaker!