PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Habib Putins (ranked 3586 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lavrentiy Shepkin (ranked 6652 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Putins
vs
Shepkin

220 cm
25
200 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

196 cm
21
213 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Habib Putins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lavrentiy Shepkin!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Daniel Franklin and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shepkin shoots in and gets a takedown into Putins's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Putins not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Putins manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Shepkin manages to get himself to full guard.

Putins controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Shepkin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Putins. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Putins working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Putins slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Putins cracks Shepkin with an elbow. That is naaassty.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
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Shepkin tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepkin is still trying to improve position.
Who's going to make the next move?
Shepkin is trying to improve his position.
Putins wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shepkin keeps working.
Shepkin wants to control but Putins postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Putins lands a nice forearm strike.
Shepkin is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shepkin taking punishment in the form of punches.
You can see the frustration on Shepkin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Putins wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shepkin keeps working.
Putins lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Putins really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Putins moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Shepkin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Shepkin holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Shepkin is looking to regain half guard here but Putins keeps moving and retains side control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Shepkin feints and as Putins raises his hands in defense, Shepkin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Putins trying to control the position.
Putins will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Putins looking for a sweep. Not yet Putins, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepkin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Putins tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Shepkin wants to stand but Putins is controlling his posture from full guard.
Putins is trying to keep Shepkin in close.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shepkin is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Putins looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
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 Habib Putins will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Putins circles away from the clinch attempt
and Putins counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Putins fails in his attempt to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Putins is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Putins is looking for a takedown.
Putins keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Shepkin's efforts to push away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Putins gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Shepkin regains guard.
Shepkin keeping moving, preventing Putins from controlling successfully.
Putins is looking to stand up but Shepkin won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepkin is adopting a defensive guard.
Shepkin controls Putins momentarily but Putins frees himself.
Shepkin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Shepkin can do anything to dispel that myth.
Putins trying to control the position from guard on top but Shepkin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Putins is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shepkin can do to turn this around?

Shepkin looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Putins has picked Shepkin up and slammed him! Shepkin can't keep hold of the triangle and Putins manages to pass to side control!

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.
Putins wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shepkin keeps working.
Shepkin sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Shepkin is refusing to be controlled, as Putins sits in half guard.
Putins controlling the action here.
Putins trying to control from half guard but Shepkin is working away.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Habib Putins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepkin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Putins pinned against the cage. Putins gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
As Shepkin tries to get set, Putins tries to push him back and clinch up but Shepkin manages to avoid the attempt.
Good standup being displayed there by Putins as he connects with a hook.

Shepkin drives through and clinches with Putins against the cage.

Putins wants the takedown. Shepkin is fighting it off but Putins persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Shepkin's guard against the cage.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Shepkin holds on and takes a little breather.
Shepkin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shepkin pulls Putins in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepkin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Shepkin working a defensive guard here.
Putins slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Putins trying to control the position from guard on top but Shepkin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Habib Putins dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Putins fails with a takedown attempt.
Putins shoots in for a double leg but Shepkin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Shepkin tries to counter by closing the distance.
Putins looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Shepkin drives through and clinches with Putins against the cage.
Shepkin stalling in the clinch but Putins improves position.

Putins pulls guard successfully.

Putins throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Putins looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shepkin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepkin wants to get up but he can't break Putins's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Shepkin's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Putins trying to control the position.
Shepkin content to stall in guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Putins shoots in for a double leg but Shepkin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Habib Putins. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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.
Putins throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
As Putins backs off Shepkin throws a huge counter combo but Putins manages to avoid it all.

Putins fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Shepkin sprawls well initially but Putins persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Putins is looking for a kimura here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shepkin is pressing down on Putins's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Putins won't allow Shepkin to sweep him here.
Shepkin is pulling down on Putins's head to control his posture.
Putins wants to control from the top but Shepkin keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepkin controls Putins momentarily but Putins frees himself.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Putins trying to control the position from guard on top but Shepkin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Shepkin shoots in and bounces Putins off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Putins trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepkin has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Putins is proving hard to escape from.
Shepkin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Putins swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Putins pulls Shepkin in close to prevent any damage.
Habib Putins overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Putins is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Shepkin defends well.
Lavrentiy Shepkin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Habib Putins is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shepkin with a flurry of punches that miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lavrentiy Shepkin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Putins has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Habib Putins!