|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Volkan Xhaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abbas Shahriari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
 |
|
 |
| 183 cm
23
205 lbs
1 - 2 - 0 |
|
175 cm
23
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0 |
Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power |
|
Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin |
|
| |
|
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
1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Volkan Xhaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Abbas Shahriari!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shahriari.
Xhaka gets caught flat footed, as Shahriari shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Shahriari is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Xhaka is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Xhaka throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shahriari controls from within his opponent's guard.
Shahriari wants to pass the guard but Xhaka is keeping the position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Shahriari not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Xhaka manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Shahriari manages to get himself to full guard.
Shahriari trying to control the position.
Xhaka looking to sit in guard and control but Shahriari gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Shahriari controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shahriari looking to pass the guard.
Xhaka wants to get back to his feet but Shahriari is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Shahriari is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Xhaka looking for a guillotine here but Shahriari defends easily.
Xhaka working a defensive guard here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xhaka is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Shahriari is trying to stand.
Xhaka is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Xhaka wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shahriari keeps working.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shahriari has one foot on Xhaka's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Xhaka shoots in looking for a takedown. Shahriari tries to sprawl out of it but Xhaka keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shahriari manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Xhaka gets caught flat footed, as Shahriari shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Xhaka is trying to control the position but Shahriari postures up.
Shahriari's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Abbas Shahriari dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Shahriari changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Xhaka tries to avoid it but Shahriari manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Xhaka to the ground. Xhaka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Xhaka is trying hard to land a takedown here. Shahriari sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Xhaka gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Xhaka is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shahriari really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Xhaka. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Shahriari is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Shahriari has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Xhaka is looking for a triangle but Shahriari pushes his legs off easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shahriari is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Xhaka looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shahriari is one step ahead there.
Xhaka is trying to keep Shahriari in close.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Xhaka keeping full guard, as Shahriari tries to pass.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Shahriari fails to land the takedown.
Xhaka tries to close the distance and clinch but Shahriari swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shahriari closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Xhaka manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Shahriari keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Xhaka working hard to break the clinch.
Shahriari tries to score a body lock takedown but Xhaka shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Volkan Xhaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Abbas Shahriari.
Xhaka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Shahriari has hold of one of Xhaka's legs. Xhaka is fighting the takedown attempt but Shahriari gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Shahriari is breathing heavily.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shahriari won't allow Xhaka to sweep him here.
Shahriari engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Xhaka is on top in guard.
Shahriari throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shahriari pushes Xhaka off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Shahriari checks a leg kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Shahriari! But no joy.
Shahriari gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xhaka is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Shahriari can't keep his opponent in guard - Xhaka advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Shahriari has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Xhaka is on him like a limpet, forcing Shahriari back against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Xhaka pulls Shahriari into guard.
Shahriari must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Shahriari wants to pass the guard but Xhaka is keeping the position.
Xhaka 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Volkan Xhaka will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.
Xhaka fails with the takedown.
Xhaka instigates a clinch.
Xhaka breaks the clinch.
Shahriari tries for a takedown but Xhaka sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Xhaka goes for a double leg but Shahriari avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Shahriari continues to drive forward.
Shahriari decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Xhaka looks like he's trying to stand up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xhaka moves into full guard.
Xhaka looking for a sweep. Not yet Xhaka, not yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Shahriari is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Xhaka pulls Shahriari in to control the position.
Shahriari trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Shahriari stuffs the takedown attempt from Xhaka. Xhaka gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Volkan Xhaka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shahriari drives through with a takedown into guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shahriari won't allow Xhaka to sweep him here.
Xhaka looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Shahriari showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Xhaka pulls Shahriari in close to prevent any damage.
Shahriari postures up.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shahriari sitting in guard here, content to control.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Shahriari keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Xhaka.
Horrible takedown attempt by Shahriari or perhaps it was just good defense by Xhaka, which made it look bad.
Nice takedown defense from Xhaka. No joy for Shahriari on that attempt.
Xhaka tries to clinch up.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Xhaka will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Shahriari is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Shahriari throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Xhaka was covering up waiting for the punch and Shahriari finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Shahriari slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Xhaka is looking for a triangle but Shahriari pushes his legs off easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shahriari sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Abbas Shahriari.
I think Shahriari has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abbas Shahriari!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
31% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
