PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Andrey Shevchenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Monzer Al Kassar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Monzer Al Kassar was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Shevchenko
vs
Al Kassar

177 cm
25
177 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

178 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Andrey Shevchenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Monzer Al Kassar!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Steve Erwin and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Al Kassar moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Shevchenko shoots in but Al Kassar avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Al Kassar scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Shevchenko doesn't seem bothered though.
Al Kassar will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Shevchenko shoots in for a takedown but Al Kassar shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Al Kassar tries to clinch up.

Al Kassar has managed to clinch.
Al Kassar prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrey Shevchenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shevchenko drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Al Kassar gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Stalling in the clinch from Al Kassar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Al Kassar creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Al Kassar lands a shot to the body.
Shevchenko is trying to drag Al Kassar to the mat but Al Kassar just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Al Kassar working aggressively here.
Shevchenko wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Al Kassar lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Shevchenko.
Al Kassar scores with a nice hook to the head.
Al Kassar's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Shevchenko tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Kassar holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Shevchenko tries for a takedown but Al Kassar manages to get underhooks.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Al Kassar.
Al Kassar is struggling to control the position.
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!
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Monzer Al Kassar.
Nice takedown defense from Al Kassar. No joy for Shevchenko on that attempt.

Al Kassar clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Kassar stalls.
Al Kassar softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Shevchenko stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Shevchenko tries to break the clinch but Al Kassar is controlling the position.
Al Kassar taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Shevchenko blocks an uppercut.
Al Kassar working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Al Kassar can't find room to land a body shot as Shevchenko controls the action.
Shevchenko goes for a takedown in the clinch but Al Kassar prevents it.
Al Kassar is looking to control Shevchenko's arms but Shevchenko gets an underhook and turns him. Now Al Kassar has his back to the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Kassar misses with a hook from the clinch.
Al Kassar is pressed up against the cage. Shevchenko has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Al Kassar down to the mat. Al Kassar avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Shevchenko needs to keep his hands up - Al Kassar had a free shot at his head there.
Al Kassar lands with a shot to the body.
Shevchenko is breathing heavily.
Al Kassar tries to clinch up but Shevchenko circles away and keeps his distance.
Shevchenko fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Al Kassar avoids it really well and circles away.
Shevchenko on the wrong end of a nice jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Al Kassar tries to clinch up
and Shevchenko counters with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Monzer Al Kassar dominated that 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.

Al Kassar drops Shevchenko with a naaaaasty hook - Shevchenko is in real trouble here! Al Kassar dives in to side control and pounds out his opponent for a TKO victory! The crowd goes nuts!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Monzer Al Kassar!