PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Vassiliev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ian McShame (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Vassiliev
vs
McShame

180 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
166 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Sergey Vassiliev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ian McShame!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Daniel Bishop and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McShame fails with a takedown attempt.

Vassiliev instigates a clinch.
Vassiliev has McShame pressed against the cage.
McShame stops a takedown attempt from Vassiliev.
McShame is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Vassiliev is keeping busy.
Vassiliev is stalling here.

Vassiliev jumps into guard, dragging McShame to the mat.
McShame postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Vassiliev keeping moving, preventing McShame from controlling successfully.

Vassiliev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McShame controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Vassiliev pushes McShame off and scrambles back to his feet.
McShame fails with a takedown attempt.
Vassiliev fails to land with a series of punches.
McShame circles away from the clinch attempt.

Vassiliev shoots in and bounces McShame off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
McShame has control of Vassiliev's left arm, preventing Vassiliev from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vassiliev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vassiliev works a leg free and moves into half guard.
McShame works his way to full guard. Good work.
McShame keeping moving, preventing Vassiliev from controlling successfully.
Vassiliev slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
McShame not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
McShame might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Vassiliev kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vassiliev is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
McShame is trying to control the position but Vassiliev postures up.

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

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Vassiliev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with McShame but McShame pushes him off and we're back to square one.

McShame closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
McShame looks gassed!
McShame tries to stand but Vassiliev is controlling his head.
Vassiliev manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
McShame trying to pass the guard but Vassiliev defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vassiliev keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Vassiliev tries to roll over but McShame keeps him under control.
Vassiliev wants to get back to full guard but McShame has mounted him!
McShame avoids the attempt from Vassiliev to control.
McShame lands with some strikes.
McShame wants to control the pace but Vassiliev is squirming around nicely.
Vassiliev flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Vassiliev dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Vassiliev scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
McShame trying to control from the bottom.
Vassiliev stops McShame from getting back to his feet.
McShame wants to control but Vassiliev is keeping busy.
McShame makes his way to full guard. A much better position for McShame.

McShame working for submissions but it's allowed Vassiliev to get to half guard.

Vassiliev seems to be working for a kimura but McShame defends the submission attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vassiliev seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vassiliev frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Vassiliev lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
McShame is trying desperately to improve position.
McShame is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Vassiliev can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McShame is looking to escape.

Vassiliev jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but McShame manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Vassiliev working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McShame is looking for a sweep.
Vassiliev controlling the position from side mount.
McShame tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vassiliev landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
McShame is trying to work for a sweep but Vassiliev has mounted him!
McShame really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McShame wants to hold on but Vassiliev pushes him away.
McShame has given up his back here.
Vassiliev has McShame flattened out and is raining down punches.

McShame showing good submission defense here.
McShame really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Vassiliev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Vassiliev is looking to control McShame but McShame is wriggling around and keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vassiliev keeps control of the position as McShame tries to break free.
Vassiliev scores with punches to the body.
McShame can't escape the position.
McShame is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Vassiliev off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
McShame controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
McShame can't escape the position.
McShame looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Vassiliev keeps control of the position easily here as McShame tries to buck him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Vassiliev dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Vassiliev fails with the takedown.
McShame wants to clinch

and Vassiliev counters with a nice double leg into side control. McShame won't be happy with that.
McShame on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
McShame is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Vassiliev's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
McShame is trying to get back to full guard.
Vassiliev stops McShame from getting back to his feet.
McShame is trying to maintain the position but Vassiliev is very close to passing his half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vassiliev wants to get back to his feet.
McShame trying to hold on to Vassiliev's head to control him but Vassiliev postures up.
McShame is trying to keep from getting into a worse position than he's already in but McShame is working away and isn't letting himself get tied up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
McShame misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Vassiliev misses with a leg kick.

McShame decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
McShame throws a strike but Vassiliev avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
McShame trying to stand up but can't free himself from Vassiliev's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vassiliev throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Vassiliev keeping moving, preventing McShame from controlling successfully.
McShame landing some decent shots from guard.
Vassiliev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McShame wanted to stand there but Vassiliev had control of the position.
McShame must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Vassiliev keeping moving, preventing McShame from controlling successfully.
McShame looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McShame drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Vassiliev dives on top into guard.
McShame looking for a sweep. Not yet McShame, not yet.
McShame keeping moving, preventing Vassiliev from controlling successfully.
McShame wants to control the position but Vassiliev says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Vassiliev seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Vassiliev seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Vassiliev prevents McShame from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McShame is defending against the submission attempts here by Vassiliev.
Vassiliev with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Vassiliev is trying to control the action in half guard but McShame is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sergey Vassiliev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
McShame wants to improve his position but Vassiliev is controlling well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergey Vassiliev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Vassiliev has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergey Vassiliev!