PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rusty Shackelford (ranked 6021 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zintis Saljanka (ranked 6001 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shackelford
vs
Saljanka

195 cm
25
225 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

225 cm
24
220 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rusty Shackelford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zintis Saljanka!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shackelford throws a body shot but no joy.
Saljanka shoots in looking for a takedown. Shackelford tries to sprawl out of it but Saljanka keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shackelford manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Shackelford takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Rusty Shackelford seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saljanka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Shackelford as he jumps to the side.

Saljanka moves into the clinch successfully.

Saljanka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saljanka drops his hands momentarily and Shackelford takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Saljanka takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Saljanka avoids a punch combination nicely.
Saljanka drops his hands momentarily and Shackelford takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shackelford clinches up against the cage.
Shackelford lands a nice shot to the body.
Shackelford slows down the pace here.
Shackelford stalling in the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Shackelford throws an elbow but misses.
Saljanka tries to pull guard but Shackelford forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Rusty Shackelford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zintis Saljanka.
Shackelford manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A short uppercut from Shackelford.
Shackelford lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Saljanka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Shackelford.
Shackelford is stalling here.
Saljanka jumps guard but Shackelford turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Shackelford.
Saljanka blocks an elbow strike.
Saljanka's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Shackelford.

Shackelford manages to break the clinch.
Saljanka is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shackelford paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Shackelford lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Saljanka backs up against the cage.
A punch lands to the side of Saljanka 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Shackelford scores with a jab to the jaw.
Shackelford works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Shackelford looks to land a combination. Saljanka sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Saljanka is rocked!
Shackelford pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Saljanka back to the cage. Shackelford follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Saljanka is still on wobbly legs! Can Shackelford finish him?
Saljanka dives in and grabs Shackelford's left leg, looking for a takedown. Shackelford pushes down on Saljanka's head and hops out.
Saljanka looks winded!

Shackelford has managed to clinch.
Saljanka seems to have recovered his senses.
Saljanka taking a breather.
Shackelford is pressed up against the cage. Saljanka has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Shackelford down to the mat. Shackelford avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saljanka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shackelford misses with a double jab.
Saljanka with the counter takedown but Shackelford avoids it easily.
Jab by Shackelford.
Rusty Shackelford is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shackelford defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Saljanka.
Saljanka gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Saljanka closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Shackelford bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Saljanka's head backwards.
Shackelford tries to bum rush Saljanka with a series of wild strikes but Saljanka uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Shackelford scores with a nice right hand.
Saljanka dodges the punch combination from Shackelford.
Shackelford dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Shackelford swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Shackelford misses with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saljanka takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Shackelford swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Saljanka tries to counter by closing the distance.
Shackelford is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Shackelford lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Shackelford lands with a hook. Saljanka tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Saljanka fails with the takedown.
Shackelford throws a one two combo.
Shackelford darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Shackelford lands a nice shot to the body.
Shackelford throws a right and a left that both miss.
Saljanka tries to counter with a clinch but Shackelford shakes him off and moves away.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shackelford looks to score with a jab to the body but Saljanka is just out of range.
Shackelford fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Shackelford misses with a jab, cross combination.
Shackelford is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.

Shackelford closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rusty Shackelford dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Saljanka misses with a takedown
and Shackelford connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Saljanka misses with the combination.
Saljanka lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Saljanka moves away from the strike by Shackelford.

Shackelford moves into range and clinches up with Saljanka.
Saljanka looking to stall.
Shackelford working some nice short punches in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Shackelford.
Shackelford lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Saljanka backwards.
Shackelford lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shackelford holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Shackelford taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shackelford wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Saljanka has him pressed against the cage.
Shackelford stalls.
Shackelford stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A short right from Shackelford on the inside.
Shackelford lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Saljanka tries for a takedown. No joy.
Saljanka is breathing heavily.
Shackelford lands a body shot.
Still in the clinch, Shackelford scores with a nice short uppercut.
Shackelford lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Shackelford pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shackelford misses with a double jab.
Shackelford is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Shackelford scores with a jab to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shackelford connects with the punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Shackelford lands a head shot.
Saljanka is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Shackelford lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Saljanka at a distance.
Saljanka closes the distance and clinches up with Shackelford, looking for a takedown. Saljanka pushes Shackelford against the cage but Shackelford circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rusty Shackelford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zintis Saljanka.
Shackelford cracks Saljanka with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Saljanka doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Good shot there by Shackelford.
The fighters circle momentarily. Shackelford darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Shackelford bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Saljanka's head backwards.
Saljanka dodges the punch combination from Shackelford.
Shackelford digs a good hook to Saljanka's body.
Shackelford lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saljanka gets tackled into the cage by Shackelford. Shackelford maintains the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Shackelford.
Saljanka takes an elbow to the forehead.
Shackelford lands a left hand.
Saljanka blocks an elbow strike.
Shackelford lands with a right to the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Saljanka has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Shackelford has had enough of the clinch but Saljanka keeps him there for the moment.
Shackelford blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Shackelford stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shackelford throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Saljankas head.
Shackelford scores with a shoulder strike.

Saljanka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shackelford connects with a looping right hand.
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!
Shackelford connects with the punch.
Saljanka shoots in for a takedown but Shackelford shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Shackelford digs a good hook to Saljanka's body.

Shackelford pushes Saljanka up against the cage in a clinch.
Saljanka letting Shackelford take a breather here.
Shackelford scores with a shot to the side of Saljanka's head.
Shackelford misses with an elbow over the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rusty Shackelford dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Shackelford displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Shackelford misses with the combination.
Nice cross by Shackelford.
Shackelford is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saljanka can do to turn this around?
Shackelford lands a jab to the head.

Shackelford instigates a clinch.
Saljanka is trying desperately to land a takedown but Shackelford is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Saljanka.
Shackelford lands with a left to the head.
Shackelford has had enough of the clinch but Saljanka keeps him there for the moment.
A short left from Shackelford.
Shackelford is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A body shot lands from Shackelford.
Shackelford scores with a shot to the side of Saljanka's head.
Saljanka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shackelford scores with a nice hook to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shackelford looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saljanka looking to slow down the pace here.
Rusty Shackelford has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Shackelford works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Shackelford prevents a takedown attempt there.
Saljanka prevents Shackelford from breaking the clinch.
Good body shot from Shackelford.
Shackelford is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Saljanka is defending well for now.

Shackelford breaks from the clinch.
Shackelford throws out a powerful jab.
Rusty Shackelford is winning the standup battle so far.
Shackelford tries to bum rush Saljanka with a series of wild strikes but Saljanka uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Saljanka feints the counter takedown.
Saljanka drops his hands momentarily and Shackelford takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Shackelford scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Shackelford's jab looks to have found its range, popping Saljanka under the eye.
Jab, jab by Shackelford - just one landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shackelford throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Saljanka on the side of the head.
Shackelford throws a left jab followed by a right to the body, Oh Saljanka colapses and takes a barrage of punches from Shackelford as he moves to mount! the ref stops the fight and Saljanka is left battered and dazed whilst Shackelford and his camp cheer!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:12 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rusty Shackelford!