PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rustam Shakhbulatov (ranked 1382 p4p, 175 weight class) and Ickey Woods (ranked 2725 p4p, 307 weight class). Shakhbulatov comes to the cage accompanied by Sabina Saidova - Dagestan. Woods is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by System of a Down- Chop Suey. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Shakhbulatov
vs
Woods

178 cm
29
167 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

178 cm
29
162 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good gas tank

BuriedAlive// Fight Gear
Juggernaut And Gladiators(90% Laundry)

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 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rustam Shakhbulatov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ickey Woods!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shakhbulatov lands with a hook. Woods tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Shakhbulatov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shakhbulatov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Shakhbulatov bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Woods's head backwards.
Woods connects with a nice looking jab.

It looks like Rustam Shakhbulatov has been cut.
Woods misses with a looping left.
Woods scores with a nice right hand.
Woods throws an overhand right that lands on Shakhbulatov's shoulder, as Shakhbulatov tries to avoid the shot.
Woods defending well as Shakhbulatov loads up on a big left hand.
Shakhbulatov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A big left from Woods misses.
Shakhbulatov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Woods.
An attempted straight right counter from Shakhbulatov misses the target.
Woods keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Woods tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Shakhbulatov defends well and Woods ends up having to push Shakhbulatov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Shakhbulatov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Woods moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shakhbulatov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Shakhbulatov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Woods just misses with a punch to the body.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Woods has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Woods swings widly with a right hand
and Shakhbulatov counters with a stiff right hand.
Shakhbulatov misses with a straight left.
A cross from Woods lands.
Shakhbulatov slips under a jab.
Woods lands with an overhand left.
Woods misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shakhbulatov.
Woods changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Woods ducks right into an uppercut from Shakhbulatov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Woods on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Shakhbulatov throws a jab when Woods was well out of range.
Woods tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shakhbulatov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Woods drives through and clinches with Shakhbulatov against the cage.
Woods tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shakhbulatov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Woods tries to pull guard but Shakhbulatov holds him up against the cage and eventually Woods drops back down to his feet.
Rustam Shakhbulatov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ickey Woods.
Shakhbulatov misses with a short punch on the inside.

Woods ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Woods no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Woods not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Woods might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Shakhbulatov haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Woods is looking for a triangle but Shakhbulatov pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woods keeping moving, preventing Shakhbulatov from controlling successfully.

Woods is looking for a triangle here but Shakhbulatov uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
You can see the frustration on Woods's face as Shakhbulatov controls the position.
Woods tries to improve position but can't.
Woods is trying to escape the position but Shakhbulatov is controlling the position.

Shakhbulatov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Shakhbulatov is working Woods over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Woods gets back to half guard.
Woods is looking to improve his position.
Woods is staying active underneath Shakhbulatov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Woods actively working from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shakhbulatov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Shakhbulatov is keen to just control but Woods is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shakhbulatov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Woods gets back to full guard.
Shakhbulatov trying to control but Woods is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rustam Shakhbulatov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rustam Shakhbulatov's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Woods doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Shakhbulatov counters with a straight right hand.
Woods throws out a loose jab but Shakhbulatov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shakhbulatov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Ickey Woods seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Woods with a jab.
Woods throws a big shot that misses.
Shakhbulatov keeps the fight on the outside.
Woods throws an off balance right hand
and Shakhbulatov counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circling - Woods throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Woods ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shakhbulatov moves away.
Shakhbulatov walks into a left hand.
Shakhbulatov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shakhbulatov misses with a hook.
Shakhbulatov on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Woods lands with an uppercut that bounces Shakhbulatov off the cage and back into range.
Shakhbulatov throws a big shot that misses.
Shakhbulatov moves out of range of the strikes.
Shakhbulatov is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Shakhbulatov throws a lazy right hand but Woods sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Woods! But no joy.
Woods defending well as Shakhbulatov loads up on a big left hand.
Woods ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shakhbulatov moves away.
Woods misses with a body shot.
Shakhbulatov moves away from the strike by Woods.
Woods moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shakhbulatov misses with a wild body shot.
Woods misses with a left hand
enabling Shakhbulatov to counter with a crisp jab.
Shakhbulatov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Woods finds it's way round the side to connect with Shakhbulatov's head.
Shakhbulatov ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
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!
Shakhbulatov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Rustam Shakhbulatov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Woods ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Woods misses with a wild body shot.

Woods closes the distance and clinches.
Shakhbulatov is trying to break free.
Woods tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Shakhbulatov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Woodss head.
Woods blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Woods has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Shakhbulatov uses from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Woods has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Shakhbulatov doesn't defend quickly enough and Woods has managed to lock this one up! Can Shakhbulatov escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Woods on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Ickey Woods!
Ickey Woods gave a mention to Knockdown Clothes in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).