PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Al Shaffer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikita Smoldarev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shaffer kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Midnight At The Oasis by Maria Muldaur. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Shaffer
vs
Smoldarev

185 cm
25
245 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

205 cm
24
265 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Al Shaffer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikita Smoldarev!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shaffer throws a nice looking combination but Smoldarev bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nice sprawl there from Shaffer as Smoldarev shoots in.

Smoldarev tries to sprawl but Shaffer drives through with a takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Smoldarev punching from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Smoldarev can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ground and pound from Shaffer.
Shaffer looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Smoldarev with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Shaffer is thwarting Smoldarev's attempts to control the position.
Shaffer missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Shaffer could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Smoldarev is trying to get back to full guard.
Shaffer working over Smoldarev with some ground and pound. Smoldarev looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smoldarev is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Shaffer scores with a couple of nice shots.
Shaffer thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Shaffer is looking to take a break and control but Smoldarev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shaffer thows a huge punch but Smoldarev dodges it nicely.
Shaffer drops an elbow to the side of Smoldarev's head.
Shaffer has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaffer is looking to advance position but Smoldarev won't allow it.
Shaffer throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Shaffer missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Smoldarev tries to roll over but Shaffer keeps him under control.
Shaffer trying to pass the guard but Smoldarev defending well.
Shaffer looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Shaffer missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Shaffer lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Shaffer trying to pass the guard but Smoldarev defending well.
Shaffer trying to control the action but Smoldarev is working from the bottom.
Shaffer is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Smoldarev is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaffer lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice strikes from Shaffer there.
Smoldarev wants to control but Shaffer is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Shaffer lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Smoldarev tries to roll over but Shaffer keeps him under control.
Shaffer works his way into full mount!
Smoldarev is squirming around, avoiding Shaffer's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaffer lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shaffer pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Smoldarev is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Smoldarev looks winded!
Shaffer postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Smoldarev looks a forlorn figure.

Smoldarev is rocked!
Shaffer looking to finish here with some ground and pound. He lands one big shot that has Smoldarev covering up... and two more big strikes land, forcing the referee to step in and put and end to proceedings! This fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Al Shaffer!
Al Shaffer decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.