PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shemp Howard (ranked 6489 p4p, 0 weight class) and Amirkhan Adaev (ranked 23754 p4p, 0 weight class). Amirkhan Adaev is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Howard
vs
Adaev

170 cm
25
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
27
156 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Shemp Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Amirkhan Adaev!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, John Roberts and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard looks for a takedown but Adaev sprawls well.
Adaev is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Adaev pushes Howard up against the cage in a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Howard.
A shot in the inside from Howard.
Howard lands a nice uppercut.
Howard tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Adaev's elbow.
Howard misses with the head strike.

Adaev is trying to trip Howard. He has hold of a leg but Howard is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Adaev persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Howard has his foot on Adaev's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Adaev works his way back into a safe position though.
Howard is trying to hold Adaev in close to prevent damage but Adaev has managed to pass into half guard.
Adaev really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Howard. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Howard actively working from the bottom here.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Adaev in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard trying to control here.
Adaev controlling the action here.
Howard definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Adaev not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Adaev trying to control the action but Howard is working from the bottom.

Howard looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Adaev takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Howard looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Howard won't allow Adaev to pass to mount.
Adaev keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Adaev dives in and scores a takedown into Howard's guard.

Howard is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Adaev defends well.
Adaev 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Howard is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Howard is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Adaev defends well.
Howard has a closed guard, preventing Adaev from standing up.
Adaev wants to pass the guard but Howard is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howard trying to keep a closed guard but Adaev is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Howard keeping moving, preventing Adaev from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Howard fails with an attempt to clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Adaev! But no joy.

Howard gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Adaev lands a takedown into guard.
Adaev wanted to stand there but Howard had control of the position.

Howard working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Adaev has passed into half guard!
Howard makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Howard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Adaev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Amirkhan Adaev dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Howard scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Howard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Adaev.
Adaev blocks a jab.
Crunch! Howard slams his shin into Adaev's torso.
Nice uppercut there from Howard.
Adaev just misses with a punch to the body.

Adaev bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Adaev working the ground and pound.
Adaev is working Howard over with some ground and pound from side control.
Adaev wants to stand but Howard is controlling his arm.
Howard wants to control but Adaev postures up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Adaev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Howard keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Adaev prevents Howard from improving his position.

Howard is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Adaev pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Howard has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Adaev is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Adaev working the head and body with strikes.
Adaev looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Howard keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Adaev sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Howard wants to control but Adaev is keeping busy.
Adaev scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Adaev wants to pass to mount but Howard is defending the position.
Howard is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Adaev's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Adaev's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Adaev just trying to survive but Howard is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Howard has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Adaev has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Adaev wants to get back to his feet.
Howard wants to control but Adaev is keeping busy.
Adaev covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Howard controlling well, preventing Adaev from escaping the position.
Adaev covering up well under a series of strikes from Howard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Adaev is trying to break free.

Howard looking to break Adaev's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Adaev remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Howard will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Howard missing with punches from the back.
Adaev is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Adaev wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Adaev avoids the strikes from Howard.
Adaev just trying to survive but Howard is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
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 Shemp Howard will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Howard works the jab nicely.

Adaev shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Howard manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Adaev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Howard is keeping the position for now.
Howard looking to control.
Howard throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Howard working for a triangle but Adaev defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Howard has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Adaev can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Howard working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Adaev doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Adaev manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Adaev trying to control the position from guard on top but Howard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Howard is looking for a triangle but Adaev pushes his legs off easily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Adaev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Adaev thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Adaev got a little sloppy there for a moment and Howard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Adaev has managed to get both his arms back between Howard's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Adaev trying to stand up but can't free himself from Howard's guard.
Adaev is pushing down on Howard's leg trying to pass to half guard. Howard is fighting to maintain full guard but Adaev has managed to sneak the leg through.
Adaev is looking to stall here but Howard recovers full guard.
Adaev scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Adaev sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Adaev postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Howard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Howard looking for subs off his back but Adaev has passed one foot through into half guard.
Well, if Adaev is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Adaev wants to get back to his feet.
Howard on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Adaev in particular looking to stall.
Adaev looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Howard with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Adaev is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Howard doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Adaev.
Howard tries to get to full guard but Adaev has control of the leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
Amirkhan Adaev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Adaev 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Amirkhan Adaev!