PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tanner Herro (ranked 2308 p4p, 3287 weight class) and Mucak Shanikov (ranked 288 p4p, 400 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Herro
vs
Shanikov

194 cm
21
202
7 - 3 - 0

185 cm
21
207
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Powerful

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tanner Herro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mucak Shanikov!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Yves DeLean and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Herro lands with a right hand.
Herro throws a body shot but no joy.
Shanikov jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Herro shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Shanikov's guard.
Herro trying to control the position from guard on top but Shanikov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Herro is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Shanikov is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Herro is really struggling to control Shanikov but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Shanikov has his foot on Herro's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Herro works his way back into a safe position though.

Herro got a little sloppy there for a moment and Shanikov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Herro has managed to get both his arms back between Shanikov's legs - danger averted.
Shanikov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Herro. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Shanikov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Herro can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shanikov keeping moving, preventing Herro from controlling successfully.

Shanikov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herro's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Herro seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Shanikov for as long as he can get away with.
Shanikov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shanikov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Herro wants to control from the top but Shanikov keeps moving.

Shanikov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Herro has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Herro controlling from the top position.
Shanikov is trying to keep Herro in close.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Herro trying to control but Shanikov is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Shanikov has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Shanikov misses with an uppercut
and Herro counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Shanikov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Herro staying out of range there.
Shanikov misses with an uppercut
and Herro counters with a stiff right hand.
Shanikov misses with an uppercut.

Herro decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Herro perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Herro thows a huge punch but Shanikov dodges it nicely.
Shanikov is looking for a sweep. Herro is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Herro is keen to just control but Shanikov is a slippery customer.
Shanikov is looking for a sweep. Herro is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Shanikov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Herro.
Herro is looking to take a break and control but Shanikov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shanikov is pressing down on Herro's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Herro trying to control but Shanikov is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herro not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Herro wants to control from the top but Shanikov keeps moving.

Shanikov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Herro doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Herro manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Shanikov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Herro controls the pace.
Herro trying to control the position from guard on top but Shanikov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Shanikov is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Shanikov looks to throw the jab but Herro is out of range.
Herro catches Shanikov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Shanikov misses with a right hand
enabling Herro to counter with a crisp jab.
Shanikov misses with a looping left.
Shanikov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Herro tries to clinch there but Shanikov circles away.
A jab from Shanikov misses.
Herro tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shanikov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shanikov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Herro sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Herro connects with a body shot.
Herro lands a nice shot to the body.
Herro uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Shanikov.
Shanikov scores with a nice strike.
Jab from Shanikov.
The fighters circling - Shanikov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mucak Shanikov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Left hook, right uppercut from Herro.
Herro tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shanikov throws a poor cross that misses
and Herro counters with a straight right hand.
Herro ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Herro ducks under a wild hook from Shanikov.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tanner Herro dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Herro tries to clinch up.
Herro goes for a double leg but Shanikov avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Shanikov continues to drive forward.
Shanikov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Herro just stands there and leans against the cage.
Shanikov has a couple of punches blocked by Herro.
Shanikov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shanikov misses with the head strike.

Herro's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shanikov misses with a hook.
Herro tries to clinch but Shanikov moves out of range.
Herro staying out of range there.
Shanikov scores with a nice right hand.
Herro uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Shanikov.
Herro ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Shanikov might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Herro fails in his attempt to clinch.

Herro looking to score a takedown here. Shanikov is defending well but Herro drives through and ends up in Shanikov's guard.
Tanner Herro overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Herro trying to control but Shanikov is working from the bottom.
Herro stands and throws Shanikov's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shanikov avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Herro.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shanikov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Shanikov looks to move to half guard but instead Herro has passed into mount! Damn!
Herro prevents Shanikov from getting the reversal.
Shanikov keeps trying to improve his position.

Shanikov tries to control Herro's head but Herro pushes him back down and moves quickly to lock up an arm here - he's swung around for an armbar! Will he get it??? Yes! Shanikov is tapping out! Lovely Jiu Jitsu there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (armbar). Tanner Herro!