PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Busta Smirnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shaun Abbot (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smirnov
vs
Abbot

190 cm
23
235 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
266 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Busta Smirnov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Shaun Abbot!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Colin Fotheringham and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smirnov throws a head kick that misses.
Smirnov dives in and grabs Abbot's left leg, looking for a takedown. Abbot pushes down on Smirnov's head and hops out.
Abbot gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Smirnov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Abbot should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Smirnov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Abbot swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shaun Abbot seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Abbot looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Abbot working over Smirnov with some ground and pound. Smirnov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Abbot is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Abbot trying to pass the guard but Smirnov defending well.
Smirnov manages to get to full guard.
Abbot pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smirnov is keeping the position for now.
Smirnov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smirnov wants to stand and escape but Abbot is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abbot looking to pass the guard.
Abbot trying to control the position from guard on top but Smirnov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Abbot is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Abbot in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Abbot passes Smirnov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Abbot has eaten all the pies!
Abbot stalling.
Abbot working over Smirnov with some ground and pound. Smirnov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Abbot is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Smirnov reverses the position - he's now on top in Abbot's guard.
Abbot is looking to stand up but Smirnov isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov wants to control from the top but Abbot keeps moving.

Abbot pushes Smirnov off and gets back to his feet.
Abbot shoots for a takedown but Smirnov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Abbot shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Smirnov's guard.
Smirnov is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Abbot engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Abbot trying to control but Smirnov is working from the bottom.
Abbot sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Shaun Abbot has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
No luck for Abbot with that takedown attempt.
Busta Smirnov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shaun Abbot.
Abbot shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Abbot shoots in but Smirnov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Smirnov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Abbot sprawls well. Abbot wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Smirnov gets slowly back to his feet.
Smirnov looks for a takedown but Abbot sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abbot shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Smirnov defends it nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Abbot gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Abbot looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Smirnov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Smirnov wants to get back to his feet.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Abbot landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Abbot is looking to advance position but Smirnov won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shaun Abbot dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Abbot scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Abbot wants to control but Smirnov is keeping him busy.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Abbot trying to control the action but Smirnov is working from the bottom.
Abbot working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Smirnov takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Smirnov is not content to let Abbot control the position.
Smirnov seems a little lost for a moment, as Abbot dominates the positioning.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Shaun Abbot hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Smirnov slaps away a takedown attempt from Abbot, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Abbot closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Smirnov to the mat! Smirnov manages to get full guard.
Abbot passes Smirnov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abbot working the head and body with strikes.
Abbot is stalling here. Smirnov is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Abbot seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Smirnov has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Abbot is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Smirnov asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Abbot defending against the ground and pound.

Abbot throws Smirnov to one side and escapes!

Abbot 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.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Abbot's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Smirnov keeping full guard, as Abbot tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abbot lands a couple of digs.
Abbot postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Abbot connects with a couple of short punches.
Abbot scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Abbot with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Abbot stands up over Smirnov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Abbot trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Abbot looking to sit in guard and control but Smirnov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Abbot is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Abbot pushes Smirnov off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Abbot has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Abbot changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Smirnov looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Abbot landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Abbot controlling the position from side mount.
Abbot lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Smirnov down.
Smirnov is looking for a sweep.
Abbot working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Abbot advances nicely into full mount.
A nice elbow there by Abbot.
Abbot lands a nice shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shaun Abbot showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Abbot shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Smirnov pinned against the cage. Smirnov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Abbot looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jab by Smirnov.
Abbot looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smirnov is fending him off so far but Abbot persists. Nope, Smirnov circles away and we're back to standing.
Busta Smirnov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shaun Abbot.

Smirnov shoots in and bounces Abbot off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Smirnov trying to control the position from guard on top but Abbot is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Abbot has his feet on Smirnov's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Abbot has his takedown stuffed

and Smirnov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov wants to take a breather but Abbot is having none of it.
Abbot wants to get back to his feet.
Abbot is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Smirnov is trying to control the action in half guard but Abbot is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Abbot scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Smirnov manages to mount him!
Abbot's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Smirnov punching from mount but Abbot doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Abbot squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abbot is trying to stand but he's just given Smirnov his back.
Abbot trying to get back to his feet but Smirnov is in full control for now.
Shaun Abbot has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abbot prevents Smirnov from getting a body triangle.
Abbot is trying to stand back up.
Smirnov trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Abbot looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
I would not like to be Abbot right now.
Abbot holding both Smirnov 's hands and preventing any damage.
Smirnov trying to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Abbot wants to get back to his feet.
Busta Smirnov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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 Busta Smirnov.
Well Abbot has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shaun Abbot!