PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jorik Vartanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Shalbek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Vartanov
vs
Shalbek

190 cm
25
265 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

196 cm
23
237 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jorik Vartanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Shalbek!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Vladimir Khabensky and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vartanov fails with the takedown
and Vartanov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Jorik Vartanov has been cut.

Vartanov gets the takedown into side control.
Shalbek wants to get back to his feet but Vartanov drags him back down.
Vartanov wants to control but Shalbek is keeping him busy.
Shalbek gets back to half guard.
Vartanov controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shalbek is looking for a sweep. Vartanov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jorik Vartanov just wasn't active enough.
Vartanov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Shalbek counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Shalbek connects with a jab.
Shalbek lands with a straight right. Vartanov didn't see that one coming.
Shalbek scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Vartanov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Shalbek scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Vartanov is breathing heavily.
Shalbek with a nice cross.
Vartanov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Shalbek connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Jorik Vartanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shalbek dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jab from Shalbek.
Vartanov with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Shalbek to score with a decent uppercut.
Shalbek digs a good body shot into Vartanov's ribs.

Shalbek cracks Vartanov with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Vartanov looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Shalbek finish him?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vartanov tries to keep at a distance but Shalbek has taken the fight into the clinch.

Shalbek drops Vartanov onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Vartanov is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!

Jorik Vartanov's cut is getting worse.
Knees in the clinch landing for Shalbek.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A short uppercut from Shalbek.
Shalbek is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Shalbek controlling the action here for a moment.
Nice body punch from Shalbek - that landed with a thud.
Shalbek scores with a shoulder strike.
Shalbek scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Shalbek lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Vartanov.
Shalbek softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Shalbek.
Shalbek lands a left hand.

Vartanov is rocked!

Jorik Vartanov's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Shalbek throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Shalbek controlling the action here for a moment.
Shalbek unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A nice left hand lands by Shalbek.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shalbek digs a right hand into Vartanov's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Vartanov's gas tank.
Shalbek is leaning against Vartanov and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Nice body punch from Shalbek - that landed with a thud.
Shalbek lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Vartanov backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Shalbek.
Shalbek throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Vartanovs head.
Shalbek lands an uppercut.
Shalbek content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Shalbek.
Shalbek is leaning against Vartanov and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Vartanov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Shalbek smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jorik Vartanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vartanov with a poor takedown
and Shalbek counters with a right hand to the body.

Shalbek gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Shalbek lands a left hand.
Shalbek lands a shoulder strike.
Shalbek lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Vartanov backwards.

Jeez, Jorik Vartanov's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shalbek leaning against his opponent.
Shalbek lands with a light punch inside.
Shalbek comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Shalbek lands a shot to the body.
Vartanov takes a knee right on the jaw!
Shalbek lands with a short punch from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Shalbek dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jorik Vartanov's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Vartanov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Vartanov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Shalbek counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Vartanov thinking.

Shalbek cracks Vartanov with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Shalbek has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Vartanov to stand back up!
Oh Vartanov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A head kick by Vartanov misses

and Shalbek counters with a nice right hand that sends Vartanov toppling to the canvas! Vartanov scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Shalbek finish him?!

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Jorik Vartanov's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Vladimir Shalbek!