PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Raven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karim Bashorov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Bashorov's choice of entrance music: Hangar 18. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Karim Bashorov was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Raven
vs
Bashorov

188 cm
35
197 lbs
22 - 9 - 1

190 cm
31
194 lbs
17 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

Invictus
Museum of Monsters & Madmen

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 9 - 1, fighting out of New York, Thomas Raven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Karim Bashorov!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bashorov misses with a body punch
and Raven counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've been informed that Bashorov has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Bashorov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Bashorov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Bashorov is looking to take a break and control but Raven is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Raven is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bashorov trying to control from half guard but Raven is working away.
Raven tries to get to full guard but Bashorov has control of the leg.
Raven makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Raven.
Raven 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bashorov looking to pass the guard.
Raven wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Bashorov chips away with some ground and pound.
Bashorov advances position into side control!
Raven is looking to reverse the position.
Raven wants to control but Bashorov postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bashorov is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Bashorov in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Raven gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Bashorov with good strikes from the mount here!
Bashorov lands a big elbow.
Poor strikes thrown by Bashorov there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Bashorov wants to control the pace but Raven is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raven is trying desperately to improve position.
Bashorov has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Raven's face.
Bashorov unloads with some shots from mount but Raven bucks and avoids them well.
Bashorov landing strikes, looking to finish!
Bashorov is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Raven tries to lock up and control but Bashorov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bashorov lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Raven hang on?
Raven wants to control but Bashorov is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bashorov lands a heavy elbow.
The referee warns Raven that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bashorov wants to control the pace but Raven is squirming around nicely.
Raven is desperately trying to improve his position but Bashorov has a good base and remains in mount.
Bashorov sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Bashorov landing strikes from the mount and Raven is in trouble!
Bashorov cracks Raven with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Bashorov cracks Raven with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Raven is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Bashorov unloads with some shots from mount but Raven bucks and avoids them well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karim Bashorov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Raven takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Raven uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bashorov.
Bashorov connects with a looping right hand.
Bashorov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Raven connects with a nice looking jab.
Bashorov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Karim Bashorov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raven scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Raven swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bashorov scores with a punch to the head.
Bashorov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Raven.
Bashorov throws out a loose jab but Raven uses good head movement to avoid it.
Raven quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Bashorov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Raven misses with a body shot
and Bashorov counters with a lovely shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Bashorov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A big right from Bashorov misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bashorov throws out a loose jab but Raven uses good head movement to avoid it.

Bashorov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Bashorov throwing strikes but missing.
Bashorov preventing the sweep.
Raven manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bashorov manages to get himself to full guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bashorov is looking for a triangle but Raven pushes his legs off easily.
Raven lands a couple of digs.
Raven trying to control but Bashorov is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bashorov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Raven doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Raven manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bashorov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bashorov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Raven is stalling in the full guard.
Raven looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bashorov pushes a forearm under Raven's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Raven is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Karim Bashorov!
An out of breath Karim Bashorov thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.