PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aflatun Hasanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Butch Shorette (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shorette has chosen No New Friends as his entrance music. Butch Shorette will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hasanov
vs
Shorette

170 cm
26
165 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

180 cm
23
165 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aflatun Hasanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Butch Shorette!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hasanov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Shorette paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Shorette misses with an uppercut. Hasanov saw that one coming.
Hasanov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Aflatun Hasanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Shorette closes the distance and clinches.
Shorette lands a nice uppercut.
Shorette lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Shorette is pushing Hasanov up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Hasanov tries to pull guard but Shorette holds him up against the cage and eventually Hasanov drops back down to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shorette's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shorette has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Hasanov is landing a low percentage of strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hasanov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hasanov closes the distance and clinches up with Shorette, looking for a takedown. Hasanov pushes Shorette against the cage but Shorette circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
We've been hearing reports that Hasanov has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aflatun Hasanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shorette throws a body shot but no joy.
Hasanov has his takedown stuffed
and Shorette connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Shorette is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hasanov.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Shorette lands a body punch in the clinch.
The referee calls for Shorette to work.
A short uppercut from Shorette.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shorette will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Hasanov up against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Shorette.
Hasanov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shorette just stands there and leans against the cage.
Shorette working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Shorette breaks the clinch.
Shorette throws a hook but Hasanov avoids it easily.
Shorette throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Butch Shorette is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hasanov looks to score with a jab to the body but Shorette is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hasanov goes for a double leg but Shorette avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Shorette continues to drive forward.

Shorette escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A punch lands to the side of Hasanov 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Shorette tries to clinch but Hasanov moves out of range.
Shorette misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hasanov.
Hasanov darts in looking for a takedown but Shorette gets double underhooks and turns Hasanov into the cage.
Hasanov fails to pull guard.
Shorette tries a body shot but Hasanov blocks it.
Shorette lands with a right to the head.

Shorette manages to break the clinch.
Shorette fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hasanov fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hasanov dives in and grabs Shorette's left leg, looking for a takedown. Shorette pushes down on Hasanov's head and hops out.
Hasanov takes one on the button.
Shorette connects with a right hand. Hasanov shakes it off.
Hasanov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Shorette scores with a body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Shorette clinches with his opponent.
Hasanov fails to pull guard.
Hasanov being controlled against the cage.
Shorette pushes Hasanov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Butch Shorette dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hasanov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Shorette.

Shorette moves into the clinch.
Shorette lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hasanov backwards.
Shorette cracks Hasanov with a nice body shot.
Shorette manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The crowd are getting on Shorette's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hasanov jumps guard but Shorette stands there with Hasanov around his waist. Hasanov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shorette tries to throw a body punch but Hasanov avoids it by throwing Shorette back against the cage.
Hasanov tries to pull guard but Shorette forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Shorette lands on the inside with an uppercut.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Shorette throws a body punch but Hasanov moves out of range.
Shorette keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shorette misses with a hook.
Hasanov misses with a low kick.
Hasanov on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Hasanov fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aflatun Hasanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shorette looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hasanov shoots for a takedown but Shorette saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Shorette connects with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shorette displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hasanov.
Hasanov shoots in looking for a takedown. Shorette tries to sprawl out of it but Hasanov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shorette manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice takedown defense from Shorette. No joy for Hasanov on that attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Shorette lands with a short shot to the head.
Hasanov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Shorette pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shorette slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Butch Shorette seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hasanov shoots in for a double leg but Shorette sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Shorette is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Shorette loads up on a big right hand but Hasanov slips the punch.

Shorette lands a big uppercut and Hasanov crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Hasanov looks OK. Shorette waves Hasanov back to his feet!

Hasanov is rocked!

It looks like Aflatun Hasanov has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shorette throws a hook but Hasanov avoids it easily.
Oh Hasanov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Shorette throws out a loose jab but Hasanov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hasanov moves out of range as Shorette strikes.

Hasanov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Shorette manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hasanov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shorette swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hasanov trying to control but Shorette is working from the bottom.
Hasanov seems to have got his legs back now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shorette pulls Hasanov in to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Butch Shorette showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Aflatun Hasanov's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hasanov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Shorette moves into the clinch.
Shorette lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hasanov backwards.
Hasanov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Shorette walks away with a smile on his face. Hasanov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Shorette tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hasanov was well out of range. Poor timing from Shorette.
No luck for Hasanov with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aflatun Hasanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shorette fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shorette darts in and clinches Hasanov up against the cage.

Shorette breaks the clinch.
Hasanov fails with the takedown.
Hasanov shoots in looking for a takedown. Shorette tries to sprawl out of it but Hasanov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shorette manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hasanov gets the takedown into side control.
Shorette tries to bench press Hasanov off him but Hasanov keeps the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hasanov taking a breather here.
Hasanov creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Shorette sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Shorette pushes Hasanov away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Hasanov gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Hasanov is looking to take a break and control but Shorette is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Hasanov crashes against the mat.
Hasanov scoring with punches and elbows.
Shorette has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sloppy strikes there by Hasanov.
Hasanov is putting a hurting on Shorette here, landing some big shots from side control.
Hasanov throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Hasanov is trying to get an arm triangle but Shorette is defending well.
Shorette avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Hasanov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hasanov is working Shorette over with some ground and pound from side control.
Hasanov misses with the ground and pound.
Hasanov misses with the ground and pound.
Hasanov tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Hasanov lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Shorette down.
Aflatun Hasanov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hasanov throws an elbow but Shorette slips to the side and avoids it well.
Shorette is looking to regain half guard here but Hasanov keeps moving and retains side control.
Butch Shorette 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.
Hasanov misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Shorette defending against the ground and pound.
Hasanov lands an elbow.
Hasanov tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Aflatun Hasanov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shorette defending against the ground and pound.
Hasanov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Hasanov lands an elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hasanov misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
An elbow from Hasanov crashes against the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aflatun Hasanov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shorette 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Butch Shorette!
Butch Shorette spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.