PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shimshon Shaulov (ranked 4407 p4p, 5240 weight class) and Stefaan Van Baas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Shaulov
vs
Van Baas

182 cm
21
150
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
20
147
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Shimshon Shaulov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Stefaan Van Baas!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, David Hoff and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shaulov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Van Baas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Van Baas closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Shaulov struggling a bit here.
Van Baas lands a decent elbow from side control.
Shaulov is not content to let Van Baas control the position.
Shaulov is looking for a sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Baas scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Shaulov to see if he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaulov is looking for a sweep.
Van Baas is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Shaulov will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Shaulov tries to bench press Van Baas off him but Van Baas keeps the position.
Shaulov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Van Baas on the ground.

Van Baas decides to stand back up. Van Baas steps back and let's Shaulov get back to his feet.
Shaulov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Van Baas.
Van Baas darts in looking for a takedown but Shaulov gets double underhooks and turns Van Baas into the cage.
Van Baas throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Shaulov's waist but Shaulov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Van Baas off to one side.
Shimshon Shaulov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stefaan Van Baas.

Van Baas has Shaulov up against the cage in a clinch.
Shaulov can't get the takedown.

Shaulov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Baas displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Shaulov.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Van Baas! But no joy.
Van Baas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Van Baas tries to clinch but Shaulov moves out of range.
Van Baas fails with the takedown.
Van Baas shoots in looking for a takedown but Shaulov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Van Baas's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Van Baas stuffs the takedown.
Van Baas is looking to clinch.
Van Baas closes this distance looking for a takedown but Shaulov circles away.
Shaulov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Van Baas sprawls well. Van Baas wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Shaulov gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Baas wants to clinch.
Shaulov misses with a two punch combination.
No luck for Shaulov with that takedown attempt.
Van Baas moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Van Baas closes the distance and pushes Shaulov back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaulov is looking to take this one to the mat.
Van Baas throws a knee to the head but misses.
Van Baas working hard to break the clinch.
Shaulov is looking for a takedown.
Shaulov is breathing heavily.

Shaulov breaks the clinch.
Shaulov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Van Baas counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Shaulov wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Van Baas manages to pass to side control.

This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Baas is looking to advance position but Shaulov won't allow it.
Van Baas seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stefaan Van Baas dominated that round.
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.

The fight stays on the outside here - Van Baas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shaulov throws a right and a left that Van Baas avoids nicely.
Van Baas takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Van Baas bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Shaulov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Shaulov on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
We've been informed that Van Baas has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Shaulov is looking to reverse the position.
Check out the look on Van Baas's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shaulov is trying to get back to half guard.
Van Baas connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Shaulov some visible discomfort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Van Baas connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Shaulov some visible discomfort.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Baas decides to stand back up. Van Baas steps back and let's Shaulov get back to his feet.
Shaulov avoids a kick to the body.
Shaulov scores with a head kick. Van Baas tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Shaulov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Shaulov shoots in but Van Baas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shaulov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shaulov wants to clinch.
Van Baas feints the counter takedown.
Shaulov doesn't manage to clinch there - Van Baas circles away.
Shimshon Shaulov is winning the standup battle so far.
Van Baas with a nice cross.

It looks like Shimshon Shaulov has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaulov tries for a takedown but Van Baas sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Van Baas tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shaulov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Van Baas somewhat.

Van Baas gets a double leg takedown into Shaulov's guard.
Van Baas seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Van Baas trying to control the position from guard on top but Shaulov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Van Baas stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Van Baas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Baas is looking to clinch but Shaulov is avoiding it.

Shaulov moves into the clinch.
Shaulov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Van Baas is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shimshon Shaulov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Baas has had enough of the clinch but Shaulov keeps him there for the moment.
Shaulov managing to block the knees to the body from Van Baas.
Shaulov tries to pull guard but Van Baas won't allow it.
Shaulov is working Van Baas over against the cage.
Van Baas slows down the pace here.
Shaulov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Van Baas is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Baas tries to score a body lock takedown but Shaulov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Van Baas tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Shaulov smiles and moves away.
A telegraphed right hand from Shaulov misses the target.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Shaulov.

Shaulov closes the distance and clinches.
Van Baas is trying to break the clinch but Shaulov has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Van Baas misses with some punches.
Shaulov prevents the takedown attempt.
Shaulov leaning against his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Stefaan Van Baas will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Shimshon Shaulov's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Van Baas shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Shaulov is trying to defend but Van Baas finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Shaulov pushes Van Baas off and gets back to his feet.
Van Baas fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shaulov throws a big counter combination but Van Baas scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Shaulov shoots in for a double leg but Van Baas sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Van Baas misses with a jab, cross combination.

Van Baas drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Van Baas has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Van Baas working the head with strikes.
Shaulov trying his best to control but Van Baas has mounted him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Baas takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Van Baas can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Shaulov is looking to escape.
Shaulov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Shaulov manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Shaulov wants to stand back up but Van Baas manages to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Baas scoring with punches from side control.
Shaulov is not content to let Van Baas control the position.

Van Baas is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Shaulov has escaped the position, nice work there.
Shaulov struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaulov is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Van Baas wants to control but Shaulov is keeping him busy.

Van Baas 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.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Van Baas in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Van Baas is keen to just control but Shaulov is a slippery customer.

Shaulov looking for subs from the bottom but Van Baas mounts him!

Van Baas has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Shaulov is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Stefaan Van Baas!