PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andy Shifter (ranked 334 p4p, 50 weight class) and Eugeniy Petrov (ranked 426 p4p, 68 weight class). Shifter comes to the cage accompanied by Lützenkirchen- Nutcracker . Eugeniy Petrov has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Shifter
vs
Petrov

200 cm
23
216 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

185 cm
31
215 lbs
16 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Top Nutrition 160Q\200$ 140Q\150$ 100Q\50$

Sin City Allstars

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Andy Shifter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Eugeniy Petrov!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, John Kavanagh and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shifter fails to land the takedown.
Shifter tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Petrov swivels and escapes.
It seemed like Petrov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Shifter shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Petrov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andy Shifter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shifter dives in for a single leg takedown but Petrov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Shifter takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shifter goes for a double leg but Petrov avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Petrov continues to drive forward.
Petrov throws a hook but Shifter blocks it.
Shifter on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Petrov to counter with a crisp jab.
Petrov misses with a straight left.
Shifter appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Petrov throws a poor cross that misses

and Shifter counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Petrov!
You can see the frustration on Petrov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Shifter tries for a kimura but Petrov is defending well.

Shifter tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Petrov manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shifter regains full guard. Nicely done.
Shifter keeping moving, preventing Petrov from controlling successfully.
Petrov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shifter sneaks back into half guard.

Shifter is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Petrov pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Shifter is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Petrov pulls his head out easily.

Shifter is defending against the submission attempts here by Petrov.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Petrov tries to pass to full mount but Shifter defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shifter regains full guard. Nicely done.

Petrov drops back looking for a leg! Shifter is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Shifter manages to kick Petrov off! Petrov jumps back into Shifter's guard.

Shifter has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Petrov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Petrov trying to control but Shifter is working from the bottom.

Shifter looking for a guillotine here but Petrov defends easily.

Shifter looking for subs off his back but Petrov has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shifter is defending against the submission attempts here by Petrov.
Shifter throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Petrov is trying to control the action in half guard but Shifter is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Shifter is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Shifter trying to get back to full guard but Petrov takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Petrov tries to control but Shifter wriggling away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shifter is looking to improve his position but Petrov isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eugeniy Petrov dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Petrov missing with a left hand there. Shifter was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Shifter shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Petrov but Petrov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shifter uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Petrov.
Shifter shoots in looking for a takedown. Petrov tries to sprawl out of it but Shifter keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Petrov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shifter moves out of range of the strikes.
Shifter shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Petrov as he avoids it easily.
Petrov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andy Shifter. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov lands with a right hand.
Petrov misses the shot to the body.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Petrov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Shifter shoots in looking for a takedown. Petrov tries to sprawl out of it but Shifter keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Petrov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Petrov looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Shifter fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Petrov to the ground. Shifter is now in Petrov's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shifter stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Petrov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Shifter is working hard here to advance position.

Petrov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Shifter defends well.
Shifter throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Petrov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Shifter drops back looking for a leg! Petrov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Petrov manages to kick Shifter off! Shifter jumps back into Petrov's guard.

Petrov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Petrov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shifter pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Petrov is keeping the position for now.

Shifter is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Petrov is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Petrov has escaped and now he's on top!

Petrov trying to control the position from guard on top but Shifter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
My spies in St Petersburg MMA Gym inform me that Petrov has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Shifter will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Shifter looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Shifter looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Petrov is defending well. Shifter quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Petrov has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Shifter celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Andy Shifter!
Andy Shifter seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.