PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Max Mashio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksandar Shalamanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Max Mashio has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Mashio
vs
Shalamanov

179 cm
25
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

186 cm
25
187 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

1337 ANZAC
Gilop®

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Max Mashio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aleksandar Shalamanov!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Hirohito Nitta and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Danga de danga de dang - Shalamanov scores with a four punch combination!
Shalamanov lands with an uppercut that bounces Mashio off the cage and back into range.

Mashio shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Shalamanov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Shalamanov wants to stand but Mashio is controlling the position.

Mashio drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mashio jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mashio trying to control the position from guard on top but Shalamanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mashio slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shalamanov is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shalamanov bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Aleksandar Shalamanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Shalamanov instigates a clinch.
Shalamanov misses with the head strike.

Shalamanov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mashio misses with a head kick.
Mashio is trying hard to land a takedown here. Shalamanov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Horrible takedown by Mashio or perhaps it was just good defense by Shalamanov which made him look bad.

Shalamanov gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shalamanov slows down the pace here.
Shalamanov is leaning against Mashio and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Shalamanov breaks from the clinch.
Shalamanov tries to clinch up.
Shalamanov misses with a few strikes there.
Mashio moves forwards but Shalamanov connects with a nice, crisp jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mashio avoids the head kick by Shalamanov.
Shalamanov throws a series of punches but Mashio moves out of range.
Shalamanov pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Mashio back to the cage. Shalamanov follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shalamanov lands with a cross.
Shalamanov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Shalamanov throws a nice looking combination but Mashio bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Shalamanov takes the fight into the clinch.
Mashio tries to circle away but Shalamanov has him pinned against the cage.
Shalamanov lands a right hand.
Shalamanov lands a nice uppercut.
Shalamanov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Mashio takes a shot to the head.
Shalamanov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Mashio backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shalamanov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mashio avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shalamanov closes the distance and lands a one-two.
No luck for Mashio with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Max Mashio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shalamanov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Shalamanov wants it to stay on the feet.
Shalamanov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mashio paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mashio takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shalamanov wants to clinch.
A right-left combo lands from Shalamanov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandar Shalamanov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mashio shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Shalamanov as he avoids it easily.
Shalamanov scores with a three punch combo!
Mashio shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mashio misses with a takedown attempt - Shalamanov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Max Mashio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mashio gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Shalamanov gets a clinch.
Shalamanov cracks Mashio with a nice body shot.
Shalamanov lands a body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shalamanov gets through Mashio's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Shalamanov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mashios head.
Shalamanov lands with a light punch inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shalamanov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No luck for Shalamanov with that takedown attempt.
Mashio swats away the attempt to clinch by Shalamanov.

Shalamanov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Shalamanov.

Shalamanov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shalamanov wants to clinch up but Mashio keeps it at a distance.
Aleksandar Shalamanov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mashio misses with a takedown attempt
and Shalamanov counters with a series of strikes. Mashio will be more careful next time no doubt.

Shalamanov rushes Mashio and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shalamanov pushes Mashio back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Shalamanov breaks the clinch.
Shalamanov tries a head kick but it misses.
Mashio takes one to the side of the head.
Shalamanov moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Mashio is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shalamanov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mashio circles away quickly and effectively.
Oh Mashio is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Shalamanov moves into the clinch.
Mashio seems to have got his legs back now.
Shalamanov lands a hook that snaps the head of Mashio backwards.

Shalamanov breaks from the clinch.
Shalamanov shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Mashio eats them both and turns towards Shalamanov to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Shalamanov misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shalamanov takes the fight into the clinch.
Shalamanov manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Mashio wants to break the clinch but can't.
Shalamanov misses with a punch to the body.
Shalamanov stops a takedown attempt from Mashio.

Shalamanov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shalamanov forces Mashio back against the cage and clinches.

Shalamanov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mashio takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Shalamanov clinches.

Shalamanov breaks the clinch.
Shalamanov smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Shalamanov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mashio sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mashio shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shalamanov but Shalamanov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Shalamanov has managed to clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mashio is trying to break the clinch but Shalamanov is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandar Shalamanov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Shalamanov dips to his left and cracks Mashio with an uppercut!
Mashio dives in and grabs Shalamanov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Shalamanov pushes down on Mashio's head and hops out.
Shalamanov throws a head kick but Mashio moves out of range.
Shalamanov looks to land a combination. Mashio sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Shalamanov has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Mashio tries for a takedown but Shalamanov circles away easily

and Shalamanov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Shalamanov.
Shalamanov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Shalamanov can't find room to land a body shot as Mashio controls the action.

Shalamanov breaks from the clinch.
Shalamanov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Shalamanov fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shalamanov tries to clinch there but Mashio circles away.
Shalamanov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mashio.

Shalamanov closes the distance and clinches.
Mashio tries a body shot but Shalamanov blocks it.
Shalamanov lands a shot to the body.

Shalamanov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shalamanov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mashio swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shalamanov fails with an attempt to clinch.

Mashio shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shalamanov is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mashio is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Shalamanov has managed to escape the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mashio is working for a guillotine from mount but Shalamanov frees his head quite easily.
Shalamanov is trying to stand up.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Mashio working for a guillotine from mount but Shalamanov is in no mood to give up.

Mashio looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mashio is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Shalamanov to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Shalamanov shrugs it off.

Mashio looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Shalamanov wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mashio unloads with some shots from mount but Shalamanov bucks and avoids them well.
Shalamanov is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

Mashio is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Shalamanov is surviving well by controlling Mashio's body position as best he can.
Shalamanov is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Mashio with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Max Mashio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aleksandar Shalamanov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mashio throwing strikes but Shalamanov uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Max Mashio.
I think Shalamanov 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleksandar Shalamanov!