PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eugenie Shibanov (ranked 4997 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franklyn George (ranked 23975 p4p, 0 weight class). Eugenie Shibanov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Shibanov
vs
George

195 cm
18
286 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

220 cm
22
290 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Eugenie Shibanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Franklyn George !
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from George is defended easily by Shibanov.
Shibanov drops down looking for a counter takedown but George sprawls and moves away.

Shibanov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. George quickly recovers to half guard.
George holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Shibanov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shibanov scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shibanov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
George tries to get to full guard but Shibanov has control of the leg.
Shibanov 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.
Shibanov is pressing down on George 's thigh, looking to free his foot. George is holding on for now.
Shibanov thows a huge punch but George dodges it nicely.
George is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
George is trying to stand up here but Shibanov is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ground and pound from Shibanov.
George wants to control but Shibanov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
George tries to roll over but Shibanov keeps him under control.
George is still trying to improve position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Shibanov doesn't manage to clinch there - George circles away.
Shibanov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shibanov misses with a jab, cross combination.
George changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Shibanov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

George sneaks out the side door and pushes Shibanov away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

George gets caught flat footed, as Shibanov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shibanov wants to control from the top but George keeps moving.
George working a defensive guard here.
Shibanov stopping the sweep attempt from George .
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
George is striking from the bottom but Shibanov uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
George is refusing to be controlled, as Shibanov sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shibanov not doing much here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shibanov is looking to take a break and control but George is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
George wants to improve his position but Shibanov is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eugenie Shibanov dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Shibanov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into George 's guard.

George has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Shibanov has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Shibanov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Shibanov is trying to drag George to the mat but George just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Shibanov taking a breather.
Shibanov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

George pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
George looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
George shoots in looking for a takedown. Shibanov tries to sprawl out of it but George keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shibanov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shibanov tries to clinch up but George circles away and keeps his distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from George is defended easily by Shibanov.
Shibanov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as George sprawls well. George wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Shibanov gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eugenie Shibanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
George shoots in but no luck this time.
Shibanov lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Shibanov wants to clinch up but George keeps it at a distance.
George misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Eugenie Shibanov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

George has Shibanov up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shibanov has George pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Shibanov pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending George tumbling to the mat - Shibanov dives into George 's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if George can do anything to dispel that myth.
Shibanov trying to control the position from guard on top but George is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
George will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
George is trying to control the position but Shibanov postures up.
Shibanov trying to control the position from guard on top but George is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
George is pulling down on Shibanov's head to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shibanov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed George 's guard.
George is trying to get back to full guard.
George gets full guard.
Shibanov is looking to stand up but George won't let him.
George is trying to control the position but Shibanov postures up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
George tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shibanov swivels and escapes.

George has Shibanov up against the cage in a clinch.
George stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
George fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Shibanov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. George fights it off and pushes away nicely.

George shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than George was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
George is breathing heavily.
George looking to control but instead Shibanov has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Shibanov could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shibanov throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

George stands up and beckons Shibanov to join him on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franklyn George showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Shibanov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
George gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Shibanov.

Shibanov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shibanov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and George makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Shibanov really felt that one!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

George clinches up with Shibanov and pushes him back against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
George tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shibanov just stands there and leans against the cage.
George jumps guard but Shibanov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short uppercut from George .

It looks like Eugenie Shibanov has been cut.
George with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Shibanov is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eugenie Shibanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
George scores with a hook to the body.

George decides to pull guard.
George really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shibanov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
George is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Shibanov postures up.
George is looking to stand back up but Shibanov counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by George .
George is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shibanov is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and George reverses the position - he's now on top in Shibanov's guard.
George 's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Shibanov is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. George presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

George 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
George avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
George works over Shibanov's head and body with a nice combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shibanov darts in trying to clinch
and George counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
George has a takedown stuffed.

Shibanov shoots in and gets a takedown into George 's guard.
Shibanov stopping the sweep attempt from George .
Shibanov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
George is trying to keep Shibanov in close.
George preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shibanov trying to control but George is working from the bottom.
Shibanov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Shibanov trying to control the position from guard on top but George is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

George dives in and scores a takedown into Shibanov's guard.

Shibanov has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes George off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head kick misses from George .
Shibanov is looking for a counter combo.

George has taken the fight to the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Franklyn George comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think George has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Franklyn George !