PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fedor Shabanov (ranked 1719 p4p, 1752 weight class) and Christophe Dupree (ranked 234 p4p, 239 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Dupree's choice of entrance music: Eddie Vedder - Society. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Shabanov
vs
Dupree

197 cm
38
229
27 - 17 - 0

190 cm
40
244
37 - 31 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

HELLBENT

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 27 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Fedor Shabanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 31 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Christophe Dupree!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Ben Hemmingworth and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice uppercut there from Shabanov.
Shabanov ducks under a wild hook from Dupree.
It looked like Shabanov wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Dupree stuns Shabanov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A low kick from Dupree misses
enabling Shabanov to counter with a crisp jab.
A shot to the body from Dupree misses
and Shabanov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The fighters circling - Dupree throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
It appears Shabanov was looking to counter with a kick there.
Dupree throws a left and a right that both miss
and Dupree takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Dupree lands a right hook to the body.
Dupree on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Dupree misses with a two punch combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A low kick from Dupree is predictable there
letting Shabanov counter with a right hand.
Dupree misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Shabanov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dupree throws a jab but it's blocked by Shabanov.
Dupree is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Dupree bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Shabanov's head.
Donk. Dupree catches Shabanov right on the button with a cross.
Dupree scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Dupree waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shabanov.
Shabanov is looking to counter with a body kick.
Dupree has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Dupree there as he acknowledges the shot.
Dupree lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Dupree scores with a decent looking hook.

It looks like Fedor Shabanov has been cut.
Dupree avoids the head kick by Shabanov.
Christophe Dupree seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dupree misses with a straight left.
Dupree uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Shabanov.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dupree throws a hook to the side of Shabanov's head but Shabanov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
No joy there for Dupree, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Dupree just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromShabanov.
Dupree takes a swing at Shabanov's ribcage but misses.
Dupree dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Shabanov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A jab from Dupree finds it's way through Shabanov's defenses.
Dupree misses with a right hand
and Shabanov counters with a one-two to the body.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Shabanov - that will leave a mark!
Shabanov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Dupree scores with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Dupree misses.
It looked like Shabanov wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Dupree misses with a shot to the body
and Shabanov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dupree misses with a hook
and Shabanov counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Dupree misses with the combination.
Shabanov misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Dupree to counter with a crisp jab.
Dupree throws a front kick that sends Shabanov stumbling back into the cage.
Shabanov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Dupree throws a shot to the body.
Dupree misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Shabanov.
Dupree throws a body shot but no joy.
Dupree throws a poor cross that misses
and Shabanov counters with a left to the body.
Dupree takes a swing at Shabanov's ribcage but misses.
Nice straight punches there by Shabanov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Shabanov.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dupree throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Dupree takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Dupree with a hook.
Dupree misses with a wild body shot.
Dupree misses with a left hand
and Shabanov counters with a right hand to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Christophe Dupree will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Fedor Shabanov's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dupree misses with a right hand

and Shabanov counters by moving into the clinch.
Shabanov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Shabanov tries a body shot but Dupree blocks it.
Shabanov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Shabanov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Shabanov cracks Dupree with a nice body shot.
Shabanov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Dupree's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A head punch on the inside from Shabanov fails to land.

Dupree breaks from the clinch.
Shabanov takes a shot to the body in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dupree throws a sloppy head kick and Shabanov moves out of range easily.
Shabanov staying out of range there.
Dupree throws a sloppy head kick
letting Shabanov counter with a right hand.
Dupree throws a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shabanov tries to clinch up.
Shabanov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Dupree throws out the jab.
Dupree throws a lazy uppercut
and Shabanov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Dupree misses with an uppercut
and Shabanov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Shabanov slips under a jab.
Shabanov lands a jab to Dupree's midsection.
Dupree jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And Shabanov counters with a quick kick to the body but Dupree blocks it.
Dupree throws a poor cross that misses
and Shabanov counters with a body kick that stops Dupree in his tracks momentarily.
Dupree is breathing heavily.
A shot to the body from Dupree misses
and Shabanov counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Dupree is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dupree lands a jab to Shabanov's midsection.
Shabanov looks for the body kick but Dupree saw that one coming.
Dupree lands with a good body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shabanov throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Dupree.
Dupree with a nice calf kick.
Dupree misses with a two punch combination.
Shabanov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Shabanov lands with a kick to the temple. Dupree shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Shabanov throws a shot from downtown. Dupree moves away and avoids it.
Dupree misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Shabanov to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dupree throws a shot from downtown. Shabanov moves away and avoids it.
Shabanov looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Dupree misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shabanov.
Dupree throws the left hand but Shabanov avoids the punch easily.
Shabanov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dupree.
Dupree misses with an uppercut. Shabanov saw that one coming.
A little feinted left hand from Shabanov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Donk. Shabanov catches Dupree right on the button with a cross.
A big left from Dupree misses.
Dupree misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shabanov.
Dupree uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Shabanov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dupree throws a leg kick
and Dupree takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A swing and a miss from Shabanov.
Dupree is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Shabanov with a body shot.
Shabanov lands a jab.
Dupree misses with a body shot.
Shabanov seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Shabanov digs a good body shot into Dupree's ribs.
Dupree throws a body punch but Shabanov moves out of range.
Shabanov swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Shabanov closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
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!
Dupree misses with a body shot.
A nice leg kick lands there from Dupree.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Shabanov dominated that second 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! And we move into the final round!

Shabanov takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Dupree misses with a hook
and Shabanov counters with a nice uppercut.
Dupree misses with an uppercut.
Dupree lands a nice looking body shot.
Dupree looks to score with a jab to the body but Shabanov is just out of range.
Dupree throws a predictable looking body shot
and Shabanov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Dupree tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shabanov was well out of range. Poor timing from Dupree.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dupree looks to land a left hand but Shabanov moved out of range nicely.
Dupree throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shabanov slips a jab and a cross from Dupree.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dupree misses with a body punch
and Shabanov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dupree misses the body punch
and Shabanov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Dupree thows a left - swing and a miss!
And Shabanov counters with a quick kick to the body but Dupree blocks it.
Shabanov scores with a spinning back kick!
Dupree takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shabanov scores with a push kick.

Shabanov drops Dupree with a beautiful combination! Dupree stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Shabanov is looking for the KO!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
An inside leg kick lands from Shabanov.
Shabanov blocks a jab.
It looked like Shabanov was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Dupree.
Shabanov lands an overhand right.

Shabanov lands a big uppercut and Dupree crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Dupree looks OK. Shabanov waves Dupree back to his feet!

Dupree is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dupree misses with a leg kick
and Shabanov counters with a massive hook, right on the button! He's out cold! Damn, that was naaaaaasty! Hopefully he'll be OK.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:11 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Fedor Shabanov!
A victorious Fedor Shabanov thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.