PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rustam Shakhbulatov (ranked 3929 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Showtime (ranked 3903 p4p, 0 weight class). Shakhbulatov comes to the cage accompanied by Sabina Saidova - Dagestan. Showtime is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Old Toms Hut. 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.

Shakhbulatov
vs
Showtime

178 cm
33
170 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

170 cm
46
168 lbs
24 - 41 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid 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 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rustam Shakhbulatov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 41 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rick Showtime!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Vladimir Khabensky and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shakhbulatov shoots in and drives through. Showtime sprawls well.

Shakhbulatov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Showtime napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Showtime throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Rick Showtime seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Showtime misses with a double jab.
Showtime fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shakhbulatov manages to avoid it.
Shakhbulatov changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
No joy there for Showtime, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Shakhbulatov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Shakhbulatov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Shakhbulatov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Showtime sprawls well initially but Shakhbulatov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Showtime really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shakhbulatov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Shakhbulatov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Showtime is looking for a sweep. Shakhbulatov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shakhbulatov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Showtime knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Showtime is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shakhbulatov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Shakhbulatov is working for an americana but Showtime has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Shakhbulatov was thinking about the submission.
Shakhbulatov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Shakhbulatov throws an elbow that misses. Showtime uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Shakhbulatov's guard. Nice move by Showtime!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shakhbulatov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Showtime defends well.

Shakhbulatov working for a triangle but Showtime defends it easily.
Shakhbulatov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Showtime wants to stand but Shakhbulatov is controlling his posture from full guard.

Shakhbulatov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Showtime defends it easily.
Shakhbulatov is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at St Petersburg MMA Gym that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Showtime must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Showtime trying to stand up but can't free himself from Shakhbulatov's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Showtime accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Shakhbulatov working for a triangle but Showtime defends it easily.
Showtime wants to stand and escape but instead Shakhbulatov has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Shakhbulatov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Showtime works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Showtime is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Shakhbulatov is controlling him.
Shakhbulatov works over Showtime with some ground and pound from guard.
Shakhbulatov lands a couple of digs.
Showtime keeping moving, preventing Shakhbulatov from controlling successfully.
Shakhbulatov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Showtime's head.
Shakhbulatov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Showtime working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rustam Shakhbulatov will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Showtime looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Showtime throws a series of punches but Shakhbulatov moves out of range.

Shakhbulatov gets a double leg takedown into Showtime's guard.
Showtime trying to keep a closed guard but Shakhbulatov is proving a slippery customer.
Showtime wants to stand but Shakhbulatov is controlling the position.
Shakhbulatov trying to control but Showtime is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shakhbulatov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shakhbulatov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shakhbulatov lands a couple of digs.
Showtime wants to hit a switch here but Shakhbulatov passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Showtime there!
Shakhbulatov scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Shakhbulatov wants to control the pace but Showtime is squirming around nicely.

Shakhbulatov looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Showtime wants to hold on but Shakhbulatov pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Showtime is looking to improve his position but Shakhbulatov isn't that keen on the idea.
Shakhbulatov tries to control but Showtime wriggling away.
Showtime taking shots to the head.
Shakhbulatov controlling the position easily from mount.
Rustam Shakhbulatov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Showtime tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Shakhbulatov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shakhbulatov unloading with bombs!

Shakhbulatov looking to secure an arm triangle but Showtime defends it well.
Showtime is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Shakhbulatov 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.
Shakhbulatov lands a big elbow.
Shakhbulatov looking to finish Showtime with some ground and pound. This is bad for Showtime!

Shakhbulatov is working for a guillotine from mount but Showtime frees his head quite easily.
Showtime's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shakhbulatov working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Shakhbulatov cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Showtime takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shakhbulatov raining down hammerfists from mount.

Shakhbulatov jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Showtime is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Showtime and Shakhbulatov has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Shakhbulatov in side control lands a decent elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rustam Shakhbulatov dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Shakhbulatov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Showtime's half guard.
Showtime is looking to get back to is feet but Shakhbulatov passes into side control.
Showtime prevents Shakhbulatov from improving position.
Showtime is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Showtime is looking to regain half guard here but Shakhbulatov keeps moving and retains side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shakhbulatov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Showtime is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Showtime tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Showtime struggling a bit here.
Shakhbulatov grinds an elbow into Showtime's temple.
Showtime trying to remain calm as Shakhbulatov controls from the top position.

Shakhbulatov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Showtime has escaped the position, nice work there.

Shakhbulatov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Shakhbulatov advances to full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Showtime in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Showtime taking shots to the head.
Shakhbulatov trying to control but Showtime is having none of it.
Showtime really wants to buck Shakhbulatov off and get back to his feet.
Shakhbulatov breaks from Showtime's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Showtime tries to hold on but Shakhbulatov postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shakhbulatov looking to control but Showtime is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
BOOM! Shakhbulatov connects with a massive shot to the dome!
A nice elbow there by Shakhbulatov.
Shakhbulatov is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Showtime can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Shakhbulatov controlling from mount.
Shakhbulatov is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Showtime is rocked!

Shakhbulatov has control of Showtime's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Showtime regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Showtime is still in real trouble! Can Shakhbulatov finish him?
Shakhbulatov lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shakhbulatov has hold of Showtime's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Showtime manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Showtime seems to have recovered his senses.
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!
Shakhbulatov postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Showtime looks a forlorn figure.
Rick Showtime has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Showtime takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Shakhbulatov's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rustam Shakhbulatov!