PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Ruas (ranked 1179 p4p, 60 weight class) and Rustam Shakhbulatov (ranked 1164 p4p, 36 weight class). Shakhbulatov has chosen Sabina Saidova - Dagestan as his entrance music. 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.

Ruas
vs
Shakhbulatov

200 cm
25
280 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

178 cm
34
170 lbs
19 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains

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 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Carlos Ruas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rustam Shakhbulatov!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruas misses with a takedown attempt

so Shakhbulatov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Shakhbulatov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Ruas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shakhbulatov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Shakhbulatov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Shakhbulatov told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Ruas wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shakhbulatov trying to control but Ruas is working from the bottom.
Ruas throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Shakhbulatov trying to control but Ruas is working from the bottom.
Shakhbulatov won't allow Ruas to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shakhbulatov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Shakhbulatov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Ruas is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Shakhbulatov is not content to let Ruas control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruas trying to pass the guard but Shakhbulatov defending well.
Shakhbulatov wants to get back to his feet.
Ruas trying to mount his opponent but Shakhbulatov defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruas stalling.
Ruas trying to mount his opponent but Shakhbulatov defends it.
Shakhbulatov is refusing to be controlled, as Ruas sits in half guard.
Ruas passes to full mount!
Ruas fails to take his opponent's back.
Shakhbulatov working to try and regain half guard.
Shakhbulatov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruas controlling from the full mount.
Ruas trying to control but Shakhbulatov is having none of it.
Ruas is stalling here but it's allowed Shakhbulatov to get half guard.

Shakhbulatov actively working from the bottom here.
Ruas passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Shakhbulatov!
Ruas takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ruas looking for a guillotine from mount but Shakhbulatov is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shakhbulatov sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Ruas is trying to control. Shakhbulatov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ruas trying to control the pace.

Ruas is looking for a kimura but Shakhbulatov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ruas to get the leverage.
Shakhbulatov gets full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ruas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shakhbulatov is keeping the position for now.
Ruas throwing strikes but missing.
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 Carlos Ruas 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.

Ruas shoots in for a takedown but Shakhbulatov shows good takedown defense.
Ruas displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Shakhbulatov throws out the jab.
Ruas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Shakhbulatov counter with a right hand.

Shakhbulatov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ruas is pressing down on Shakhbulatov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Shakhbulatov trying to control but Ruas is working from the bottom.
Shakhbulatov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ruas manages to get to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ruas manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Shakhbulatov manages to get himself to full guard.

Ruas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shakhbulatov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ruas is looking to pass into half guard but Shakhbulatov pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Shakhbulatov is in guard.

Shakhbulatov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ruas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ruas working a defensive guard here.
Shakhbulatov preventing the sweep.
Ruas will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ruas has his hands on Shakhbulatov's head, controlling the position.
Ruas bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Shakhbulatov's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shakhbulatov is looking to cinch up a triangle. Ruas throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Shakhbulatov's body to avoid the submission. Shakhbulatov has instead reached around Ruas's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Shakhbulatov arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Rustam Shakhbulatov!
In defeat, Carlos Ruas stepped up to the mic, saying 'No one likes seeing their opponent's hand raised, but that just means that they were the better man today. My team at 3Band MMA and I will break down this match and make the proper changes for my next camp.'.