PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chance Shamrock (ranked 3421 p4p, 349 weight class) and Spas Spasov (ranked 4527 p4p, 408 weight class). Spas Spasov will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Shamrock
vs
Spasov

178 cm
25
166 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

180 cm
26
159 lbs
7 - 12 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Hot Spunk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chance Shamrock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Spas Spasov!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Shamrock does no damage.
No joy there for Spasov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Shamrock rushes Spasov and presses him up against the cage.
Shamrock tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Spasov avoids it.

Spasov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Spasov lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Shamrock avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Spasov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shamrock but Shamrock pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shamrock circles away from the clinch attempt.
Shamrock takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Shamrock looks to land a combination but Spasov avoids it well.
Spasov lands a two punch combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Spasov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Spasov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shamrock swivels and escapes.

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

Spasov stands up and waves to Shamrock to follow him.
Spasov throws a series of punches but Shamrock avoids them all with ease.
Spasov lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shamrock rushes Spasov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Spasov manages to break the clinch.

Shamrock moves into the clinch successfully.

Spasov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Spasov moves into range and clinches up with Shamrock.

Spasov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Spasov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Shamrock sprawls well. Shamrock wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Spasov gets slowly back to his feet.
Spasov has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Shamrock is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Chance Shamrock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Spas Spasov.

Shamrock clinches.
Shamrock tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Spasov manages to break the clinch.
Spasov throws a nice looking combination but Shamrock bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Shamrock gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Spasov pulls guard successfully.
Shamrock knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Spasov on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spasov wants to stand but Shamrock is controlling the position.
Shamrock works over Spasov with some ground and pound from guard.
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!
Shamrock wants to control from the top but Spasov keeps moving.
Shamrock looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Spasov is controlling Shamrock's posture.

Spasov manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Shamrock tries to break free but Spasov pushes him back against the cage.
Spasov controlling the action here for a moment.
Shamrock jumps guard but Spasov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Spasov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Shamrock uses from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Spasov uses the cage to get back to his feet.

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

Spasov has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Shamrock is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Spasov manages to break the clinch.
Spasov displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Spasov scores with a punch to the head.
Shamrock slips a jab and a cross from Spasov.

Shamrock has closed the distance and engaged Spasov in a clinch.

Spasov breaks the clinch.
Spasov shoots in looking for a takedown. Shamrock tries to sprawl out of it but Spasov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shamrock manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Shamrock digs a good body shot into Spasov's ribs.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spasov scores with a one two! Shamrock had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Shamrock keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Shamrock takes the fight into the clinch.
Shamrock jumps guard but Spasov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Spasov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Spasov lands with a nice combination. Shamrock backs away looking to recover.
Spasov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
An attempted straight right counter from Shamrock misses the target.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Danga de danga de dang - Spasov scores with a four punch combination!
Spasov tests Shamrock's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Spasov wants to clinch up but Shamrock keeps it at a distance.

Shamrock pushes Spasov up against the cage in a clinch.

Spasov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Spas Spasov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Spasov scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Spasov misses with a takedown attempt
and Shamrock makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Shamrock shoots in but Spasov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Spasov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shamrock manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Shamrock shoots in looking for a takedown. Spasov tries to sprawl out of it but Shamrock keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Spasov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Spasov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Shamrock closes the distance and clinches.

Spasov pulls guard.
Shamrock stopping the sweep attempt from Spasov.
Spasov wants to get back to his feet but Shamrock is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Spasov has his feet on Shamrock's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spasov shoots in for a takedown but Shamrock shows good takedown defense.
Spasov cracks Shamrock with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Spasov slaps away a takedown attempt from Shamrock, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chance Shamrock. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Shamrock as Spasov shoots in.

Spasov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Shamrock on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Shamrock tries to get out of the position.

Spasov stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Shamrock to get to his feet.
Chance Shamrock is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Spasov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Spasov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Shamrock is holding Spasov down, trying to stall.

Spasov decides to stand up, so the ref orders Shamrock to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Spasov lands a two punch combo.
Spasov throws a series of punches but Shamrock moves out of range.
Shamrock appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Shamrock throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Spasov throws a one two combo.

Spasov closes the distance and pushes Shamrock back into the cage.
Shamrock tries to pull guard but Spasov won't allow it.
Spasov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Shamrock breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Spasov's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Spasov duly obliges.
Spasov lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Shamrock backs up against the cage.
Shamrock walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Shamrock has taken the fight to the clinch.

Spasov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Spasov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Spasov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Shamrock.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Spasov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A left and a right from Spasov both land. Nice combination.
Shamrock misses with a jab, cross combination.
Spasov misses with a double jab.
As Spasov looks to move away, Shamrock throws a big counter combo but Spasov just gets out of the way.

Spasov moves into the clinch successfully.
Shamrock slows down the pace here.

Spasov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Spasov is working the combinations to good effect here.
Spasov dives in for a single leg takedown but Shamrock sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Spasov throws a series of punches but Shamrock avoids them all with ease.
The fight stays on the outside here - Spasov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shamrock displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Spasov has a takedown stuffed.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Spasov throws a series of punches but Shamrock moves out of range.
Shamrock misses with the combination.
Spasov unleashes a big counter combination but Shamrock bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Spasov dives in for a single leg takedown but Shamrock sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Spas Spasov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Spasov moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Shamrock closes the distance and pushes Spasov back into the cage.
Shamrock looking for a takedown.

Spasov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Shamrock clinches up against the cage.
Spasov working hard to break the clinch.
Spasov trying to stall but Shamrock improves his position.

Spasov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Spas Spasov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Shamrock gets a clinch.

Shamrock breaks the clinch.

Shamrock tries to keep at a distance but Spasov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Shamrock is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Spasov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Spasov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Spasov throws a series of punches but Shamrock avoids them all with ease.
Spasov lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Spasov misses with a jab, cross combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spasov throws a right and a left that Shamrock avoids nicely.
Sloppy strikes from Spasov. Those never looked like landing.
Spasov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Spasov tries to clinch there but Shamrock circles away.
Spasov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Shamrock forces Spasov back against the cage and clinches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shamrock tries to score a body lock takedown but Spasov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spasov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Spasov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shamrock throws a combination that misses
and Spasov counters with a three punch combo that has Shamrock backing up. Shamrock nods at Spasov to acknowledge the strikes.

Shamrock closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Spasov quickly recovers to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spasov won't allow Shamrock to pass to mount.
Spasov throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Spasov manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Spasov moves in looking to clinch but Shamrock pushes him off.
Spasov fails to land with a series of punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Spasov looks to land a combination but Shamrock avoids it well.
Spasov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Shamrock closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Spasov fails to pull guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Spasov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Shamrock to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Spasov wants to stand but Shamrock is controlling the position.
Spas Spasov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Spasov is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Spasov jumps guard and drags Shamrock to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Spasov is looking to stand up but Shamrock isn't so interested in that idea.
Spasov seems keen to control Shamrock's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spasov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Shamrock is controlling him.

Shamrock thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Shamrock wants to control from the top but Spasov keeps moving.
Spasov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Shamrock manages to get himself to full guard.

Spasov stands up from Shamrock's guard - Spasov perhaps looking for a knockout.

Shamrock moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shamrock wants to take the fight to the mat but Spasov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Spasov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Danga de danga de dang - Spasov scores with a four punch combination!
Spasov moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Spasov slips a jab and a cross from Shamrock.
Spasov lands a glancing blow to the side of Shamrock's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Spasov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Shamrock, pushing him back against the cage.
Chance Shamrock has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Spasov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Spasov dodges the punch combination from Shamrock.
Spasov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Shamrock instigates a clinch.
Spasov will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Shamrock up against the cage.
Chance Shamrock has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A body shot lands from Spasov.

And that's the end of the fight!
Spas Spasov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Spasov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Spas Spasov!
During a confident post fight interview, Spas Spasov thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.