PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Shanks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Janjalani Abu Bakhar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shanks kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Dethklok - The Cyborg Slayers. Abu Bakhar is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Allah Wakbar. 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.

Shanks
vs
Abu Bakhar

190 cm
29
188 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

178 cm
30
185 lbs
17 - 15 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Shanks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Janjalani Abu Bakhar!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Mauricio Rocha and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shanks fails with an attempt to clinch.
Shanks throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Abu Bakhar stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Shanks lets loose with a powerful body kick. Abu Bakhar will feel that in the morning.
Shanks scores with a crisp jab that stopped Abu Bakhar in his tracks.
Abu Bakhar looks to throw the jab but Shanks is out of range.
The fighters circling - Abu Bakhar throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Shanks lands with a hook. Abu Bakhar tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Shanks takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Abu Bakhar misses with a looping right.
Shanks throws out a powerful jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A jab from Abu Bakhar misses.
Abu Bakhar shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shanks but Shanks pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Abu Bakhar scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Shanks is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Shanks blocking the ground and pound attempt from Abu Bakhar.
Shanks has his hands clasped together around Abu Bakhar's back. He's all about the action.
Abu Bakhar throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shanks controlling the position for now.
Shanks is pressing down on Abu Bakhar's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Abu Bakhar throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Abu Bakhar wants to pass the guard but Shanks is keeping the position.
Abu Bakhar loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Shanks holds on and takes a little breather.
Shanks will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Shanks bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Abu Bakhar's guard.
Abu Bakhar wants to sweep here but Shanks controlling him for the moment.
Abu Bakhar working a defensive guard here.
Shanks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Abu Bakhar is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shanks preventing the sweep.

Abu Bakhar has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Shanks can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Shanks forces his way into half guard.
Shanks trying to control the action but Abu Bakhar is working from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Abu Bakhar tries to get to full guard but Shanks has control of the leg.
Shanks looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Abu Bakhar is looking for a sweep. Shanks is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Well, if Shanks is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shanks prevents Abu Bakhar from improving his position.
Abu Bakhar has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Abu Bakhar is pressing down on Shanks's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Shanks controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Shanks's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Abu Bakhar looking for a triangle here. Shanks is fighting it but it looks tight! Abu Bakhar pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Shanks is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:47 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Janjalani Abu Bakhar!
Janjalani Abu Bakhar decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.