PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kulata Bitok (ranked 24730 p4p, 25510 weight class) and Scott Shredder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Kulata Bitok has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Bitok
vs
Shredder

182 cm
21
160
14 - 24 - 2

183 cm
18
162
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 24 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kulata Bitok!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Scott Shredder!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Daniel Franklin and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shredder has a takedown stuffed.
Bitok thinks about countering with a body kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shredder.
Bitok jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.

Shredder shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Bitok manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Shredder looking to sit in guard and control but Bitok gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Shredder is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shredder throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Shredder has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bitok can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shredder looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Bitok has picked Shredder up and slammed him! Shredder can't keep hold of the triangle and Bitok manages to pass to side control!
Shredder tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bitok wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Bitok trying to control the action but Shredder is working from the bottom.
Shredder being controlled for a moment.
Shredder tries to bench press Bitok off him but Bitok keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Shredder manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Bitok is defending against the submission attempts here by Shredder.
Shredder controlling the action here.

Shredder is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bitok wants to control but Shredder is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Bitok is refusing to be controlled, as Shredder sits in half guard.

Bitok makes his way to full guard, as Shredder worked for a kimura.
Shredder trying to control the position from guard on top but Bitok is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shredder postures up.
Bitok keeping moving, preventing Shredder from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Shredder throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bitok works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shredder trying to control the position from guard on top but Bitok is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Shredder drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Bitok dives on top into guard.

Shredder looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Shredder looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Shredder throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Shredder looking for subs off his back but Bitok has passed one foot through into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Scott Shredder will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shredder shoots for a double leg takedown but Bitok sprawls well. He's pushed Shredder's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bitok throws a quick counter kick to the body but Shredder avoids it.
Horrible takedown attempt by Shredder or perhaps it was just good defense by Bitok, which made it look bad.
Bitok is looking to counter with a body kick.
Bitok looks for the body kick but Shredder saw that one coming.
And Shredder tries to counter it with a takedown but Bitok pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Shredder has a takedown stuffed.
Kulata Bitok has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Scott Shredder.
Shredder looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bitok is fending him off so far but Shredder persists. Nope, Bitok circles away and we're back to standing.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Bitok enables Shredder to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Bitok manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Shredder trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shredder must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shredder is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Shredder working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Shredder pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bitok is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shredder looking to sit in guard and control but Bitok gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Shredder manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bitok manages to get himself to full guard.

Shredder has gone for a leg lock! Bitok slips out almost immediately though and dives into Shredder's guard.

Shredder looking for subs off his back but Bitok has passed one foot through into half guard.
Shredder moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shredder looking for a sweep. Not yet Shredder, not yet.

Shredder throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Shredder wants to sweep here but Bitok controlling him for the moment.
Shredder is still trying to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shredder working for a triangle but Bitok defends it easily.
Bitok trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Shredder looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Bitok puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Shredder moves into full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Shredder can do anything to dispel that myth.

Shredder is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Shredder looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Bitok passes into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shredder is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Bitok trying to control the position but Shredder is working away.
Shredder is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Bitok's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shredder is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Scott Shredder will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Bitok's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Shredder is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bitok sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
It appears Bitok was looking to counter with a kick there.
Shredder has a takedown stuffed.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Shredder.
Kulata Bitok has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Scott Shredder.
Shredder fails with a takedown attempt.
Bitok quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Bitok stuffs the takedown.
Bitok delivers a nice body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shredder shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bitok as he avoids it easily.
Shredder shoots in looking for a takedown. Bitok tries to sprawl out of it but Shredder keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bitok manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bitok seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Shredder takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shredder shoots in for a takedown but Bitok shows good takedown defense.
It looked like Bitok was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Shredder.
Shredder closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bitok circles away.
Shredder fails to land the takedown.
Shredder shoots in looking for a takedown. Bitok tries to sprawl out of it but Shredder keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bitok manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bitok appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Bitok as Shredder shoots in.

Shredder looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Bitok!

Shredder swings around for an armbar but Bitok sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Shredder's guard.
Shredder pulls Bitok in close to prevent any damage.
Bitok landing some decent shots from guard.
Scott Shredder is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shredder is adopting a defensive guard.
Bitok stopping the sweep attempt from Shredder.
Shredder is adopting a defensive guard.
Bitok won't allow Shredder to sweep him here.
Scott Shredder has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bitok wants to control from the top but Shredder keeps moving.
Shredder is controlling Bitok's posture.
Bitok trying to control but Shredder is working from the bottom.
Shredder controlling the position.
Shredder looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bitok is one step ahead there.
Shredder is pulling down on Bitok's head. It's preventing any offense from Bitok, at least for the moment.

That's four 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.
Let's hope that Shredder has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Shredder misses with a takedown attempt
and Bitok counters with a nice kick to the body.
Shredder is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bitok sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Scott Shredder seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bitok keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kulata Bitok has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shredder.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bitok shoots in but no luck this time.
Shredder closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bitok circles away.
Bitok stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bitok wants it to stay on the feet.
Bitok throws a big counter combination but Shredder scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kulata Bitok showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shredder has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Scott Shredder!
Scott Shredder seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.