PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yurochka Shibakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raymond Gazelle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Shibakov
vs
Gazelle

178 cm
20
197 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Amped Performance

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yurochka Shibakov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Raymond Gazelle!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gazelle connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Shibakov's hands.

It looks like Yurochka Shibakov has been cut.

Shibakov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gazelle is trying to stand back up but Shibakov is controlling him
Gazelle is trying to control but can't.

Shibakov wants to work for an arm triangle but Gazelle is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Well, if Shibakov 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.

Shibakov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shibakov prevents Gazelle from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gazelle has hold of Shibakov's hands but Shibakov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Shibakov decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Gazelle closes the distance and clinches.
Gazelle is trying to break free.
Gazelle looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Gazelle has had enough of the clinch but Shibakov keeps him there for the moment.

Shibakov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gazelle scores with a head kick. Shibakov tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Gazelle tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shibakov swivels and escapes.
Gazelle misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Gazelle with that takedown attempt.
Gazelle changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shibakov tries to avoid it but Gazelle manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shibakov to the ground. Shibakov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Yurochka Shibakov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raymond Gazelle.
Gazelle shoots for a double leg takedown but Shibakov sprawls well. He's pushed Gazelle's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gazelle moves out of range as Shibakov throws a body kick.
Gazelle tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shibakov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Shibakov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shibakov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gazelle swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Shibakov scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gazelle wants to improve his position but instead Shibakov has moved into half guard.

Shibakov is trying to work for a kimura but Gazelle is defending well.
Gazelle wants to control but Shibakov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gazelle is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Shibakov is staying active.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Shibakov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's four 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.
Gazelle wants to control but Shibakov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Shibakov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Shibakov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gazelle knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Gazelle gets back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gazelle tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yurochka Shibakov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Yurochka Shibakov's cut.
That's time! Shibakov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Shibakov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gazelle sprawls well initially but Shibakov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Gazelle is trying to get back to full guard.
Shibakov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gazelle can do to turn this around?
Shibakov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Shibakov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Shibakov decides to stand up.

Shibakov drops Gazelle with a beautiful combination! Gazelle stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Shibakov is looking for the KO!

Gazelle is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

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

Shibakov kicks off Gazelle and gets to his feet.
Gazelle is still on wobbly legs! Can Shibakov finish him?
Shibakov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Gazelle enables Shibakov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Gazelle manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Gazelle looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Shibakov passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shibakov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gazelle is looking to control Shibakov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gazelle avoid being mounted?
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. Shibakov connects with a nice short shot to Gazelle's temple.
Shibakov winds up and cracks Gazelle with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Shibakov is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Shibakov lands strikes from half guard.
Shibakov is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Gazelle seems to have recovered his senses.
Shibakov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gazelle is trying to stand.
Shibakov prevents Gazelle from getting the reversal.
Shibakov fails to take his opponent's back.
Shibakov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Shibakov looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Shibakov moves to back control.
Gazelle is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gazelle is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Shibakov just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Gazelle turns into Shibakov and is now in his guard.
Shibakov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gazelle manages to get himself to full guard.

Gazelle looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shibakov is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shibakov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Shibakov advances position into side control!

Shibakov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Shibakov swings around for an armbar but Gazelle sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Shibakov's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yurochka Shibakov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Yurochka Shibakov's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Shibakov moves into the clinch.
Gazelle is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gazelle drops down looking for an ankle pick but Shibakov pulls his leg out and moves away.
Gazelle throws a right and a left that both miss.
Shibakov tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Gazelle manages to circle out of the way.
Gazelle tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shibakov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Shibakov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gazelle was covering up waiting for the punch and Shibakov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Shibakov postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gazelle wants to improve his position but instead Shibakov has moved into half guard.
Shibakov drops an elbow to the side of Gazelle's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gazelle trying to control here.
Shibakov is controlling the pace.
Gazelle is looking for a sweep. Shibakov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Shibakov controlling the action here.
Shibakov prevents Gazelle from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Shibakov is looking to advance position but Gazelle won't allow it.

Shibakov is working for a kimura but Gazelle is defending it quite comfortably.
Shibakov trying to control the pace.
Yurochka Shibakov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Gazelle looks to land a body kick but Shibakov moved away.
Shibakov feinted with a counter takedown.
Gazelle tries to bum rush Shibakov with a series of wild strikes but Shibakov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gazelle moves in looking to clinch but Shibakov pushes him off.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Shibakov crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Gazelle - the referee stops the clock and Shibakov gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Gazelle. Shibakov manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Gazelle tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Shibakov defends well and Gazelle ends up having to push Shibakov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gazelle fails to land the takedown.
Yurochka Shibakov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raymond Gazelle.
Gazelle takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shibakov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gazelle lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shibakov circles away quickly and effectively.
Gazelle moves out of range of the body kick.

Shibakov drives through and clinches with Gazelle against the cage.
Gazelle wants to get back to striking at distance but Shibakov won't allow it.

Shibakov lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Gazelle really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shibakov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gazelle wants to improve his position but Shibakov is controlling well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gazelle is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Shibakov scores with a couple of nice shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yurochka Shibakov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Shibakov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yurochka Shibakov!