PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kevin McGuire (ranked 817 p4p, 1222 weight class) and Fedor Shabanov (ranked 130 p4p, 197 weight class). McGuire comes to the cage accompanied by Johnny Cash - God's Gonna Cut You Down. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

McGuire
vs
Shabanov

200 cm
29
265
16 - 10 - 0

197 cm
36
229
25 - 14 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Brooklyn Apothecary
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kevin McGuire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Fedor Shabanov!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slapping body kick lands there for McGuire.
Shabanov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
McGuire moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

It looks like Fedor Shabanov has been cut.
Shabanov's corner calls for a 1-2. Shabanov obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
McGuire blocks a jab.
Kevin McGuire seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

McGuire rushes Shabanov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
McGuire scores with a shot to the side of Shabanov's head.
Shabanov scores with a nice hook to the head.
McGuire can't find room to land a body shot as Shabanov controls the action.
A short right from Shabanov.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shabanov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Shabanov misses with a body punch.
Shabanov lands a nice uppercut.
Shabanov throws a punch but it's blocked by McGuire.
Shabanov is trying to break free.
Shabanov misses with some punches.
McGuire cracks Shabanov with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuire misses with a short punch on the inside.

Shabanov breaks the clinch.
Shabanov missing with a left hand there. McGuire was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Shabanov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shabanov leaves McGuire with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
McGuire wants to land a leg kick but Shabanov is out of range.
McGuire misses with a leg kick
and McGuire takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
McGuire misses the shot to the body.
Shabanov slips under a jab.
Shabanov steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.

McGuire closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGuire thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
McGuire trying to control from half guard but Shabanov is working away.
McGuire prevents Shabanov from standing back up.
McGuire is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
McGuire thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Shabanov tries to kick McGuire off but McGuire keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shabanov pushes McGuire off but McGuire dives into side control.
McGuire tries to advance to mount but Shabanov denies him.
McGuire prevents Shabanov from escaping the position.
McGuire tries to advance to mount but Shabanov denies him.
Shabanov takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Shabanov is not content to let McGuire control the position.

Shabanov throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGuire is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

McGuire drops his shoulder and cracks Shabanov with a huge uppercut! Shabanov goes down! Can McGuire finish him?
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!
McGuire passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Shabanov is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but McGuire has just dragged him back down to the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin McGuire dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Fedor Shabanov's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Shabanov tries to keep at a distance but McGuire has taken the fight into the clinch.
A shot in the inside from McGuire.
McGuire lands an uppercut.

McGuire wants the takedown. Shabanov is fighting it off but McGuire persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Shabanov's guard against the cage.
Shabanov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
McGuire throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shabanov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Shabanov manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
McGuire lands a right hand.
McGuire is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shabanov can do to turn this around?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McGuire blocks an uppercut.
Shabanov lands a body punch.
Shabanov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
McGuire lands a body punch.
McGuire lands with a left to the head.
Shabanov is breathing heavily.
Shabanov prevents a takedown attempt there.
McGuire scores with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, McGuire creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Shabanov swings wildly with an uppercut but McGuire uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kevin McGuire has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Shabanov working aggressively here.
McGuire tries to throw a body punch but Shabanov avoids it by throwing McGuire back against the cage.
McGuire unloads with a big right hand that wobbles Shabanov! He's leaning against the cage trying to keep his feet but McGuire is unloading with more strikes now! Shabanov drops to his knees and the referee stops the fight for a TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kevin McGuire!
A victorious Kevin McGuire thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.