PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Aslanbek Barayev (ranked 5451 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zabit Sharipov (ranked 5450 p4p, 490 weight class). Barayev comes to the cage accompanied by Antirespect - There. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Barayev
vs
Sharipov

173 cm
25
148 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Aslanbek Barayev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zabit Sharipov!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Peter Branson and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barayev tries to clinch up but Sharipov circles away and keeps his distance.
Sharipov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Barayev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Barayev moves into the clinch.
Barayev tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Barayev is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sharipov to keep the fight standing.
Barayev tries to pull guard but Sharipov forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aslanbek Barayev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sharipov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sharipov's corner calls for a 1-2. Sharipov obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Barayev moves in looking to clinch but Sharipov pushes him off.

Barayev takes the fight into the clinch.

Sharipov breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barayev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sharipov.
Sharipov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sharipov throws a hook but Barayev avoids it easily.
Barayev doesn't manage to clinch there - Sharipov circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sharipov. Barayev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Barayev doesn't manage to clinch there - Sharipov circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barayev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Sharipov tries to keep at a distance but Barayev has taken the fight into the clinch.

Sharipov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Barayev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sharipov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sharipov appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Barayev wants to clinch up but Sharipov keeps it at a distance.
Barayev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sharipov.
Barayev tries to clinch up but Sharipov circles away and keeps his distance.
A little jabbing left from Sharipov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Sharipov misses the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barayev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sharipov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Barayev moves into the clinch.
Barayev jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sharipov walks away with a smile on his face. Barayev gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Barayev displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sharipov throws out the jab.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sharipov darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Barayev pushes Sharipov up against the cage in a clinch.
Barayev tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Barayev tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sharipov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Barayev tries to pull guard but Sharipov won't allow it.

Sharipov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barayev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sharipov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barayev tries to clinch up but Sharipov circles away and keeps his distance.
Barayev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sharipov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A little jabbing left from Sharipov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Sharipov throws the left hand but Barayev avoids the punch easily.
Barayev moves in looking to clinch but Sharipov pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barayev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sharipov appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Sharipov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barayev.
Barayev tries to clinch there but Sharipov circles away.
A little jabbing left from Sharipov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Sharipov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Barayev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sharipov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sharipov let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Barayev moves away from the strike by Sharipov.
Barayev tries to clinch up.
Sharipov throws out a counter right but Barayev avoids it with no problem.

Barayev clinches up with Sharipov and pushes him back against the cage.

Sharipov manages to break the clinch.
Barayev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sharipov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Barayev tries to close the distance and clinch but Sharipov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sharipov gets tackled into the cage by Barayev. Barayev maintains the clinch.
Barayev tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sharipov just stands there and leans against the cage.

Sharipov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barayev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sharipov swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Barayev.
Barayev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sharipov.
Barayev tries to clinch there but Sharipov circles away.
Barayev doesn't manage to clinch there - Sharipov circles away.
Barayev tries to clinch there but Sharipov circles away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sharipov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Barayev fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zabit Sharipov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Barayev is looking to clinch.
Sharipov jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Barayev closes the distance and clinches.
Barayev tries to pull guard but Sharipov holds him up against the cage and eventually Barayev drops back down to his feet.

Sharipov manages to break the clinch.
Sharipov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Barayev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sharipov throws out a counter right but Barayev avoids it with no problem.
Barayev moves out of range of the strikes.
Barayev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sharipov is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Barayev with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barayev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sharipov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sharipov! But no joy.
Barayev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sharipov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barayev tries to clinch up but Sharipov circles away and keeps his distance.
Barayev ducks under a wild hook from Sharipov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barayev wants to clinch up but Sharipov keeps it at a distance.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sharipov! But no joy.
Sharipov looks to score with a jab to the body but Barayev is just out of range.
Zabit Sharipov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barayev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sharipov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sharipov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Barayev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Barayev wants to clinch up but Sharipov keeps it at a distance.
Barayev moves in looking to clinch but Sharipov pushes him off.
Sharipov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barayev.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barayev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Barayev tries to clinch there but Sharipov circles away.
Barayev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sharipov.
Barayev is looking to clinch but Sharipov is avoiding it.
It seemed like Sharipov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barayev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sharipov is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Barayev with a body shot.
Barayev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sharipov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sharipov throws a jab when Barayev was well out of range.
Barayev wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Barayev is looking to clinch but Sharipov is avoiding it.
Barayev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sharipov throws a jab when Barayev was well out of range.
Barayev is looking to clinch.
Sharipov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Barayev tries to clinch but Sharipov is having none of it.
Sharipov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sharipov was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Sharipov loads up on a big right hand but Barayev slips the punch.
Sharipov swats away the attempt to clinch by Barayev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Barayev as he checks the leg kick.

Barayev closes the distance and clinches.

Sharipov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A shot to the liver by Sharipov. Beautiful body shot.
Barayev blocks a low kick nicely.
Barayev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sharipov let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Sharipov misses with a body shot.

Barayev clinches up against the cage.

Sharipov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sharipov loads up on a big right hand but Barayev slips the punch.
Barayev is looking to clinch but Sharipov is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barayev tries to clinch but Sharipov moves out of range.
Sharipov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sharipov throws a hook to the side of Barayev's head but Barayev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Barayev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sharipov.
A jab from Sharipov misses.
Sharipov keeps the fight on the outside.
Sharipov tries a quick counter leg kick but Barayev is wise to it.
Sharipov does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Barayev wants to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sharipov misses with an uppercut

and Barayev counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Barayev.
Barayev tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sharipov smiles and moves away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Barayev takes the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zabit Sharipov 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!

Barayev tries to clinch up.
Barayev moves in looking to clinch but Sharipov pushes him off.
Barayev is looking to clinch but Sharipov is avoiding it.
Sharipov swings for the body but Barayev moves out of range.
Sharipov misses with a looping right.
Barayev tries to clinch up but Sharipov circles away and keeps his distance.

Barayev has closed the distance and engaged Sharipov in a clinch.

Sharipov breaks from the clinch.
Barayev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sharipov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barayev avoids the body shot from Sharipov.
Barayev tries to close the distance and clinch but Sharipov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sharipov appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Barayev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sharipov.
Barayev wants to clinch.
Sharipov throws out a counter right but Barayev avoids it with no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barayev instigates a clinch.

Sharipov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Barayev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Barayev is looking to clinch but Sharipov is avoiding it.
Sharipov throws a big shot that misses.
Barayev fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barayev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aslanbek Barayev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barayev uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sharipov.
Sharipov misses with an uppercut. Barayev saw that one coming.
Barayev tries to clinch up.
Barayev wants to clinch.
Sharipov throws out a loose jab but Barayev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barayev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sharipov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Barayev tries to clinch but Sharipov is having none of it.
Barayev throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sharipov misses the shot to the body.
Barayev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sharipov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharipov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Barayev.
Barayev throws a front kick aimed at Sharipov's knee but Sharipov avoids it well.
Sharipov is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Barayev with a body shot.

Barayev gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Sharipov breaks from the clinch.
Barayev is looking to clinch but Sharipov is avoiding it.
Sharipov appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Nice defenses there by Barayev.
Barayev is looking to clinch but Sharipov is avoiding it.
Barayev tries to close the distance and clinch but Sharipov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sharipov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barayev moves away.
Barayev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sharipov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Sharipov misses with a looping right.
Barayev tries to counter by clinching up but Sharipov breaks away and moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barayev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sharipov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barayev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A countering left hand to the body from Sharipov misses.
Barayev tries to clinch up.
Barayev tries to clinch up.
Barayev is looking to clinch but Sharipov is avoiding it.
Barayev tries to clinch up.
Sharipov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Barayev moves in looking to clinch but Sharipov pushes him off.
Zabit Sharipov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Barayev moves in looking to clinch but Sharipov pushes him off.
Sharipov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barayev moves in looking to clinch but Sharipov pushes him off.
Sharipov throws a jab but it's blocked by Barayev.
Sharipov blocks a head kick by Barayev.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zabit Sharipov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sharipov 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zabit Sharipov!