PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mehmet Shakaromanov (ranked 531 p4p, 587 weight class) and Raja Khanna (ranked 72 p4p, 75 weight class). Raja Khanna acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Shakaromanov
vs
Khanna

185 cm
27
203
16 - 7 - 0

190 cm
31
194
20 - 13 - 3

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

KOMBAT KLOTHING
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mehmet Shakaromanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 13 - 3, fighting out of London, Raja Khanna!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Percy O'Donnell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khanna throws a low kick but it's checked well by Shakaromanov.
Khanna tries to close the distance and clinch but Shakaromanov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Khanna lands with a slapping head kick.
Khanna connects with a solid leg kick.
Khanna defending well as Shakaromanov loads up on a big left hand.
Khanna throws a hook but Shakaromanov avoids it easily.
Shakaromanov is looking for a counter combo.
Khanna fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Khanna throws a shot from downtown. Shakaromanov moves away and avoids it.

Khanna closes the distance and clinches.
Khanna has a couple of punches blocked by Shakaromanov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shakaromanov can't find room to land a body shot as Khanna controls the action.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Shakaromanov.
Shakaromanov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Khanna misses with a hook from the clinch.
Khanna blocks a body shot from Shakaromanov.
Shakaromanov blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khanna misses with some punches.
Khanna blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Khanna lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Shakaromanov backwards.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A frustrated look appears on Shakaromanov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Khanna swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Shakaromanov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shakaromanov walks forward, straight into a front kick from Khanna.
Khanna shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

It looks like Raja Khanna has been cut.
Khanna is looking to chop away at Shakaromanov's legs.
Some wild striking there from Shakaromanov.
Shakaromanov falls off balance throwing a combination
and Khanna counters with a good, hard body kick but Shakaromanov shrugs it off.
Good work by Shakaromanov as he checks the leg kick.
Shakaromanov throwing a counter right hand but Khanna manages to avoid it.
Shakaromanov has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Khanna.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khanna throws a leg kick that is checked
and Shakaromanov counters with a nice uppercut.
Khanna connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Khanna lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Shakaromanov misses with a series of wild punches.
Shakaromanov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Khanna misses with a hook to the body
and Shakaromanov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Khanna fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shakaromanov manages to avoid it.
Khanna swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Khanna fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A low kick from Shakaromanov misses
and Khanna counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A solid body kick from Khanna.
Khanna throws a hook to the side of Shakaromanov's head but Shakaromanov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shakaromanov throwing a counter right hand but Khanna manages to avoid it.
We've been told by Shakaromanov's head coaches at New York Public Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khanna looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Raja Khanna seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Khanna tries to work over Shakaromanov's front leg with a kick but Shakaromanov checks it.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Khanna. Shakaromanov shrugs it off though.
Khanna attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Khanna throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Shakaromanov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Khanna throws a body shot but no joy.
Khanna wants to clinch.
Shakaromanov went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Khanna moves out of range of the strikes.
Nice defenses there by Khanna.
Khanna misses with a low kick.
Shakaromanov throwing a counter right hand but Khanna manages to avoid it.
Shakaromanov moves out of range of the body kick.
Shakaromanov throws a big counter combination but Khanna scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shakaromanov throws a big shot that misses.
Khanna connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Shakaromanov momentarily.
Khanna tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shakaromanov swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Shakaromanov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shakaromanov throws a looping overhand right but Khanna ducks down to avoid it.
Shakaromanov blocks the body kick.
Shakaromanov seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Khanna jabs at Shakaromanov's body.
Khanna moves away from the strike by Shakaromanov.
A low kick from Khanna is predictable there
letting Shakaromanov counter with a right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Khanna throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Shakaromanov was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Khanna misses with a right hand
enabling Shakaromanov to counter with a crisp jab.
Khanna throws a leg kick but Shakaromanov moved away.
Shakaromanov is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Khanna ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Raja Khanna dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Raja Khanna's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Shakaromanov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Khanna.
Khanna avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Khanna ducks under a wild hook from Shakaromanov.
Khanna steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
A jab from Shakaromanov finds it's way through Khanna's defenses.

That has opened up Raja Khanna's cut even more.
Khanna cracks Shakaromanov with an open hand slap.
Shakaromanov moves out of range as Khanna strikes.
Khanna throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Khanna lands an overhand right.
Khanna misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shakaromanov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khanna throws a leg kick but Shakaromanov checks it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Khanna. That's going to slow Shakaromanov down.
Khanna uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Shakaromanov.
Khanna tries to move into range but Shakaromanov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Shakaromanov looks for the body kick but Khanna saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shakaromanov shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Khanna staying out of range there.
A little jabbing left from Khanna on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Khanna jabs Shakaromanov to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Raja Khanna seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Shakaromanov takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Khanna does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Shakaromanov throws a head kick but Khanna moves out of range.
Khanna feints a counter leg kick.
Shakaromanov throws an off balance right hand
and Khanna counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Shakaromanov misses with a right hand
and Khanna counters with a straight right hand.
A left lands for Khanna.
Khanna throws a quick inside leg kick.
Khanna shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Shakaromanov eats them both and turns towards Khanna to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Khanna throws out a leg kick but Shakaromanov moves out of range and Khanna only half commits.
Khanna throws a leg kick that is checked
and Shakaromanov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khanna works the jab nicely.
Khanna lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Khanna clinches.
Shakaromanov will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Shakaromanov digs a right hand into Khanna's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Khanna's gas tank.
Khanna is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Khanna has a couple of punches blocked by Shakaromanov.
Shakaromanov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Shakaromanov is stalling here.
Khanna misses with some punches.
Khanna scores with a shoulder strike.
Khanna fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Shakaromanov stalling in the clinch but Khanna improves position.
Shakaromanov blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khanna keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Shakaromanov's efforts to push away.
A nice right hand lands inside from Shakaromanov.
Khanna tries to work over Shakaromanov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Khanna misses with the head strike.
Shakaromanov slows down the pace here.
Come on Khanna - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Khanna in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
A short right from Khanna.

Khanna pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shakaromanov misses with a right hand
and Khanna connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Shakaromanov throws a lazy uppercut
and Khanna counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Shakaromanov takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Khanna thows a leg kick but Shakaromanov checks it
and Shakaromanov counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khanna throws a nice inside leg kick.
Khanna with a nice calf kick.
Khanna throws a leg kick but Shakaromanov checks it.
Shakaromanov misses with a hook. Khanna ducked under it nicely.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Khanna lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Shakaromanov throws a jab but it's blocked by Khanna.
Khanna stuns Shakaromanov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Khanna works Shakaromanov's body with a nice hook.
Khanna keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Khanna throws a wild body kick that Shakaromanov sees coming a mile off.
Khanna pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Khanna moves out of range as Shakaromanov strikes.
Khanna scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Raja Khanna showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Raja Khanna's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Shakaromanov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A slapping leg kick lands for Khanna.
Khanna lands a right hook to the body.
Khanna lands a head kick!
Khanna stuns Shakaromanov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Shakaromanov crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Khanna - the referee stops the clock and Shakaromanov gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Khanna. Shakaromanov manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Khanna throws a nice head kick!
Shakaromanov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Khanna avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Khanna swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Khanna misses with a jab, cross combination.
It looked like Shakaromanov wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A jab lands there for Shakaromanov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khanna throws a sloppy head kick
and Shakaromanov counters with a straight right hand.
Khanna swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Khanna throws a half hearted mid kick.
Shakaromanov defending well as Khanna loads up on a big left hand.
A low kick lands for Khanna.
Shakaromanov misses with a straight right.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Khanna checks a leg kick.
Khanna blocks a jab.
Khanna is trying to counter with his kicks.
Shakaromanov takes a jab right on the kisser.
Khanna lands a slapping body shot.
Khanna tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shakaromanov was well out of range. Poor timing from Khanna.
Khanna throws a low kick but Shakaromanov moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Shakaromanov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Khanna throws a leg kick but Shakaromanov checks it.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Khanna lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Shakaromanov has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Shakaromanov and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Shakaromanov throws a series of punches but Khanna avoids them all with ease.
Khanna avoids a punch combination nicely.
Khanna lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Khanna.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Khanna wants to land a leg kick but Shakaromanov is out of range.
Shakaromanov was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Khanna throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shakaromanov is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Khanna lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Khanna bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shakaromanov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Khanna works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Shakaromanov misses with a looping right.
Khanna ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Shakaromanov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Khanna flicks out a counter leg kick but Shakaromanov steps away.
Shakaromanov keeps the fight on the outside.
Shakaromanov is looking to counter punch.

Khanna closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Khanna misses with a punch to the body.
Shakaromanov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Khanna backwards.
Shakaromanov has a couple of punches blocked by Khanna.
Khanna lands a body shot.
Khanna tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Khanna misses with a hook from the clinch.
Khanna tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Khanna has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shakaromanov lands a shoulder strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Khanna creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Shakaromanov breaks from the clinch.
Shakaromanov throws a hook to the side of Khanna's head but Khanna sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shakaromanov misses with a double jab.
Khanna tries to land a body kick
and Shakaromanov counters with a stiff right hand.
Khanna buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Khanna scores with a nice body kick.
Shakaromanov misses with a lunging right hand
and Khanna counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Shakaromanov takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A swing and a miss from Shakaromanov.
Khanna looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Khanna fakes the leg kick and cracks Shakaromanov in the body.
Mehmet Shakaromanov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shakaromanov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raja Khanna comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Khanna has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raja Khanna!