PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Quentin Cassel (ranked 4351 p4p, 443 weight class) and Zabit Sharipov (ranked 4402 p4p, 447 weight class). 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.

Cassel
vs
Sharipov

178 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
152 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Quentin Cassel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zabit Sharipov!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Michael Johnstone and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sharipov throws a body shot but no joy.
Cassel misses with a double jab.
Cassel lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Zabit Sharipov has been cut.

Sharipov moves into the clinch successfully.
Cassel can't break the clinch.
Sharipov cracks Cassel with a nice body shot.
Cassel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sharipov stalling against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Sharipov managing to block the knees to the body from Cassel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sharipov is stalling here.
Sharipov scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Cassel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cassel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick by Cassel misses

and Sharipov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A nice left hand lands by Sharipov.
Sharipov has Cassel pushed against the cage.
Cassel is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sharipov presses Cassel against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sharipov.
Cassel wants to get back to striking at distance but Sharipov won't allow it.
Nice body punch from Sharipov.
Sharipov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cassel's efforts to push away.
Sharipov is stalling here.
Sharipov is struggling to control the position.
Sharipov receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
A short uppercut from Sharipov.
Sharipov holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Sharipov lands with a short shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cassel misses with a hook to the ribs.
A right handed body shot lands from Sharipov.
A short left from Sharipov.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sharipov.
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 Sharipov.
Cassel is breathing heavily.
Cassel wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sharipov has him pressed against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Sharipov.
Sharipov lands a right hand.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sharipov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Sharipov controlling the action here for a moment.
Sharipov stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Sharipov throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A short right from Sharipov on the inside.
Cassel tries to land knees in the clinch but Sharipov avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sharipov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A frustrated look appears on Cassel's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Sharipov lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Cassel or not.
Cassel looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A right handed body shot lands from Sharipov.
Sharipov lands a body punch in the clinch.
I was talking to Cassel's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Sharipov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Cassel letting Sharipov take a breather here.
A short body shot lands from Sharipov as the two fighters clinch.
A body shot lands from Sharipov.
Sharipov leaning against his opponent.
Sharipov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sharipov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Sharipov cracks Cassel with a nice body shot.
Sharipov digs a right hand underneath Cassel's ribcage. Cassel let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Sharipov gets through Cassel's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Sharipov on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sharipov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sharipov taking a breather.
Sharipov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Cassel is rocked!
A short right from Sharipov.
Oh Cassel is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sharipov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cassels head.
Sharipov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Sharipov creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Cassel with a big uppercut! Cassel tries to clinch up but Sharipov pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Cassel to the mat! Cassel covers up and Sharipov unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:31 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Zabit Sharipov!
Zabit Sharipov thanked the fans post fight for their support.