PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between Viktor Bestarsson (ranked 2767 p4p, 323 weight class) and Shakhbulat Shamkhalaev (ranked 1049 p4p, 156 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Bestarsson
vs
Shamkhalaev

179 cm
37
166 lbs
25 - 15 - 0

181 cm
36
162 lbs
27 - 20 - 2

World class boxer
Very quick

World class MT
Granite chin

Freebok (85% Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Viktor Bestarsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 20 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Shakhbulat Shamkhalaev!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Alexandre Firmino and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab lands there for Shamkhalaev.
Shamkhalaev connects with a body shot.
Shamkhalaev misses with a hook to the body
and Bestarsson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bestarsson takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Shamkhalaev connects with a jab.
Shamkhalaev misses the shot to the body.
Bestarsson cracks a nice hook into Shamkhalaev's ribs.
Shamkhalaev looks to score with a jab to the body but Bestarsson is just out of range.
Shakhbulat Shamkhalaev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bestarsson ducks under a wild hook from Shamkhalaev.
Shamkhalaev throws a right hand that misses
and Bestarsson counters with a nice uppercut.
Bestarsson has been working on his boxing with his coaches at BloodBath gym in the buildup to the fight.
Shamkhalaev misses with a body shot.
Bestarsson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shamkhalaev fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Bestarsson on the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shamkhalaev takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like Shakhbulat Shamkhalaev has been cut.
Bestarsson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Shamkhalaev with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shamkhalaev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shamkhalaev misses with a lunging right hand
and Bestarsson counters with a stiff right hand.
Bestarsson throws a hook but Shamkhalaev blocks it.
A slow jab from Shamkhalaev misses its intended target.
Bestarsson lands a nice leg kick that just misses Shamkhalaev's sensitive parts.
Shamkhalaev thows a left - swing and a miss!
Shamkhalaev misses with a hook
and Bestarsson counters with a nice uppercut.
Shamkhalaev misses with an uppercut
and Bestarsson counters with an outside leg kick.
Shamkhalaev pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
It looked like Bestarsson wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Bestarsson misses with a left hand
and Shamkhalaev counters with a two punch combo.
Bestarsson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Shamkhalaev moves out of range as Bestarsson strikes.
Bestarsson takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bestarsson works the jab nicely.
Bestarsson throws out a leg kick but Shamkhalaev moves out of range and Bestarsson only half commits.
Bestarsson closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Bestarsson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shamkhalaev uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Shamkhalaev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shamkhalaev throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bestarsson.
Shamkhalaev scores with a jab. Bestarsson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Shamkhalaev moves out of range of the body kick from Bestarsson.
Shamkhalaev has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Bestarsson is looking to score with low kicks.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Shamkhalaev! But no joy.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shamkhalaev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bestarsson was well out of range. Poor timing from Shamkhalaev.
Bestarsson misses with a wild body shot.
A big right from Shamkhalaev misses.
Bestarsson is looking for a counter combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shakhbulat Shamkhalaev will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Shakhbulat Shamkhalaev's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Nice cross by Bestarsson.
The fighters circling - Shamkhalaev throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Shamkhalaev lands with an uppercut that bounces Bestarsson off the ropes and back into range.
Bestarsson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Shamkhalaev doesn't seem bothered though.
Bestarsson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bestarsson moves out of range as Shamkhalaev strikes.
Bestarsson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Shamkhalaev sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Shamkhalaev misses with a body shot.
Bestarsson seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Bestarsson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Shamkhalaev.
Bestarsson appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Shamkhalaev misses with a left hand
and Bestarsson counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bestarsson misses with a shot to the body
and Shamkhalaev counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Bestarsson misses with a hook
and Shamkhalaev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shamkhalaev has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Bestarsson.
Bestarsson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shamkhalaev.
It looked like Bestarsson was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Shamkhalaev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bestarsson moves away from the strike by Shamkhalaev.
Shamkhalaev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bestarsson throws a poor cross that misses
and Shamkhalaev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shamkhalaev missing with a left hand there. Bestarsson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
It appears Bestarsson was looking to counter with a kick there.
Shamkhalaev misses with a hook. Bestarsson ducked under it nicely.
Shamkhalaev avoids the body shot from Bestarsson.
Nice shot lands for Shamkhalaev.
Bestarsson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Shamkhalaev misses the jab.
Shamkhalaev ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Shamkhalaev takes a swing at Bestarsson's ribcage but misses.
Bestarsson lands with an overhand left.
Shamkhalaev scores with a decent looking hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bestarsson thows a left - swing and a miss!
A left lands for Bestarsson.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shamkhalaev moves into range and connects with a jab.
Some wild striking there from Shamkhalaev.
Bestarsson is looking to counter punch.
Shamkhalaev throws a lazy uppercut
and Bestarsson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Shamkhalaev smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Shamkhalaev throws a body shot but no joy.
Bestarsson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Shamkhalaev throws out the jab.
Some wild striking there from Shamkhalaev.
Bestarsson throws a head kick but Shamkhalaev moves out of range.
Shamkhalaev thows a left - swing and a miss!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shakhbulat Shamkhalaev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Shakhbulat Shamkhalaev's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Shamkhalaev moves out of range as Bestarsson strikes.
Viktor Bestarsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bestarsson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shamkhalaev was well out of range. Poor timing from Bestarsson.
Shamkhalaev throws a right hand that misses
and Bestarsson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Shamkhalaev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bestarsson was well out of range. Poor timing from Shamkhalaev.
A little feinted left hand from Bestarsson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Bestarsson.
Shamkhalaev scores with a jab to the head.
Bestarsson moves away from the strike by Shamkhalaev.
Look low, kick high! Bestarsson uses the oldest trick in the book to send Shamkhalaev tumbling to the canvas, in a truly brutal knockout! Bestarsson is absolutely delighted - when Shamkhalaev wakes up, I doubt he'll be quite so happy!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Viktor Bestarsson!
During a confident post fight interview, Viktor Bestarsson thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.