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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rustam Shakhbulatov (ranked 1922 p4p, 55 weight class) and Phillip Baroni (ranked 2119 p4p, 63 weight class). Shakhbulatov comes to the cage accompanied by Sabina Saidova - Dagestan. Man, I cannot wait for this one!
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| 178 cm
34
170 lbs
17 - 10 - 0 |
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175 cm
23
199 lbs
7 - 7 - 2 |
Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rustam Shakhbulatov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
7 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Phillip Baroni!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Don Winkell.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shakhbulatov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Shakhbulatov lands in his opponent's guard.
Baroni has Shakhbulatov pulled in close to control his posture.
Baroni keeping full guard, as Shakhbulatov tries to pass.
Shakhbulatov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Baroni working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shakhbulatov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Baroni swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Baroni keeping moving, preventing Shakhbulatov from controlling successfully.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shakhbulatov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are working up against the cage. Baroni manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Baroni swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shakhbulatov lands a shoulder strike.
Shakhbulatov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Shakhbulatov wants to stall.
I was talking to Shakhbulatov's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Baroni breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shakhbulatov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Baroni defends it nicely.
Shakhbulatov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shakhbulatov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Shakhbulatov is looking for a kimura here.
Baroni is trying to stand.
Shakhbulatov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Baroni sees it coming and defends easily.
Shakhbulatov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Baroni pushes Shakhbulatov off looking to stand but Shakhbulatov dives back in and keeps control.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baroni won't allow Shakhbulatov to pass to mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Baroni can do anything to dispel that myth.
Shakhbulatov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Baroni wants to get back to his feet.
Shakhbulatov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shakhbulatov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Baroni trying to control from the bottom.
Shakhbulatov seems to be working for a kimura but Baroni defends the submission attempt.
Well, if Shakhbulatov 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.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Shakhbulatov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Baroni's head.
Baroni pushes Shakhbulatov off looking to stand but Shakhbulatov dives back in and keeps control.
Baroni is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Baroni lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shakhbulatov circles away quickly and effectively.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shakhbulatov throws a body shot but no joy.
Baroni moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Baroni lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shakhbulatov circles away quickly and effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Rustam Shakhbulatov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Shakhbulatov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Baroni's guard.
Baroni is looking to stand up but Shakhbulatov isn't so interested in that idea.
Baroni has Shakhbulatov pulled in close to control his posture.
Shakhbulatov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Shakhbulatov trying to control but Baroni is working from the bottom.
Shakhbulatov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shakhbulatov stops Baroni from standing up.
Shakhbulatov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Shakhbulatov wants to control from the top but Baroni keeps moving.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Shakhbulatov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Baroni as he jumps to the side.
Baroni thows a left - swing and a miss!
Shakhbulatov drives through with a takedown into guard.
Shakhbulatov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Shakhbulatov won't allow Baroni to sweep him here.
Shakhbulatov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Baroni looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shakhbulatov is one step ahead there.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shakhbulatov pushing down on Baroni's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Shakhbulatov lands with a punch from half guard.
Baroni won't allow Shakhbulatov to pass to mount.
Rustam Shakhbulatov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shakhbulatov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Shakhbulatov is trying to control the action in half guard but Baroni is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Shakhbulatov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Shakhbulatov tries to pass to full mount but Baroni defends it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baroni keeping control of the position.
Shakhbulatov trying to pass the guard but Baroni defending well.
Shakhbulatov working over Baroni with some ground and pound. Baroni looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Shakhbulatov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Baroni is just riding it out for now. Shakhbulatov eventually gives up the hold.
Shakhbulatov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Baroni can do to turn this around?
Baroni is trying to stand.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shakhbulatov is trying to control the action in half guard but Baroni is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Shakhbulatov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Baroni wants to control but Shakhbulatov is keeping busy.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Shakhbulatov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shakhbulatov is trying to control. Baroni wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shakhbulatov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Shakhbulatov throwing shots but Baroni is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Rustam Shakhbulatov dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!
Baroni defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Shakhbulatov.
Baroni lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
It looks like Rustam Shakhbulatov has been cut.
Baroni scores with a decent looking hook.
Shakhbulatov tries for a takedown but Baroni sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Baroni looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Baroni lands a nice looking body shot.
Phillip Baroni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baroni misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Shakhbulatov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Baroni takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Shakhbulatov dives in and grabs Baroni's left leg, looking for a takedown. Baroni pushes down on Shakhbulatov's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rustam Shakhbulatov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shakhbulatov tries to move into range but Baroni moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baroni paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Shakhbulatov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Baroni.
Baroni swinging wildly here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Baroni throws a nice looking combination but Shakhbulatov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Baroni stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Baroni wants it to stay on the feet.
Baroni lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Shakhbulatov stuns Baroni with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Baroni lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Baroni misses the jab.
Baroni lands a really nice looking cross but Shakhbulatov seems unphased.
Rustam Shakhbulatov's cut is getting worse.
Shakhbulatov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice shot by Baroni.
Baroni misses with an uppercut.
Shakhbulatov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shakhbulatov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Baroni but Baroni pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Baroni throws a poor cross that misses
and Baroni takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
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!
Baroni jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shakhbulatov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Baroni fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shakhbulatov manages to avoid it.
Shakhbulatov scores with a shot to the body.
Shakhbulatov dives in for a single leg takedown but Baroni sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Baroni is looking for the big counter here.
Baroni misses with a hook.
Shakhbulatov has a takedown stuffed.
Shakhbulatov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Baroni is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Shakhbulatov with a body shot.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baroni misses with a double jab.
Baroni lands a slapping body shot.
Baroni throws a series of punches but Shakhbulatov avoids them all with ease.
Baroni throws a nice looking combination but Shakhbulatov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Baroni throws an overhand right that lands on Shakhbulatov's shoulder, as Shakhbulatov tries to avoid the shot.
Baroni misses with the combination.
Baroni fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Shakhbulatov throws a lazy right hand but Baroni sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Baroni connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Phillip Baroni has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baroni tries to bum rush Shakhbulatov with a series of wild strikes but Shakhbulatov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Baroni misses with a body shot
and Shakhbulatov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Shakhbulatov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baroni tries to bum rush Shakhbulatov with a series of wild strikes but Shakhbulatov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Shakhbulatov ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Baroni misses with an uppercut. Shakhbulatov saw that one coming.
Rustam Shakhbulatov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Baroni misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Baroni misses with a straight right.
Shakhbulatov attempts a counter takedown but Baroni avoids it well and moves away.
Nice sprawl there from Baroni as Shakhbulatov shoots in.
It seemed like Baroni was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
The fighters circle momentarily. Baroni darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
And that's the end of the fight!
Phillip Baroni comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Shakhbulatov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rustam Shakhbulatov!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
37% |
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