PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Shavnetski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dick Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Shavnetski
vs
Gracie

193 cm
25
270 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

200 cm
25
255 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Vladimir Shavnetski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Dick Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Steven Brown and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Shavnetski.
Shavnetski throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Gracie crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Shavnetski - the referee stops the clock and Gracie gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Shavnetski. Gracie manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Shavnetski lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gracie circles away quickly and effectively.
Gracie wants to clinch up but Shavnetski keeps it at a distance.
Shavnetski takes a swing at Gracie's ribcage but misses.
Gracie on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shavnetski. Shavnetski obviously looking to wear him down.
Shavnetski throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Shavnetski misses with the combination.
Vladimir Shavnetski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shavnetski feints and then cracks Gracie's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gracie down.
Gracie looks gassed!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Shavnetski drops Gracie with a right and a left! Shavnetski comes rushing in but Gracie regains his composure and manages to keep Shavnetski in guard.

It looks like Dick Gracie has been cut.

Shavnetski drops back looking for a leg! Gracie is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gracie manages to kick Shavnetski off! Shavnetski jumps back into Gracie's guard.
Shavnetski throwing strikes but missing.
Shavnetski lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shavnetski makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Shavnetski is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Shavnetski is looking to work some ground and pound but Gracie has wrist control.
Shavnetski with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shavnetski working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gracie's head.

Shavnetski is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Shavnetski's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shavnetski landing some decent shots from guard.
Shavnetski advances position into side control!
Shavnetski working the body and head with strikes.
Shavnetski lands an elbow.
Shavnetski scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Gracie to see if he's OK.
Gracie takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Shavnetski grinds an elbow into Gracie's temple.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gracie can do anything to dispel that myth.

Shavnetski is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gracie knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Shavnetski working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shavnetski in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The strikes coming from Shavnetski are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
I wouldn't like to be where Gracie is right now.
Gracie is trying to improve his position.

Shavnetski is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gracie has escaped the position, nice work there.
Shavnetski in side control, throwing shots but Gracie defends.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Shavnetski in side control lands a decent elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sloppy strikes there by Shavnetski.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gracie is not content to let Shavnetski control the position.
Shavnetski lands a few punches from side control.
Shavnetski cracks Gracie with a big elbow.
Gracie tries to bench press Shavnetski off him but Shavnetski keeps the position.
Shavnetski scoring with punches from side control.

Shavnetski is trying to get an arm triangle but Gracie is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shavnetski postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shavnetski throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Shavnetski scores with punches from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Shavnetski dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dick Gracie's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gracie takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Shavnetski lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Shavnetski lands with an overhand left.

That has opened up Dick Gracie's cut even more.
Shavnetski shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gracie pinned against the cage. Gracie gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Shavnetski.
Shavnetski looks to land a right hand but Gracie moved out of range.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Shavnetski misses with a two punch combination.
Shavnetski on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Shavnetski is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gracie can do to turn this around?
Gracie fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Shavnetski looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shavnetski throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gracie's waist but Gracie gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Shavnetski off to one side.

Shavnetski gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gracie to score an easy takedown into full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie throws a strike but Shavnetski rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shavnetski postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shavnetski trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Shavnetski distracts Gracie with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Shavnetski throws a big right hand that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shavnetski accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shavnetski with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gracie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

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.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Shavnetski from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Shavnetski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gracie tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shavnetski lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Shavnetski lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Shavnetski lands a nice looking body kick.
Shavnetski throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Shavnetski delivers a nice body kick.
Vladimir Shavnetski is winning the standup battle so far.
Gracie looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Shavnetski throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gracie lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Gracie.
Shavnetski throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Gracie is going to stand back up.
Shavnetski trying to control here.
Gracie prevents Shavnetski from standing back up.
Gracie controlling the action here.

Shavnetski manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's four 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.
Shavnetski connects with a looping right hand.
Shavnetski throws a head kick that misses.
Shavnetski misses with a head kick.
Shavnetski misses with a series of wild punches.

Gracie changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Shavnetski looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gracie working the ground and pound but Shavnetski is defending the strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shavnetski gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Gracie really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shavnetski. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Shavnetski is pressing down on Gracie's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
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 Vladimir Shavnetski will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dick Gracie's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Shavnetski looks for the body kick but Gracie saw that one coming.
Gracie walks into a left hand.
Gracie thuds a left hand into Shavnetski's body.
Shavnetski throws a nice outside leg kick.
Shavnetski leaves Gracie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Shavnetski throws a nice outside leg kick.
Shavnetski throws a head kick that misses.
Shavnetski shoots in but no luck this time.
Gracie looks to land a combination. Shavnetski sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Shavnetski dodges the punch combination from Gracie.
Shavnetski throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shavnetski tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Gracie has closed the distance and engaged Shavnetski in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shavnetski escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gracie takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Gracie throws out a powerful jab.
Shavnetski missing with a left hand there. Gracie was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Shavnetski turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Gracie closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Shavnetski is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gracie's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Gracie tries to pass the half guard into mount. Shavnetski knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Shavnetski looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shavnetski wants to get back to full guard.
Shavnetski is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Shavnetski manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Shavnetski looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.
Shavnetski not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shavnetski swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Shavnetski, as that shot connected.
Shavnetski swinging wilding here.
Shavnetski throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Gracie scores with a punch to the head.
Shavnetski misses the shot to the body.
Shavnetski looks to land a left hand but Gracie moved out of range nicely.
Vladimir Shavnetski is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Shavnetski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A big right from Shavnetski misses.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Shavnetski.
Shavnetski swats away the attempt to clinch by Gracie.
Shavnetski moves forwards but Gracie connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Shavnetski scores with a hook.
Gracie slips a straight right by Shavnetski.
Shavnetski lands a head kick!
Shavnetski throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.
Shavnetski goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Gracie takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Dick Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
No luck for Gracie with that takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Shavnetski showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shavnetski, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:26
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Shavnetski!