PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Arman Shaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gray Vick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shaker
vs
Vick

180 cm
23
182 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

179 cm
24
175 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arman Shaker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gray Vick!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shaker takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Vick forces Shaker back against the cage and clinches.
Vick tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Vick swings wildly with an uppercut but Shaker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vick lands a left hand that snaps the head of Shaker backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Vick.
Vick prevents the takedown attempt.
Vick misses with a punch to the body.
Shaker wants a takedown but no success here.
Vick pushes Shaker back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vick is looking to take this one to the mat.
The referee calls for Vick to work.
Shaker is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arman Shaker. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Vick breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good exchange - Vick coming out on top.
Nice defenses there by Shaker.
Shaker bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Vick's head backwards.
Vick will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Vick throws a low kick but it's checked well by Shaker.
Shaker connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Vick momentarily.
Vick throws a left and a right that both miss

and Shaker counters with a nice double leg into side control. Vick won't be happy with that.

Shaker is trying to get an arm triangle but Vick is defending well.
Shaker trying to control the action but Vick is working from the bottom.

Shaker tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Shaker has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shaker advances nicely into full mount.
Vick is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Vick bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaker trying to control the position.
Shaker is really struggling to control Vick but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vick wants to control from the top but Shaker keeps moving.
Shaker wants to sweep but no luck.
Vick wants to control from the top but Shaker keeps moving.
Shaker wants to sweep here but Vick controlling him for the moment.
Shaker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Vick advances position into side control!
Vick wants to control but Shaker is keeping him busy.

Vick tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Vick has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Vick is trying to get an arm triangle but Shaker is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Vick working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gray Vick dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Shaker scoring well with a low kick there.
Vick fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Shaker on the side of the head.
Nice takedown defense from Vick. No joy for Shaker on that attempt.
Vick swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Vick throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Vick misses the jab.

Shaker fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Vick to the ground. Shaker is now in Vick's guard.
Arman Shaker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shaker lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Shaker has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Vick 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.
Shaker wants to control from the top but Vick keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vick looking for a guillotine here but Shaker defends easily.
Vick 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.
Shaker trying to control but Vick is working from the bottom.
Vick not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Shaker won't allow Vick to sweep him here.
Shaker throws a strike but Vick rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shaker is on top in guard.

Vick 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.
Vick has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Vick keeping moving, preventing Shaker from controlling successfully.
Vick avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaker trying to control but Vick is working from the bottom.

Shaker postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Vick is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Shaker, into his guard.

Vick trying to control but Shaker is working from the bottom.
Vick postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Shaker looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Shaker keeping moving, preventing Vick from controlling successfully.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Vick has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shaker stuffs the takedown attempt from Vick. Vick gets slowly back to his feet.
Shaker half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Vick misses the jab.
Shaker tries to counter with a takedown but Vick is quick to defend against it.
Shaker takes a shot to the body in his stride.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gray Vick will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Shaker fails with a takedown attempt.
Vick unleashes a big counter combination but Shaker bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Shaker misses with a kick to the body.
Shaker blocks a jab.
Vick steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Shaker.
Vick takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Vick digs a good body shot into Shaker's ribs.
Shaker tries to score with a low kick but Vick moves his leg out of the way.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Shaker lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Vick has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Vick and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Shaker uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Vick.
Vick throws a leg kick that is checked

and Shaker decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Vick's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaker wants to pass the guard but Vick is keeping the position.
Vick wants to improve his position but instead Shaker has moved into half guard.
Vick is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vick is trying to control but can't.
Shaker not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Vick is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Shaker pulls his head out easily.
Shaker seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Vick does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Vick trying to control here.
Shaker missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Vick has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Vick trying to control here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Vick tries to bum rush Shaker with a series of wild strikes but Shaker uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Good work by Vick as he checks the leg kick.
Shaker seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Shaker misses with a low kick.
Vick now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Shaker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Vick shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaker working a defensive guard here.
Vick preventing the sweep.
Arman Shaker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vick trying to control but Shaker is working from the bottom.

Vick drops back, looking for a kneebar! Shaker looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Shaker looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Shaker!

Vick is trying to control Shaker's posture but Shaker avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaker advances to full mount.
Shaker lands a heavy elbow.
Vick tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vick is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arman Shaker showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Vick 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gray Vick!
A determined Gray Vick didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!