PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Edvard Grieg (ranked 3117 p4p, 352 weight class) and Shakhbulat Shamkhalaev (ranked 2187 p4p, 254 weight class). Shakhbulat Shamkhalaev has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Grieg
vs
Shamkhalaev

167 cm
25
165 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

181 cm
32
162 lbs
19 - 16 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Edvard Grieg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shakhbulat Shamkhalaev!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Patrick Alders and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grieg uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Shamkhalaev.
Shamkhalaev throws a jab but it's blocked by Grieg.
Shamkhalaev throws a left and a right that both miss
and Grieg counters with a left to the body.
Shamkhalaev missing with a left hand there. Grieg was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Shamkhalaev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Grieg.
Shamkhalaev misses with an uppercut.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Shamkhalaev.
Shamkhalaev scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Grieg doesn't seem bothered though.
Shamkhalaev blocks a head kick by Grieg.
Grieg finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Grieg takes a jab right on the kisser.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shamkhalaev throws a shot to the body.
Shamkhalaev looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Shakhbulat Shamkhalaev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shamkhalaev swings for the body but Grieg moves out of range.
Grieg throws a combination. Shamkhalaev tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shamkhalaev thuds a left hand into Grieg's body.
Shamkhalaev sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Grieg.
Shamkhalaev works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Grieg uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shamkhalaev.
Shamkhalaev missing with a left hand there. Grieg was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Grieg misses with a series of wild punches.
Grieg throws a jab when Shamkhalaev was well out of range.
Shamkhalaev connects with a body shot.
Grieg has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Shamkhalaev finds it's way round the side to connect with Grieg's head.
Jab from Shamkhalaev.
Grieg misses with a looping left.
Shamkhalaev lands a nice hook to Grieg's body. Grieg takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Good shot there by Shamkhalaev.
Shakhbulat Shamkhalaev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Grieg misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shamkhalaev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Grieg.
Jab by Shamkhalaev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Shamkhalaev.
Shamkhalaev lands a head shot.
Shamkhalaev throws an off balance right hand
and Grieg counters with a nice uppercut.
Shamkhalaev walks into a straight right hand from Grieg.
Shamkhalaev moves away from the strike by Grieg.
Donk. Grieg catches Shamkhalaev right on the button with a cross.
Grieg looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Grieg takes a jab right on the kisser.
Grieg scores with a three punch combo!
Grieg throws a sloppy head kick
and Shamkhalaev counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Shamkhalaev is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Shamkhalaev throws a jab when Grieg was well out of range.
Grieg throws a big counter combination but Shamkhalaev scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Shamkhalaev is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Grieg had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Shamkhalaev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shamkhalaev misses with a hook to the body
letting Grieg counter with a right hand.
Shamkhalaev is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grieg misses with a hook. Shamkhalaev ducked under it nicely.
Grieg misses with a left hand
and Shamkhalaev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Grieg avoids the head kick by Shamkhalaev.
Shamkhalaev pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
It appears Grieg was looking to counter with a kick there.
Grieg takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Shamkhalaev misses with a hook to the body
and Grieg counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Shamkhalaev looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Shamkhalaev cracks Grieg with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Shamkhalaev scores with a nice head shot.
Shamkhalaev misses the shot to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Grieg on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Shamkhalaev lands with a nice body punch.
Grieg on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Shamkhalaev ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Grieg loads up on a big right hand but Shamkhalaev slips the punch.
Shamkhalaev lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shamkhalaev lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Shamkhalaev misses with a leg kick.
Grieg looks to score with a jab to the body but Shamkhalaev is just out of range.
Shamkhalaev swings for the body but Grieg moves out of range.
A slow jab from Shamkhalaev misses its intended target.
Shamkhalaev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Shamkhalaev dips to his left and cracks Grieg with an uppercut!
Grieg misses with a wild combination.
Shamkhalaev misses with a wild body shot.

Grieg throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Shamkhalaev was covering up waiting for the punch and Grieg finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shamkhalaev pulls Grieg in close to prevent any damage.
Grieg throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shamkhalaev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shakhbulat Shamkhalaev dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Shamkhalaev bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Grieg's head.
Shamkhalaev throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Grieg counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Grieg lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Shamkhalaev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Grieg was well out of range. Poor timing from Shamkhalaev.
Grieg connects with a nice looking jab.
Shamkhalaev connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Shamkhalaev jabs at Grieg's body.
Grieg throws a hook but Shamkhalaev avoids it easily.
Shamkhalaev takes one to the chin there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grieg throws a right and a left that Shamkhalaev avoids nicely.
Shamkhalaev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shamkhalaev ducks under a wild hook from Grieg.
Grieg throws a hook but Shamkhalaev avoids it easily.
Shamkhalaev scores with a push kick.
Shamkhalaev's jab looks to have found its range, popping Grieg under the eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grieg takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Grieg misses the jab.
Grieg misses with a kick to the body.
Nice defenses there by Shamkhalaev.
Good shot there by Shamkhalaev.
Shamkhalaev dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Shamkhalaev lands a slapping body shot.
The crowd cheers as Shamkhalaev lands an impressive looking overhand right. Grieg doesn't seem phased though.
Shamkhalaev jabs at Grieg's body.
Grieg takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A big left from Shamkhalaev misses.
Grieg is looking to counter with head kicks.
Shamkhalaev misses with a hook.
Shamkhalaev swings for the body but Grieg moves out of range.
Grieg fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Shamkhalaev.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grieg throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shamkhalaev fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Shamkhalaev dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Shamkhalaev scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Shamkhalaev throws a left and a right that both miss
and Grieg counters with a right hand to the body.
Grieg avoids a punch combination nicely.
Grieg has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Shamkhalaev.
Shamkhalaev scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Grieg looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Shamkhalaev lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Grieg at a distance.
Grieg takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Shamkhalaev looks to score with a jab to the body but Grieg is just out of range.
Shamkhalaev lands a head shot.
Grieg moves out of range of the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grieg clobbers Shamkhalaev with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Shamkhalaev scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Grieg misses with a kick to the body.
Shamkhalaev is looking to land body kicks.
As Shamkhalaev backs away, Grieg returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Grieg misses with a head kick.
Shamkhalaev now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Shamkhalaev has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Grieg drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Shamkhalaev looks to score with a jab to the body but Grieg is just out of range.
Shamkhalaev thuds a left hand into Grieg's body.
Grieg checks the leg kick.
Grieg lands a jab to Shamkhalaev's midsection.
Shamkhalaev works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Shamkhalaev digs a good hook to Grieg's body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nice body punch from Shamkhalaev.
Shamkhalaev throws the left hand but Grieg avoids the punch easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shamkhalaev bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Grieg's head.
Grieg doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Grieg walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Grieg tries to clinch but Shamkhalaev moves out of range.
Shamkhalaev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Grieg.
Shamkhalaev keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Grieg cracks Shamkhalaev with a right hand to the side of the head.
Shamkhalaev displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Grieg throws out the jab.
Grieg walks into a stiff left hand from Shamkhalaev.
Shamkhalaev lands a slapping body shot.
Shamkhalaev ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shamkhalaev cracks Grieg with a good jab.
Shamkhalaev scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Grieg works Shamkhalaev's body with a nice hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shakhbulat Shamkhalaev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice defenses there by Grieg.
Shamkhalaev lands with a shot to the body.
Grieg tried to score with a low kick but Shamkhalaev checks it.
Shamkhalaev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Grieg.
Nice uppercut lands for Shamkhalaev. That snapped Grieg's head back.
Grieg misses with an attempted mid kick.
Grieg needs to keep his hands up - Shamkhalaev had a free shot at his head there.
Shamkhalaev lands the left hand.
A slow jab from Shamkhalaev misses its intended target.
Shamkhalaev lands with an overhand left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grieg gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Grieg moves out of range of the strikes.
Grieg seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Grieg needs to keep his hands up - Shamkhalaev had a free shot at his head there.
Shamkhalaev throws out a loose jab but Grieg uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grieg misses with an uppercut. Shamkhalaev saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grieg lands a jab to the nose.
A punch combination from Shamkhalaev misses.
Grieg throws a jab when Shamkhalaev was well out of range.
Shamkhalaev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shamkhalaev rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Grieg counters with a stiff right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Grieg. Shamkhalaev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shamkhalaev missing with a left hand there. Grieg was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Shamkhalaev listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Shamkhalaev slips a jab from Grieg.
Grieg moves out of range of the body kick.
Shamkhalaev scores with a three punch combo!
Grieg tries a head kick but it misses.
Grieg misses the jab.
A punch combination from Shamkhalaev misses.
Edvard Grieg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grieg jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Grieg chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Shamkhalaev can pounce on him.
Grieg is looking to clinch but Shamkhalaev is avoiding it.
Shamkhalaev scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Shamkhalaev cracks Grieg with a good jab.
Shamkhalaev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Grieg thows a body kick. Shamkhalaev tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Shamkhalaev uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Grieg.
A jab from Shamkhalaev does it's job there.
Grieg is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Shamkhalaev uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Grieg.
Grieg takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Grieg misses with a straight right.
Grieg tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Shamkhalaev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Grieg misses.
Grieg scores with a jab to the head.
Shamkhalaev throws a shot to the body.
Grieg has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Shamkhalaev.
Grieg misses with a hook.
Shamkhalaev misses the shot to the body.
Shakhbulat Shamkhalaev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Grieg slips under a jab from Shamkhalaev.
Shamkhalaev misses with a looping left.
Grieg throwing a counter right hand but Shamkhalaev manages to avoid it.
Shamkhalaev listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Grieg closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Grieg keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shamkhalaev misses with the combination.
Shamkhalaev avoids the body shot from Grieg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grieg throws a low kick but it's checked well by Shamkhalaev.
Shamkhalaev swings for the body but Grieg moves out of range.
Shamkhalaev fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Grieg checks it well.
Shamkhalaev connects with a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Grieg fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Shamkhalaev.
Shamkhalaev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Grieg moves away.
Grieg walks into a stiff left hand from Shamkhalaev.
Shamkhalaev lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Grieg at a distance.
Grieg shoots in looking for a takedown. Shamkhalaev tries to sprawl out of it but Grieg keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shamkhalaev manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Grieg throws a low kick but Shamkhalaev moves out of range easily.
Grieg throws the left hand but Shamkhalaev avoids the punch easily.
Grieg swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shakhbulat Shamkhalaev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shamkhalaev 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shakhbulat Shamkhalaev!
Shakhbulat Shamkhalaev bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.