PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Artem Lapshinov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Hanlon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lapshinov comes into the arena with Moonlight Sonata blaring out of the sound system. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Lapshinov
vs
Hanlon

180 cm
21
265 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

190 cm
23
246 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

Warrior Heart

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Artem Lapshinov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Hanlon!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Frank Dennis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lapshinov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hanlon swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A head kick misses from Lapshinov.
Lapshinov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lapshinov stuffs the takedown attempt from Hanlon. Hanlon gets slowly back to his feet.
Lapshinov throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Mark Hanlon has been cut.
Hanlon keeps the fight on the outside.
Lapshinov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hanlon.
Artem Lapshinov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Hanlon.
Hanlon fails to land the takedown.
Hanlon misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lapshinov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lapshinov throws a head kick that Hanlon semi-blocks.
Lapshinov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hanlon tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lapshinov swivels and escapes.
Lapshinov moves in looking to clinch but Hanlon pushes him off.
Lapshinov tries to clinch up but Hanlon circles away and keeps his distance.

Lapshinov has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapshinov misses with a knee to the head.
Lapshinov stops a takedown attempt from Hanlon.
Lapshinov trying to land knees to the body.
Lapshinov tries to land knees in the clinch but Hanlon avoids the damage to the body.
Lapshinov trying to land knees to the body.
Lapshinov creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Lapshinov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hanlon has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lapshinov missing with knees to the body.
Lapshinov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lapshinov tries to land a knee to the head but Hanlon blocks with his arms.
Knees to the body from Lapshinov.
Lapshinov missing with knees to the body.
Lapshinov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lapshinov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lapshinov is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanlon is looking to take this one to the mat.
Hanlon avoiding damage as Lapshinov throws knees to the body.
Hanlon managing to block the knees to the body from Lapshinov.
Lapshinov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lapshinov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Lapshinov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hanlon has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lapshinov is pressed up against the ropes. Hanlon has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Lapshinov down to the mat. Lapshinov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hanlon fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lapshinov wants to clinch.
Hanlon has a takedown stuffed.
Hanlon avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lapshinov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Hanlon paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanlon throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lapshinov's waist but Lapshinov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hanlon off to one side.
Hanlon shoots for a double leg takedown but Lapshinov sprawls well. He's pushed Hanlon's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lapshinov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hanlon throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lapshinov's waist but Lapshinov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hanlon off to one side.

Lapshinov instigates a clinch.
Lapshinov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hanlon has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Knees in the clinch landing for Lapshinov.
Lapshinov tries to land knees in the clinch but Hanlon avoids the damage to the body.
Lapshinov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hanlon avoids it.
Hanlon blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Knees in the clinch landing for Lapshinov.
Lapshinov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hanlon has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lapshinov tries to land knees in the clinch but Hanlon avoids the damage to the body.
Lapshinov is pressed up against the ropes. Hanlon has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Lapshinov down to the mat. Lapshinov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Lapshinov moves into the clinch successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanlon managing to block the knees to the body from Lapshinov.
Lapshinov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hanlon avoids it.
Lapshinov misses with a knee strike.
Lapshinov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hanlon wants to take the fight to the mat but Lapshinov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Hanlon is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Lapshinov is defending well.
Hanlon avoids the elbow strike from Lapshinov, against the ropes.
Lapshinov putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Hanlon in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Lapshinov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hanlon avoids it.
Lapshinov scores with a knee to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lapshinov trying to land knees to the body.
Lapshinov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lapshinov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artem Lapshinov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mark Hanlon's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Lapshinov leaves Hanlon with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lapshinov wants to clinch

and Hanlon counters with a nice double leg into side control. Lapshinov won't be happy with that.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Lapshinov is trying to improve his position.
Hanlon grinds an elbow into Lapshinov's temple.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Hanlon grinds an elbow into Lapshinov's temple.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hanlon looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Lapshinov is avoiding damage well.
Hanlon working away.
Lapshinov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hanlon is chipping away with strikes.
Hanlon has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hanlon lands an elbow.
Hanlon working the ground and pound from side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hanlon swings around for an armbar but Lapshinov sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Hanlon's guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Lapshinov trying to control but Hanlon is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapshinov wants to stand and escape but instead Hanlon has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Hanlon postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Lapshinov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hanlon on the ground.
Hanlon missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hanlon works over Lapshinov with some ground and pound from guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hanlon works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Hanlon scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hanlon connects with a nice short shot to Lapshinov's temple.
Lapshinov wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hanlon scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Hanlon is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lapshinov is just riding it out for now. Hanlon eventually gives up the hold.
Lapshinov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanlon is nestled in close to Lapshinov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Hanlon lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Lapshinov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hanlon.
Lapshinov is trying to maintain the position but Hanlon is very close to passing his half guard.
Hanlon is nestled in close to Lapshinov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Lapshinov is trying to maintain the position but Hanlon is very close to passing his half guard.
Lapshinov is looking for a sweep. Hanlon is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hanlon scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hanlon slips a nice elbow through Lapshinov's hands, connecting with Lapshinov's forehead.

Hanlon is looking for a kimura but Lapshinov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hanlon to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hanlon lands a nice short elbow.
Lapshinov wants to get back to full guard.
Hanlon working Lapshinov over with strikes.
Hanlon wants to pass the guard but Lapshinov is defending well.
Hanlon looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hanlon throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Lapshinov tries to get to full guard but Hanlon has control of the leg.
Mark Hanlon has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lapshinov is working hard here to advance position.
Hanlon lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hanlon landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanlon drops an elbow to the side of Lapshinov's head.
Hanlon lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Lapshinov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hanlon scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hanlon is nestled in close to Lapshinov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ground and pound from Hanlon.
Hanlon scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Lapshinov is rocked!

Lapshinov is defending against the submission attempts here by Hanlon.
Oh Lapshinov is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Lapshinov is trying to control but Hanlon manages to pass to mount!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hanlon with good strikes from the mount here!
Hanlon lands a big shot to the head and Lapshinov winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Mark Hanlon!
Mark Hanlon really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Zentrope Fighting Universe logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.