PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shawn Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Barzakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barzakov has chosen Alexander The Great by Iron Maiden as his entrance music. Alexander Barzakov has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Shawn Michaels's chin.

Michaels
vs
Barzakov

177 cm
24
166 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

180 cm
27
164 lbs
10 - 5 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Shawn Michaels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Alexander Barzakov!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Yves DeLean and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barzakov throws a head kick but Michaels moves out of range.
Barzakov throws a head kick but Michaels moves out of range.
Barzakov misses with a head kick.
Barzakov fails with the takedown.
Michaels lands a nice leg kick that just misses Barzakov's sensitive parts.
Barzakov looks to land a combination but Michaels avoids it well.
Michaels displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Barzakov.
Michaels scores with a leg kick.
Michaels lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Barzakov at a distance.
A jab from Michaels finds it's way through Barzakov's defenses.
No joy there for Barzakov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Michaels throws a lazy right hand but Barzakov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A low kick from Barzakov misses
and Barzakov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Michaels.

Barzakov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Michaels is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Michaels wants to stand and escape but Barzakov is having none of it.
Michaels pulls Barzakov in close to his closed guard and prevents Barzakov from doing any damage or advancing position.
Barzakov is looking to work some ground and pound but Michaels has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barzakov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Michaels works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Barzakov postures up.
Barzakov is looking to work some ground and pound but Michaels has wrist control.
Michaels wants to stand and escape but Barzakov is having none of it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Barzakov throws a combination that misses
and Michaels counters with a right hand to the body.
Barzakov misses with a combination
and Michaels counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barzakov misses with a double jab
and Michaels connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barzakov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Michaels fails with an attempt to clinch.
Michaels throws a one two combo.
Michaels misses with an uppercut.

Barzakov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Michaels manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Michaels is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Barzakov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Michaels is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barzakov wants to control from the top but Michaels keeps moving.
Michaels keeping full guard, as Barzakov tries to pass.
Barzakov trying to control the position from guard on top but Michaels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Michaels working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barzakov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Michaels dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Michaels misses with a hook.
A head kick misses from Barzakov.
Barzakov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Michaels.
Michaels looks to land a right hand but Barzakov moved out of range.
Barzakov misses with a hook to the body
and Barzakov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Barzakov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Michaels is fending him off so far but Barzakov persists. Nope, Michaels circles away and we're back to standing.
No joy there for Barzakov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Shawn Michaels is winning the standup battle so far.
Michaels misses with a double jab

and Barzakov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Barzakov.
Barzakov throws a big right hand that misses.
Barzakov throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barzakov prevents Michaels from getting back to his feet.
Barzakov 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.
Barzakov tries to free his leg and advance position but Michaels is retaining full guard.
Barzakov wants to control from the top but Michaels keeps moving.
Barzakov landing some decent shots from guard.

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.

Barzakov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Michaels controls Barzakov momentarily but Barzakov frees himself.
Barzakov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Barzakov throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barzakov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Michaels trying to control the position.
Michaels wants to stand and escape but Barzakov is having none of it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Barzakov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Barzakov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Barzakov won't allow Michaels to get back to his feet.
Barzakov wants to control from the top but Michaels keeps moving.
Barzakov throwing strikes from guard but Michaels blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barzakov with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barzakov prevents Michaels from getting back to his feet.
Barzakov passes Michaels's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Barzakov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Michaels throws a leg kick but Barzakov sees it coming and moves out of range.
Barzakov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Michaels counters with a nice leg kick.

Barzakov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Barzakov stops Michaels from standing up.
Barzakov looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barzakov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Michaels's head.
Barzakov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barzakov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Barzakov is fighting to break Michaels's control of his arms but Michaels is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Barzakov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Michaels swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Michaels keeping moving, preventing Barzakov from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Barzakov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Michaels works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Barzakov throws a wild body kick that Michaels sees coming a mile off.
Barzakov lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Barzakov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Michaels counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Barzakov thinking.
Barzakov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Michaels.
Barzakov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Barzakov avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Michaels.
Barzakov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Barzakov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Michaels looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Michaels swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Michaels. Barzakov does a little dance to reset his feet.

Barzakov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Michaels did well to prevent Barzakov getting side control.
Michaels is trying to control but can't.
Michaels wants to get back to his feet.
Barzakov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels blocking the ground and pound attempt from Barzakov.
Barzakov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Barzakov wants to free his trapped foot but Michaels is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Michaels is pressing down on Barzakov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Barzakov advances position into side control!

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Barzakov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Barzakov 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Barzakov!