PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ike Ibeabuchi (ranked 773 p4p, 83 weight class) and Maxim Menshikov (ranked 1373 p4p, 141 weight class). Ike Ibeabuchi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ibeabuchi
vs
Menshikov

188 cm
24
244 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

189 cm
24
275 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Kimura Klothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ike Ibeabuchi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maxim Menshikov!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Konstantin Menshow and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Decent striking displayed by Menshikov there.
Nice uppercut there from Menshikov.
Menshikov throws a hook but Ibeabuchi blocks it.
An attempted straight right counter from Ibeabuchi misses the target.
Nice defenses there by Ibeabuchi.
Menshikov has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Ibeabuchi is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Menshikov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ibeabuchi counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Maxim Menshikov has been cut.
Menshikov thows a left - swing and a miss!
It looked like Ibeabuchi was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Menshikov.
Menshikov lands with a shot to the body.
Menshikov misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Ibeabuchi to counter with a crisp jab.
Ibeabuchi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ibeabuchi there as he acknowledges the shot.
Menshikov is looking to clinch.
Menshikov takes a swing at Ibeabuchi's ribcage but misses.
Menshikov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ibeabuchi takes one to the side of the head.
Menshikov staying out of range there.
Menshikov fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menshikov misses with a left hand
and Ibeabuchi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Menshikov scores with a sloppy right hand. Ibeabuchi should have avoided that one.
Menshikov throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ibeabuchi on the side of the head.
Menshikov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Menshikov misses with a body shot.
Ibeabuchi digs a good body shot into Menshikov's ribs.
Maxim Menshikov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Menshikov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Menshikov throws a shot from downtown. Ibeabuchi moves away and avoids it.
Menshikov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ibeabuchi.
Menshikov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ibeabuchi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Menshikov doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Menshikov lands a nice shot that snaps Ibeabuchi's head back.
Menshikov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ibeabuchi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ibeabuchi takes a swing at Menshikov's ribcage but misses.
Menshikov is looking for the big counter here.
Ibeabuchi walks into a left hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ibeabuchi lands a lovely overhand right.
Menshikov misses with a two punch combination.
Ibeabuchi scores with the left hand. Menshikov knows he should have avoided that one.
Ibeabuchi throws a jab when Menshikov was well out of range.
Menshikov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ibeabuchi counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Ibeabuchi ducks under a wild hook from Menshikov.
Menshikov misses with a hook

and Ibeabuchi counters with a crisp right hand that drops Menshikov! Ibeabuchi lets Menshikov back up to his feet, looking for a finish!
Menshikov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Menshikov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Menshikov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ibeabuchi.
Menshikov ducks right into an uppercut from Ibeabuchi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menshikov throws a hook to the side of Ibeabuchi's head but Ibeabuchi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Menshikov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Menshikov clinches up with Ibeabuchi and pushes him back against the cage.
Menshikov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ibeabuchi blocks an uppercut.
Menshikov cracks Ibeabuchi with a nice body shot.
Ibeabuchi holding his opponent close, against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Menshikov.
Menshikov can't find room to land a body shot as Ibeabuchi controls the action.
Menshikov can't find room to land a body shot as Ibeabuchi controls the action.
Menshikov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Menshikov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibeabuchi lands a hook that snaps the head of Menshikov backwards.
Menshikov slowing the pace effectively.
Menshikov blocks a body shot from Ibeabuchi.
Ibeabuchi is looking to control Menshikov's arms but Menshikov gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ibeabuchi has his back to the cage.
Menshikov dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Menshikov breaks from the clinch.
Menshikov uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Menshikov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ibeabuchi.
Menshikov defending well as Ibeabuchi loads up on a big left hand.
Menshikov unleashes a big counter combination but Ibeabuchi bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Ibeabuchi throws a jab but it's blocked by Menshikov.
Ibeabuchi moves away from the strike by Menshikov.
Menshikov throws a combination that misses

and Ibeabuchi counters with a nice right hand that sends Menshikov toppling to the canvas! Menshikov scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Ibeabuchi finish him?!
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Menshikov throws a right hand that misses
and Ibeabuchi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Menshikov thinking.
Menshikov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ibeabuchi manages to avoid it.
As Menshikov looks to move away, Ibeabuchi throws a big counter combo but Menshikov just gets out of the way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ike Ibeabuchi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Maxim Menshikov's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ibeabuchi scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Menshikov doesn't seem bothered though.
Ibeabuchi slips a jab from Menshikov.
Ibeabuchi lands a right hook to the body.
Ibeabuchi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Menshikov.
Menshikov slips a straight right by Ibeabuchi.
Menshikov lands a lovely overhand right.
We've been told by Ibeabuchi's head coaches at Just Scrap MMA and BJJ that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
A looping hook to the body misses from Menshikov. Ibeabuchi does a little dance to reset his feet.
A quick step to the side and Ibeabuchi tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ibeabuchi scores with a hook to the body. Menshikov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Ibeabuchi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Menshikov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Menshikov tries to clinch but Ibeabuchi moves out of range.
Ike Ibeabuchi is winning the standup battle so far.
Ibeabuchi connects with a good straight punch right through the guard and follows up with a right hook and a left hook! That last one sent Menshikov tumbling to the canvas! Ibeabuchi pours on the pressure with more strikes and the referee has no hesitation diving in to stop the fight! Menshikov was done - good stoppage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Ike Ibeabuchi!
Ike Ibeabuchi retains his heavyweight title!