PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Papa Shango (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zoran Jolevi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shango
vs
Jolevi

177 cm
29
166 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

167 cm
29
160 lbs
22 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Héritage!

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 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Papa Shango!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zoran Jolevi!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Phil Schofield and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jolevi has taken the fight to the clinch.
Jolevi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Shango's elbow.
Jolevi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Shango backwards.
Jolevi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Shango tries to pull guard but Jolevi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Jolevi misses with some punches.
Shango fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Shango tries to score a body lock takedown but Jolevi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Papa Shango. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jolevi works on Shango's body with a couple of short punches.
Jolevi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Shango drops down looking for an ankle pick but Jolevi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Jolevi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jolevi fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Jolevi throws a series of punches but Shango moves out of range.
Zoran Jolevi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jolevi digs a good body shot into Shango's ribs.
Jolevi ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Shango walks into a jab.

Jolevi gets a clinch.
Jolevi prevents a takedown attempt there.
Jolevi digs a right hand into Shango's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Shango's gas tank.
Jolevi lands with a short shot to the head.
Shango drops down looking for an ankle pick but Jolevi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Jolevi throws a shot to the body.
Shango is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jolevi misses with a few strikes there.
Shango changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Jolevi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Good body shot from Jolevi.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shango tries to score a body lock takedown but Jolevi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Shango manages to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shango is trying to control the position but Jolevi postures up.
Jolevi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Shango is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Jolevi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jolevi seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Jolevi is continuing to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jolevi preventing the sweep.

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

Shango looking for a guillotine here but Jolevi defends easily.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Jolevi working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Shango is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Jolevi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Shango is looking for a triangle here but Jolevi uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Shango is trying to control Jolevi's posture but Jolevi avoids it.
Shango is looking to regain half guard here but Jolevi keeps moving and retains side control.

Jolevi is trying to get an arm triangle but Shango is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shango is letting Jolevi control him for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zoran Jolevi dominated that round.
That's time! Shango's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Jolevi lands the left hand.
Shango moves away from the strike by Jolevi.
Shango tries to counter with a takedown but Jolevi is quick to defend against it.
Papa Shango is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shango ducks under a wild hook from Jolevi.
Shango changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Shango slips a jab from Jolevi.
Shango appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Jolevi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shango swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shango tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Jolevi manages to circle out of the way.
Jolevi scores with a hook to the body. Shango takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jolevi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shango.
A cross from Jolevi lands.
Jolevi is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Shango rather than just go for the knockout.
Shango gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jolevi catches Shango with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Jolevi misses with a body shot.
Jolevi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Shango.
Shango tries to counter by clinching up but Jolevi breaks away and moves out of range.
Zoran Jolevi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Jolevi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Shango, pushing him back against the cage.
Shango jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jolevi walks away with a smile on his face. Shango gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Jolevi darts in and clinches Shango up against the cage.
Jolevi lands with a right to the head.
Shango blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Shango jumps guard.
Shango is adopting a defensive guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shango is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Shango passes the guard and advances to mount!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jolevi is squirming around, avoiding Shango's attempts to control the action.
Jolevi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Shango can't control as he wanted to and Jolevi manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Shango trying to mount his opponent but Jolevi defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Jolevi manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Shango is looking to advance position but Jolevi has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Jolevi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Jolevi with good strikes from the mount here!

Jolevi jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Shango is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Shango and Jolevi has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Jolevi is trying to get an arm triangle but Shango is defending well.
Shango is looking to regain half guard here but Jolevi keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shango manages to get back to half guard.
Jolevi is looking to take a break and control but Shango is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jolevi takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Jolevi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Shango makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Shango.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jolevi content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zoran Jolevi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Jolevi cracks Shango with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Jolevi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jolevi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Jolevi misses with a hook. Shango ducked under it nicely.
Nice body punch from Jolevi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jolevi is looking to clinch.
Jolevi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Jolevi tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shango circles away from the clinch attempt.
Shango half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Jolevi throws a body punch but Shango moves out of range.
Jolevi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shango moves away.
Jolevi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shango appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Jolevi darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Jolevi tests Shango's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jolevi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shango uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jolevi.
Shango attempts a counter takedown but Jolevi avoids it well and moves away.
Papa Shango has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jolevi throws a body punch but Shango moves out of range.
Shango drops down looking for a counter takedown but Jolevi sprawls and moves away.
Shango circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jolevi comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Jolevi moves in looking to clinch but Shango pushes him off.
Jab by Jolevi.
Jolevi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shango was well out of range. Poor timing from Jolevi.
Jolevi scores with a nice right hand.

Shango is rocked!
Shango swats away the attempt to clinch by Jolevi.
Shango wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Oh Shango is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jolevi steps in with a hook that catches Shango right on the chin and knocks him to the floor! Jolevi follows him down with more strikes and that's all she wrote! Shango looks absolutely devastated.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:09 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Zoran Jolevi!
In his post fight interview, Zoran Jolevi started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.