PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yaden Dhargey (ranked 1730 p4p, 2425 weight class) and Marcus Shakes (ranked 224 p4p, 302 weight class). Dhargey comes to the cage accompanied by Gyallu - Anthem of Tibet. Shakes has chosen About the Money- T.I. as his entrance music. Marcus Shakes will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Dhargey
vs
Shakes

180 cm
20
155
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
157
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Fight Club Clothing & Laundry 20%
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yaden Dhargey!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marcus Shakes!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Russell Pearce and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dhargey.
Jab, jab by Shakes - just one landing.

Shakes rushes Dhargey and presses him up against the cage.
Shakes prevents a takedown attempt there.

Dhargey gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Shakes regains guard.
Shakes trying to control the position.
Dhargey trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dhargey drops back, looking for a kneebar! Shakes looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Shakes looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Shakes!

Dhargey gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Dhargey wants to get back to full guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Dhargey's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dhargey looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
It looks like Shakes is going to stand back up.
Dhargey gets full guard.
Shakes really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dhargey. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Dhargey bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Shakes's guard.

Dhargey thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Shakes trying to keep a closed guard but Dhargey is proving a slippery customer.
Dhargey postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Dhargey trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dhargey tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dhargey gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Dhargey wants to sweep but Shakes has passed to side control!
Dhargey tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Shakes wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Dhargey wants to control but Shakes postures up.
Dhargey is looking for a sweep.
Dhargey is working hard here to advance position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marcus Shakes will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Shakes lands with an overhand left.

Shakes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dhargey, pushing him back against the cage.
Dhargey is trying to pull guard but Shakes has him pressed against the cage.

Dhargey ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Dhargey no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Dhargey controlling Shakes's posture.
Shakes is looking to stand up but Dhargey won't let him.

Shakes stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Shakes has managed to clinch.
Dhargey is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Shakes is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dhargey has picked Shakes up - he's going for a ride! Dhargey dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Dhargey is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Shakes defends it well.
Yaden Dhargey overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dhargey missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dhargey is keen to just control but Shakes is a slippery customer.

Dhargey trying to work for an americana but Shakes has managed to regain full guard.
Shakes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dhargey is controlling him.
Dhargey trying to control but Shakes is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dhargey stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shakes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Shakes is looking to stand up but Dhargey isn't so interested in that idea.
Dhargey with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Dhargey stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shakes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dhargey accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dhargey wants to pass the guard but Shakes is keeping the position.
Dhargey works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Dhargey looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Dhargey is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Shakes doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dhargey.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Yaden Dhargey will probably get the nod.
That's time! Dhargey's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Dhargey gets in close and instigates a clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Shakes just misses with a elbow thrown towards Dhargey's brow.
Dhargey avoiding damage as Shakes throws knees to the body.
Shakes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Dhargey avoids it.
Shakes pushes off an throws an elbow but Dhargey leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Shakes lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Shakes gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice elbow from Shakes.
Dhargey drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dhargey is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Shakes to keep the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shakes lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Yaden Dhargey has been cut.
Shakes lands an elbow that stopped Dhargey in his tracks for a moment.
Shakes landing knees to the head.
Shakes lands a damaging elbow.
Dhargey jumps guard but Shakes turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yaden Dhargey. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shakes unloads a knee to the mid-section. Dhargey lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Shakes with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Dhargey pulls guard.
Shakes tries to stand but Dhargey is controlling from the bottom.
Dhargey bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Shakes's guard.

Shakes pushes Dhargey off and scrambles back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Shakes drives through and clinches with Dhargey against the cage.
Dhargey misses with a punch on the inside.
Shakes missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dhargey is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Shakes is defending well.
Shakes has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Dhargey seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Shakes can turn it around.
Shakes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dhargey wants to take the fight to the mat but Shakes manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Shakes trying to land knees to the body.
Dhargey on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shakes lands an elbow that stopped Dhargey in his tracks for a moment.
Knees to the body from Shakes.
Shakes trying to land knees to the body.
Shakes lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nice elbow from Shakes.
Shakes connects with a nasty looking knee right to Dhargey's face.

Dhargey decides to pull guard.
Shakes wants to stand but Dhargey has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Shakes really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Yaden Dhargey's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Shakes looks to land a right hand but Dhargey moved out of range.
Dhargey tries to counter with a takedown but Shakes is quick to defend against it.

Shakes instigates a clinch.
Shakes lands a nice knee to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Shakes.
Marcus Shakes seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Dhargey wants to take the fight to the mat but Shakes manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Dhargey has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Shakes avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Shakes lands a damaging elbow.
Shakes creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Dhargey takes a knee to the side of the body.
Shakes lands a knee to the head.
Shakes landing knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Shakes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shakes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Shakes misses with a knee to the head.
Shakes lands a nice elbow.

Dhargey ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Dhargey no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shakes is looking to stand up but Dhargey won't let him.
Dhargey wants to sweep here but Shakes controlling him for the moment.
Shakes is looking to stand up but Dhargey won't let him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shakes throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Dhargey half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Shakes misses with a left hand

and Dhargey counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Dhargey.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dhargey trying to control but Shakes is working from the bottom.
Dhargey throws a big right hand that misses.
Shakes can't keep his opponent in guard - Dhargey advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Dhargey prevents Shakes from standing back up.

Dhargey is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Shakes sees it coming and defends easily.
Dhargey throwing shots but Shakes is blocking nicely.
Dhargey has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Shakes is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Shakes dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Yaden Dhargey's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Shakes misses with a hook.
Yaden Dhargey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Shakes clinches with his opponent.
Shakes lands a knee to the body.
Shakes with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Shakes gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Dhargey.
Shakes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Shakes gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Marcus Shakes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Shakes throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Dhargey blocks it with crossed arms.

Dhargey has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Shakes uses from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shakes has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Dhargey to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Shakes is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Dhargey pulls down on the head and he's put Shakes to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Yaden Dhargey!
Yaden Dhargey retains his lightweight title!
Yaden Dhargey seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.