PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Borislav Shopov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Till I Collapse. Borislav Shopov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Shopov
vs
Smith

195 cm
25
208 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
26
200 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight 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, Borislav Shopov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Smith!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Lou da Vinci and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith moves away from the strike by Shopov.
Smith takes one to the side of the head.
Shopov misses with a takedown attempt - Smith sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Borislav Shopov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shopov thows a left - swing and a miss!

Smith closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smith lands in his opponent's guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Shopov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Shopov working a defensive guard here.
Shopov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shopov wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Smith wants to stand but Shopov is controlling his posture from full guard.
Shopov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith trying to control but Shopov is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by John Smith.
Shopov throws a shot from downtown. Smith moves away and avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Shopov's guard.
Smith wants to control from the top but Shopov keeps moving.
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shopov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Shopov seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Shopov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Shopov has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Shopov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith tries to stand but Shopov is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shopov is controlling Smith's posture.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Shopov is keeping the position.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Shopov working a defensive guard here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Shopov scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith rushes Shopov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Smith works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Shopov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith wants to control from the top but Shopov keeps moving.
Shopov is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Shopov.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Smith will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Smith tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shopov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Shopov scores with a decent looking hook.
Smith gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Shopov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Shopov enables Smith to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Shopov manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Smith wants to stand but Shopov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Shopov controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Shopov, up you get!
Shopov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Shopov 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.
Shopov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Shopov drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Smith dives on top into guard.
Shopov is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith preventing the sweep.
Shopov is pulling down on Smith's head. It's preventing any offense from Smith, at least for the moment.
Shopov working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shopov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shopov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shopov is pulling down on Smith's head to control his posture.
Smith won't allow Shopov to sweep him here.
Shopov wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Shopov has an active guard here but Smith has managed to pass into half guard.
Shopov tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
Shopov manages to get to full guard.

Shopov throws his legs up looking for a submission but Smith uses it to pass to side control.
Shopov is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is thwarting Shopov's attempts to control the position.
Smith wants to free his trapped foot but Shopov is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Smith is taking a breather. Shopov says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Smith prevents Shopov from improving his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shopov has a hand on Smith's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Smith takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Borislav Shopov dominated that second round.
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!

Smith decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Smith wants to work for an arm triangle but Shopov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Shopov is trying to get back to full guard.
Smith keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Shopov looking for submissions off his back.
Smith is taking a breather. Shopov says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shopov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Smith is working away from the top position though.
Shopov tries to roll over but Smith keeps him under control.
Borislav Shopov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shopov is looking to control Smith's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shopov avoid being mounted?
Shopov gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shopov seems keen to control Smith's posture.
Shopov looking to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Shopov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smith drops his hands momentarily and Shopov takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Shopov lands with a nice body punch.
Smith steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Shopov.
Shopov with a lazy takedown attempt

and Smith counters with a single leg into guard. Shopov didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shopov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith is looking to stand up but Shopov won't let him.

Shopov has his foot on Smith's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smith works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith trying to control but Shopov is working from the bottom.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Shopov.

Smith gets to his feet. Shopov looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Shopov misses with a right hand

and Smith counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shopov controlling Smith's posture.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Shopov is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Shopov is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Smith is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Shopov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Shopov trying to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Borislav Shopov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Smith shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Smith was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

And that's the end of the fight!
John Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smith 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Smith!
In his post fight interview, John Smith started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.