PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Ringo (ranked 3065 p4p, 307 weight class) and Rustam Shakhbulatov (ranked 1054 p4p, 118 weight class). Shakhbulatov has chosen Sabina Saidova - Dagestan as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ringo
vs
Shakhbulatov

177 cm
27
165 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

178 cm
27
167 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Powerful

Arcticus University: London
Juggernaut And Gladiators

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny Ringo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rustam Shakhbulatov!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shakhbulatov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Shakhbulatov feints the counter takedown.
Ringo misses the shot to the body.
Ringo tries to bum rush Shakhbulatov with a series of wild strikes but Shakhbulatov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ringo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Ringo stalks Shakhbulatov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Shakhbulatov's face. Shakhbulatov staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like Rustam Shakhbulatov has been cut.
Shakhbulatov avoids the body shot from Ringo.
Ringo misses with the combination.
And Shakhbulatov tries to counter it with a takedown but Ringo pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Ringo fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ringo moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Shakhbulatov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ringo misses with a left hand
and Ringo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Shakhbulatov ducks right into an uppercut from Ringo.
Ringo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ringo misses with a combination

and Shakhbulatov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Ringo tries to stall but Shakhbulatov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Shakhbulatov wants a takedown.
Ringo is pressed up against the cage. Shakhbulatov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ringo down to the mat. Ringo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Johnny Ringo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rustam Shakhbulatov.
Shakhbulatov slips a jab and a cross from Ringo.
Shakhbulatov shoots in for a takedown but Ringo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ringo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ringo misses with a body kick.

Shakhbulatov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ringo is trying to defend but Shakhbulatov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ringo pushes Shakhbulatov off looking to stand but Shakhbulatov dives back in and keeps control.
Ringo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shakhbulatov is working away from the top position though.
Ringo pushes Shakhbulatov off but Shakhbulatov dives into side control.
Shakhbulatov working the head with strikes.
Shakhbulatov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ringo tries to improve position but can't.
Shakhbulatov working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Ringo is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shakhbulatov looks up at the clock and then as Ringo takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Shakhbulatov smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
An elbow from Shakhbulatov crashes against the mat.
Ringo is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Shakhbulatov is controlling him well.
Shakhbulatov 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.

Shakhbulatov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ringo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Shakhbulatov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ringo keeps working.
Ringo struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ringo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Shakhbulatov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Ringo struggling a bit here.
Shakhbulatov lands some shots froms side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Shakhbulatov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Shakhbulatov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Shakhbulatov misses with the ground and pound.
Shakhbulatov misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Shakhbulatov looks up at the clock and then as Ringo takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Shakhbulatov smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Ringo dodges the ground and pound from Shakhbulatov.
Ringo struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Johnny Ringo will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rustam Shakhbulatov's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Shakhbulatov checks the leg kick.
Ringo lands a two punch combo.
Ringo misses with the combination.
Ringo misses with a wild combination.
Shakhbulatov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Johnny Ringo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

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

Ringo pushes Shakhbulatov off and scrambles back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Shakhbulatov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ringo is trying to defend but Shakhbulatov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Ringo pushes Shakhbulatov off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shakhbulatov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ringo pinned against the cage. Ringo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nice body punch from Shakhbulatov.
Ringo misses with a double jab.
Ringo misses with a two punch combination.
Johnny Ringo is winning the standup battle so far.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ringo enables Shakhbulatov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ringo manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ringo wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Shakhbulatov manages to pass to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ringo is looking to improve his position.
Ringo trying to control from the bottom.
Shakhbulatov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ringo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Ringo tries to get to full guard but Shakhbulatov has control of the leg.
Shakhbulatov trying to control the action but Ringo is working from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shakhbulatov tries to pass to full mount but Ringo defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shakhbulatov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ringo sees it coming and defends easily.
Shakhbulatov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ringo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Shakhbulatov is trying to work for a kimura but Ringo is defending well.
Ringo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shakhbulatov is working away from the top position though.
Ringo is in trouble now - Shakhbulatov has advanced to mount!
Ringo tries to hold on but Shakhbulatov pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ringo tries to buck Shakhbulatov off but he can't manage it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ringo is looking to get to half guard.
Ringo taking shots to the head.
Shakhbulatov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Shakhbulatov landing strikes, looking to finish!
Shakhbulatov controlling the position easily from mount.

Shakhbulatov looking to isolate an arm here. Ringo doesn't see it coming and as Shakhbulatov extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Shakhbulatov!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rustam Shakhbulatov!
Rustam Shakhbulatov managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Arcticus University: London, into his post fight interview.