PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Francis Montaque (ranked 3629 p4p, 3696 weight class) and Iurie Shchusev (ranked 484 p4p, 491 weight class). Iurie Shchusev has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Montaque
vs
Shchusev

191 cm
25
214
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
214
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Hates pizza

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

IC&E Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Francis Montaque!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Iurie Shchusev!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Stewart Dunkirk and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shchusev misses with a right hand
and Montaque counters with a good low kick that Shchusev was not able to check.
Montaque looks to land a right hand but Shchusev moved out of range.
Shchusev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd cheers as Montaque lands an impressive looking overhand right. Shchusev doesn't seem phased though.

Montaque closes the distance and pushes Shchusev back into the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Montaque.
Shchusev manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Montaque looking to stall.
Montaque's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Montaque misses with an elbow over the top.

Montaque manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shchusev takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Montaque clinches with his opponent.
Shchusev lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Shchusev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Shchusev is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Montaque goes for a takedown in the clinch but Shchusev prevents it.
Shchusev lands a right hand that snaps the head of Montaque backwards.
Shchusev struggles to land a body shot inside as Montaque controls his hands.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Montaque displaying some good clinch control by pressing Shchusev up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Shchusev to work.

Montaque escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shchusev pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Montaque moves into the clinch.

Montaque manages to break the clinch.
The fighters circling - Shchusev throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Montaque gets tackled into the cage by Shchusev. Shchusev maintains the clinch.
Shchusev scores with a shot to the side of Montaque's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Montaque escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shchusev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Montaque was well out of range. Poor timing from Shchusev.

Montaque has managed to clinch.
Montaque definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
A head punch on the inside from Montaque fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Montaque digs a right hand into Shchusev's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Shchusev's gas tank.

Montaque breaks from the clinch.

Shchusev clinches up against the cage.
Montaque lands with a left to the head.
Shchusev working aggressively here.

Shchusev is trying to trip Montaque. He has hold of a leg but Montaque is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Shchusev persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Shchusev lands a couple of elbows.
Shchusev makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Montaque wants to stand but Shchusev is controlling the position.
Shchusev works over Montaque with some ground and pound from guard.
Shchusev has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Shchusev controls from within his opponent's guard.
Shchusev wants to stand but Montaque is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shchusev distracts Montaque with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Shchusev throws a big right hand that misses.
Montaque wants to get back to his feet but Shchusev passes into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shchusev is looking to take a break and control but Montaque is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Montaque on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Shchusev takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Montaque is rocked!

Shchusev stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Montaque to get to his feet.
Oh Montaque is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
BAM! Shchusev delivers a spinning backfist that drops Montaque like a ragdoll! This is all oooooveeeer! He was out before he hit the ground!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Spinning Backfist). Iurie Shchusev!
Iurie Shchusev very nearly forgot to thank IC&E Nutrition amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.