PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexey Shishkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abel Koponen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Abel Koponen has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Alexey Shishkin's chin.

Shishkin
vs
Koponen

176 cm
30
207 lbs
13 - 22 - 0

187 cm
25
215 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

Good takedowns
Decent elbows
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 22 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexey Shishkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Abel Koponen!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksandr Martynov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koponen fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Shishkin takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like Alexey Shishkin has been cut.
Koponen blocks a head kick by Shishkin.
Koponen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Shishkin on the side of the head.
Shishkin tries to clinch up
and Koponen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Koponen blocks a head kick by Shishkin.
Shishkin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Shishkin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Shishkin doesn't manage to clinch there - Koponen circles away.
Shishkin takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shishkin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Koponen avoids the head kick by Shishkin.
Koponen moves in looking to clinch but Shishkin pushes him off.
Shishkin swinging wildly here.
Shishkin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Koponen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Shishkin.
Koponen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Koponen checks a leg kick.
Koponen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A right-left combo lands from Koponen.
Shishkin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Koponen closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Shishkin's guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Shishkin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Koponen advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Koponen seems to be looking for submissions.
Shishkin is looking to control Koponen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shishkin avoid being mounted?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shishkin moves into full guard.
Koponen looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Koponen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Shishkin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Shishkin trying to control the position from guard on top but Koponen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shishkin is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Koponen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Shishkin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Koponen working for submissions but it's allowed Shishkin to get to half guard.

Shishkin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koponen wants to improve his position but Shishkin is controlling well.

Koponen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koponen trying to control but Shishkin postures up.

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

Koponen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Shishkin pulls his head out easily.

Koponen looking for submissions off his back.
Koponen is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Shishkin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Shishkin's back!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shishkin manages to reverse the position and now he's in Koponen's guard. Nice work there by Shishkin.

Koponen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Shishkin defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abel Koponen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexey Shishkin's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Shishkin misses with a two punch combination.
Shishkin stuffs the takedown attempt from Koponen. Koponen gets slowly back to his feet.
Shishkin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Shishkin tries to clinch up.
Alexey Shishkin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shishkin misses with a double jab
and Koponen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Shishkin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Shishkin misses with a body kick.
Shishkin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Koponen.
Sloppy strikes from Koponen. Those never looked like landing.
Shishkin throws a head kick that misses.
Shishkin throws a left and a right that both miss
and Koponen counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shishkin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Koponen blocks a head kick by Shishkin.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A head kick misses from Shishkin.
Shishkin misses with a left hand
and Koponen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Alexey Shishkin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shishkin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Shishkin misses with a right hand
and Koponen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Koponen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Abel Koponen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Shishkin misses with a series of wild punches.
Koponen lands a two punch combo.
Shishkin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Koponen avoids the head kick by Shishkin.
Koponen misses with the combination.
Shishkin misses with a two punch combination.
Koponen is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Koponen!

Shishkin is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Koponen works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Oh Shishkin is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Koponen throws a one two combo.
Shishkin moves to clinch but Koponen breaks away
and Koponen counters with a crisp right that sends Shishkin to the canvas! Koponen follows up with punches from the mount and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Abel Koponen!
An out of breath Abel Koponen thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.