PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Salman Shamkhalaev (ranked 1908 p4p, 226 weight class) and Mukhtar Sirawazi (ranked 2907 p4p, 326 weight class). Shamkhalaev comes to the ring accompanied by Alter Bridge - Ties That Bind. Salman Shamkhalaev is staring across the ring at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Shamkhalaev
vs
Sirawazi

180 cm
26
165 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

170 cm
20
167 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Thomspon 90%
KOMBAT KLOTHING

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Salman Shamkhalaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mukhtar Sirawazi!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Ren Mimura and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sirawazi looks to land a right hand but Shamkhalaev moved out of range.
Shamkhalaev attempts a counter takedown but Sirawazi avoids it well and moves away.
Sirawazi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Shamkhalaev.
Shamkhalaev half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Sirawazi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Shamkhalaev is pushing down on Sirawazi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sirawazi is fighting to maintain full guard but Shamkhalaev has managed to sneak the leg through.
Sirawazi felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Shamkhalaev is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Sirawazi!
Shamkhalaev scoring with strikes but Sirawazi is staying in there.
Shamkhalaev working the ground and pound effectively.
Shamkhalaev avoids the attempt from Sirawazi to control.
Sirawazi gets back to half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Shamkhalaev thows a huge punch but Sirawazi dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shamkhalaev prevents Sirawazi from improving his position.
Sirawazi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Shamkhalaev scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sirawazi tries to get to full guard but Shamkhalaev has control of the leg.
Shamkhalaev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sirawazi wants to control but Shamkhalaev is keeping busy.
Shamkhalaev thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sirawazi's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sirawazi has hold of Shamkhalaev's hands but Shamkhalaev slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Shamkhalaev passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Sirawazi!
Shamkhalaev lands a big shot there that rocks Sirawazi but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Sirawazi is looking to get to half guard.
BOOM! Shamkhalaev connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Shamkhalaev can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sirawazi is looking to escape.
Shamkhalaev looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shamkhalaev is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Sirawazi tries to reverse the position but Shamkhalaev maintains control.
Sirawazi is squirming around, avoiding Shamkhalaev's attempts to control the action.
Sirawazi tries to hold on but Shamkhalaev pushes him away.
Shamkhalaev lands a big elbow.
Shamkhalaev can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sirawazi is looking to escape.
Sirawazi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shamkhalaev with good strikes from the mount here!
Sirawazi is wriggling around trying to escape.
Shamkhalaev connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Shamkhalaev wants to finish this one by submission but Sirawazi is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Shamkhalaev.
Shamkhalaev with good strikes from the mount here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sirawazi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Shamkhalaev trying to control but Sirawazi is having none of it.
Sirawazi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shamkhalaev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Shamkhalaev is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sirawazi is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Shamkhalaev lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sirawazi hang on?
Shamkhalaev lands with some strikes.
Sirawazi is trying desperately to improve position.

Shamkhalaev working for a submission but Sirawazi is keeping him at bay.
Sirawazi is trying desperately to improve position.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Shamkhalaev looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Sirawazi tries to hold on but Shamkhalaev pushes him away.

Sirawazi defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Shamkhalaev.
Shamkhalaev is stalling here but it's allowed Sirawazi to get half guard.

Shamkhalaev is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Shamkhalaev is trying to control. Sirawazi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sirawazi keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Shamkhalaev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sirawazi keeps working.
Sirawazi is trying to get back to full guard.
Shamkhalaev throwing shots but Sirawazi is blocking nicely.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Shamkhalaev is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Shamkhalaev tries to pass to full mount but Sirawazi defends it.
Shamkhalaev seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sirawazi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sirawazi makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sirawazi.
Shamkhalaev tries to free his leg and advance position but Sirawazi is retaining full guard.
Sirawazi lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Shamkhalaev has momentary wrist control but Sirawazi slips an elbow through the middle.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Shamkhalaev working for a triangle but Sirawazi defends it easily.
Sirawazi is looking to work some ground and pound but Shamkhalaev has wrist control.
Sirawazi controlling from the top position.
Sirawazi throws a strike but Shamkhalaev rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Shamkhalaev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sirawazi can do anything to dispel that myth.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shamkhalaev is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Sirawazi trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salman Shamkhalaev dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Shamkhalaev uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sirawazi.
Sirawazi lands a nice looking body shot.
Sirawazi takes a swing at Shamkhalaev's ribcage but misses.
Shamkhalaev half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Sirawazi throws a right hand that misses

and Shamkhalaev counters with a shoot takedown. Sirawazi fights it but they end up in guard.
Shamkhalaev preventing the sweep.
Shamkhalaev advances to half guard.
Shamkhalaev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sirawazi keeps working.
Sirawazi is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shamkhalaev is keen to just control but Sirawazi is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shamkhalaev is trying to work for a kimura but Sirawazi is defending well.
Sirawazi is controlling Shamkhalaev's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Sirawazi tries to get to full guard but Shamkhalaev has control of the leg.
Shamkhalaev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sirawazi keeps working.

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.
Nice strikes from Shamkhalaev there.
Sirawazi wants to control but Shamkhalaev is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Shamkhalaev lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Shamkhalaev working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Shamkhalaev lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Shamkhalaev seems to be looking for submissions.
Sirawazi taking some punishment here, with Shamkhalaev in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shamkhalaev working over Sirawazi with some ground and pound. Sirawazi looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Shamkhalaev is working for a kimura but Sirawazi is defending it quite comfortably.
Sirawazi trying to hold on to Shamkhalaev's head to control him but Shamkhalaev postures up.
Sirawazi is trying is best to control the position here.
Sirawazi is refusing to be controlled, as Shamkhalaev sits in half guard.
Sirawazi trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Shamkhalaev manages to pass to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shamkhalaev with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Shamkhalaev pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Shamkhalaev trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Shamkhalaev looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Salman Shamkhalaev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Shamkhalaev cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Shamkhalaev postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sirawazi looks a forlorn figure.
Shamkhalaev has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Shamkhalaev avoids the attempt from Sirawazi to control.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Shamkhalaev looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Sirawazi is desperately trying to improve his position but Shamkhalaev has a good base and remains in mount.
Sirawazi tries to hold on but Shamkhalaev pushes him away.
Shamkhalaev trying to control but Sirawazi is having none of it.
Sirawazi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Shamkhalaev tries to control but Sirawazi wriggling away.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Sirawazi tries to hold on but Shamkhalaev postures up.
Shamkhalaev pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Shamkhalaev controlling the position easily from mount.
Sirawazi tries to lock up and control but Shamkhalaev gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Shamkhalaev is working for a guillotine from mount but Sirawazi frees his head quite easily.
Sirawazi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Shamkhalaev raining down hammerfists from mount.
Shamkhalaev wants to control the pace but Sirawazi is squirming around nicely.

Shamkhalaev is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Sirawazi is surviving well by controlling Shamkhalaev's body position as best he can.
Shamkhalaev postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sirawazi looks a forlorn figure.
Shamkhalaev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sirawazi can do to turn this around?
Sirawazi tries to reverse the position but Shamkhalaev maintains control.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Shamkhalaev unloading with bombs!
Sirawazi wants to control but Shamkhalaev is having none of it.
Sirawazi working to try and regain half guard.

Shamkhalaev looking for a guillotine from mount but Sirawazi is having none of it.
Shamkhalaev trying to control but Sirawazi is having none of it.
Shamkhalaev lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Sirawazi is looking to improve his position but Shamkhalaev isn't that keen on the idea.
Shamkhalaev tries to control but Sirawazi wriggling away.

Shamkhalaev is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Sirawazi has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Salman Shamkhalaev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shamkhalaev wants to control the pace but Sirawazi is squirming around nicely.
Mukhtar Sirawazi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shamkhalaev scores with a couple of good head shots there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Salman Shamkhalaev showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shamkhalaev has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight for Salman Shamkhalaev!
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Salman Shamkhalaev!
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Salman Shamkhalaev!

Salman Shamkhalaev wins by unanimous decision!
Salman Shamkhalaev decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.