PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gokhan Recber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Courdoroy Shilenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Recber
vs
Shilenko

165 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gokhan Recber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Courdoroy Shilenko!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Jorge Garcia and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shilenko walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Shilenko throws an overhand right that lands on Recber's shoulder, as Recber tries to avoid the shot.
Shilenko tries to clinch up but Recber circles away and keeps his distance.

Recber closes the distance and clinches.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Shilenko.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Shilenko.
Recber wants to break the clinch but can't.
Recber throws a punch but it's blocked by Shilenko.
Recber tries to land a knee to the head but Shilenko blocks with his arms.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Recber.
Shilenko connects with a knee to the head.
Shilenko keeps control of Recber as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Knees in the clinch landing for Shilenko.
Recber working hard to break the clinch.
Recber doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Recber is looking to break free of the clinch but Shilenko has double underhooks.

Shilenko pulls Recber into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Recber wants to stand but Shilenko has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Recber knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shilenko on the ground.
Shilenko trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Shilenko wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Recber wants to control from the top but Shilenko keeps moving.
Recber wants to get up but he can't break Shilenko's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Gokhan Recber has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Recber pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Courdoroy Shilenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Recber pushes Shilenko up against the cage in a clinch.
Shilenko has Recber pressed against the cage, preventing Recber from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shilenko obliges.
Recber wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shilenko has Recber pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Recber manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shilenko obliges.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shilenko lands an elbow inside.

Shilenko ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Shilenko no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Shilenko is pulling down on Recber's head to control his posture.
Shilenko is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Shilenko is keen to just control but Recber is a slippery customer.
Shilenko seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Shilenko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Recber's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shilenko not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shilenko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Shilenko trying to control from half guard but Recber is working away.
Shilenko trying to control the pace.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Shilenko not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Recber tries to roll over but Shilenko keeps him under control.
Shilenko thows a huge punch but Recber dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shilenko drops an elbow to the side of Recber's head.
Recber avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Shilenko.
Shilenko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Shilenko is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Recber!
Recber is trying desperately to improve position.
Recber wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Shilenko.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Shilenko jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Recber manages to avoid the submission attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shilenko misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Courdoroy Shilenko dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shilenko is looking to clinch.
Gokhan Recber is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shilenko misses with a straight right.

Shilenko fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Recber sprawls well initially but Shilenko persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Shilenko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Shilenko sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Shilenko throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Shilenko throwing shots but Recber is blocking nicely.
Shilenko looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Recber with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Shilenko passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Recber!
Shilenko wants to control the pace but Recber is squirming around nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Recber is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Shilenko looking to control but Recber is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Shilenko thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Recber tries to buck Shilenko off but he can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Recber is trying desperately to improve position.
Shilenko looking to finish with strikes here!
Recber blocking the ground and pound.
Recber is desperately trying to improve his position but Shilenko has a good base and remains in mount.
Recber avoids a series of strikes thrown by Shilenko.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Shilenko cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Shilenko controlling from mount.
Shilenko lands a nice shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shilenko thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Shilenko wants to finish this one by submission but Recber is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Shilenko.
Recber is squirming around, avoiding Shilenko's attempts to control the action.
Shilenko unloads with some shots from mount but Recber bucks and avoids them well.
Shilenko connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
A nice elbow there by Shilenko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shilenko trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Recber wants to control but Shilenko is having none of it.
Shilenko looking to control but Recber is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Courdoroy Shilenko has got the better of the ground game so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shilenko looking to finish with strikes here!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shilenko trying to control but Recber is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Courdoroy Shilenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Recber moves into the clinch.
Shilenko lands a knee to the body.
Recber fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The referee is keeping an eye on Shilenko - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Recber missing with knees to the body.
Shilenko softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Shilenko has Recber pushed against the cage.
Shilenko keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Recber's efforts to push away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Recber on the inside.
Recber misses with the head strike.
Recber takes an elbow to the temple.
Shilenko landing knees to the head.
Shilenko is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Recber tries to circle away but Shilenko has him pinned against the cage.
Shilenko utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Shilenko effectively controlling the action here.
Shilenko continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shilenko lands a knee to the head.
Courdoroy Shilenko seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Shilenko has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Recber regains guard immediately.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Recber keeping moving, preventing Shilenko from controlling successfully.
Shilenko being controlled here momentarily.
Recber utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shilenko is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shilenko controls from within his opponent's guard.
Shilenko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Shilenko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Shilenko trying to control but Recber is working from the bottom.
Shilenko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Recber works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shilenko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shilenko stands up over Recber, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Shilenko slips nicely into half guard.
Shilenko passes to full mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shilenko tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Recber is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shilenko controlling from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Courdoroy Shilenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shilenko winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Courdoroy Shilenko!