PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Naseeruddin Shah (ranked 5644 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Young (ranked 23534 p4p, 0 weight class). Naseeruddin Shah has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Shah
vs
Young

210 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

162 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Naseeruddin Shah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Young!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Young throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Young tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shah swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Young moves in looking to clinch but Shah pushes him off.
Shah showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Young.
Shah tries to counter by clinching up but Young breaks away and moves out of range.
Young shoots in looking for a takedown. Shah tries to sprawl out of it but Young keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shah manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Young tries to close the distance and clinch but Shah swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shah is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Young.
Young has his takedown stuffed

and Shah holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Young is trying to trip Shah. He has hold of a leg but Shah is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Young persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Shah kicks Young off and gets to his feet.
Shah takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
As Young tries to get set, Shah tries to push him back and clinch up but Young manages to avoid the attempt.
Shah keeps the fight on the outside.
Shah really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Young tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shah wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Young darts in looking for a takedown but Shah gets double underhooks and turns Young into the cage.
Shah seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Naseeruddin Shah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Young.
Young fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Young scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Shah doesn't seem bothered though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Young throws a leg kick that is checked

and Shah counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Young tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Young fails to pull guard.
Young looks winded!
Young trying to control the position but instead, Shah has worked for underhooks and has pushed Young into the cage.
Shah tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Young smiles and moves away.
Young misses with a takedown attempt

and Shah moves into the clinch.
Shah fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Shah tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Shah prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Young's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Young fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shah is looking to counter the offense by Young and move into the clinch.
Young fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shah wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Mike Young seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Young fails with a takedown attempt.
Shah is looking to counter the offense by Young and move into the clinch.
Young shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Shah moves into the clinch.

Shah pulls Young into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shah has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Young has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Young trying to control the position but instead, Shah has worked for underhooks and has pushed Young into the cage.
Shah tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Young just stands there and leans against the cage.

Shah manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Shah scrambles and gets back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Young throws an overhand right that lands on Shah's shoulder, as Shah tries to avoid the shot.
Young tries to close the distance and clinch but Shah swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shah circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naseeruddin Shah dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Young shoots in but no luck this time.
Shah tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Young manages to circle out of the way.
Young wants to clinch.
Shah is looking to counter the offense by Young and move into the clinch.
Young fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Shah avoids it really well and circles away.
Shah is looking to counter the offense by Young and move into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Young scores with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Young throws a leg kick that is checked

and Shah counters by clinching up.
Shah is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Young can do to turn this around?
Young goes for a takedown attempt but Shah pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Naseeruddin Shah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Young.
Young is breathing heavily.
Young tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shah paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shah wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Young shoots in and drives through. Shah sprawls well.
Young doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Shah counters by clinching up.
Shah fails to pull guard.

Shah pulls guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Shah manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Young can't find room to land a body shot as Shah controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shah is pressed up against the cage. Young has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Shah down to the mat. Shah avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Young wants to clinch.
Young tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shah manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Young misses the shot to the body.
Young tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shah paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shah tries to counter by clinching up but Young breaks away and moves out of range.
Young misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Shah wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Young misses with a leg kick

and Shah counters by moving into the clinch.
Shah is trying to pull guard but Young has him pressed against the cage.

Shah has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Young uses from the top position.

Shah has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Young off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Shah moves away from the strike by Young.
Shah tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Young manages to circle out of the way.
Young tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shah is looking to counter the offense by Young and move into the clinch.
Naseeruddin Shah is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Young doesn't manage to clinch there - Shah circles away.
As Young tries to get set, Shah tries to push him back and clinch up but Young manages to avoid the attempt.
Young fails to land with a series of punches.
A shot to the body from Young misses

and Shah moves into the clinch.

Shah pulls guard effortlessly.
Shah will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shah scrambles and gets back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Horrible takedown attempt by Young or perhaps it was just good defense by Shah, which made it look bad.
Young tries for a takedown but Shah circles away easily

and Shah counters by clinching up.

Shah gets control of Young's arms and successfully pulls guard. Shah will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Shah has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Young off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Young is looking to clinch.
Young shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Shah sprawls well. Shah wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Young gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naseeruddin Shah dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Young wants to clinch.
Shah seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Young closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Shah's guard.

Shah manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shah successfully pulls guard.

Shah is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Young drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shah jumps guard but Young turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Young takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shah keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Young's efforts to push away.
Young is trying to break the clinch but Shah has him pressed against the cage.
Young wants to break the clinch but can't.
Shah tries to pull guard but Young won't allow it.

Shah ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Shah no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

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.

Shah has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Young is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Young is trying to pull guard but Shah turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Young fails to pull guard.
Naseeruddin Shah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Young.

Shah successfully pulls guard.

Shah kicks Young off and gets to his feet.
Young misses with the combination.
Shah tries to counter by clinching up but Young breaks away and moves out of range.
Young wants to clinch up but Shah keeps it at a distance.
Young throws the kick towards the body but Shah avoids it.
Young with a lazy takedown attempt

and Shah counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shah gets control of Young's arms and successfully pulls guard. Shah will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Shah pushes Young off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Young has his takedown stuffed

and Shah counters by clinching up.
Shah is trying to pull guard but Young turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Young jumps guard but Shah turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Shah tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Young just stands there and leans against the cage.

Shah has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Young uses from the top position.

Shah pushes Young off and gets back to his feet.
Young fails with the takedown

and Shah counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Shah.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!

Shah pulls guard.

Shah is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Young presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Shah tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Shah tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Young smiles and moves away.
Young tries to clinch up but Shah circles away and keeps his distance.
Shah is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Young.
Young gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Shah counters by clinching up.
Mike Young has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Naseeruddin Shah is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shah on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Naseeruddin Shah showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Shah 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Naseeruddin Shah!