PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Shkutov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and DATU I (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). DATU I has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Shkutov
vs
I

225 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
18
144 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Shkutov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, DATU I !
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Sergei Dronov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shkutov shoots in for a double leg but I sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

I closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Shkutov did well to prevent I getting side control.
I working the head and body with strikes.
Shkutov regains full guard. Nicely done.
I forces his way into half guard.
Shkutov wants to improve his position but I is controlling well.
I slows the pace down in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shkutov is refusing to be controlled, as I sits in half guard.
I wants to pass the guard but Shkutov is defending well.
I is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shkutov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. I is working away from the top position though.
Shkutov is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
I not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

I shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Shkutov's guard.
I trying to control but Shkutov is working from the bottom.
I works a leg free and moves into half guard.
I seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Shkutov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Shkutov wants to improve his position but I is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shkutov is looking to control I 's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shkutov avoid being mounted?
Shkutov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
I stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shkutov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
I trying to control the position from guard on top but Shkutov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
I pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shkutov is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shkutov tries to clinch but I moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shkutov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shkutov misses with a takedown attempt

and I counters with a shoot takedown. Shkutov fights it but they end up in guard.
Shkutov wants to get back to his feet but I is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
I is looking to work some ground and pound but Shkutov has wrist control.
I must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

I drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Shkutov dives on top into guard.
I looks gassed!
I utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shkutov wants to control from the top but I keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shkutov won't allow I to sweep him here.
I pulls Shkutov in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

I shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Shkutov is not content to let I control the position.
Shkutov looks like he's trying to stand up.
Shkutov wants to control but I is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
I trying to control the action but Shkutov is working from the bottom.
I is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shkutov throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Shkutov looking for submissions off his back.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Shkutov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shkutov tries for a takedown but I circles away easily

and I counters with a takedown into side control.
Shkutov seems a little lost for a moment, as I dominates the positioning.
Shkutov is pushing I 's head away, looking to escape. I manages to hold on to the position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shkutov is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
I trying to control the action but Shkutov is working from the bottom.

I decides to stand back up. I steps back and let's Shkutov get back to his feet.
I misses with a looping left.
Shkutov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and I counters with a nice double leg into guard.
I sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Shkutov's guard.
Shkutov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Shkutov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but I scores with a couple of nice shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!
I prevents Shkutov from improving his position.
I scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shkutov wants to control but I is keeping busy.
Shkutov punching from the bottom.
I lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
I scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Shkutov trying to control from the bottom.
Shkutov wants to get back to full guard.
I with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Ground and pound from I .
I keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

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.
Shkutov is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute I jumps into side control!
A lull in the action here.

I decides to stand up, so the ref orders Shkutov to his feet.
Shkutov throws a head kick that misses.
Shkutov misses with a takedown attempt

and I counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Shkutov's guard now.
Shkutov keeping full guard, as I tries to pass.
I postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

DATU I showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

I fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Shkutov sprawls well initially but I persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
I passes the guard and advances to mount!
I lands a heavy elbow.
A nice elbow there by I .
Shkutov is trying to stand.
Shkutov tries to hold on but I postures up.
Shkutov sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Shkutov works his way to full guard. Good work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
I is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Shkutov working a defensive guard here.
DATU I has got the better of the ground game so far.

Shkutov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Shkutov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
I with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
I looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
I works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Shkutov tries to roll over but I keeps him under control.
I controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I stops Shkutov from getting back to his feet.
I seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Shkutov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Shkutov is looking to control I 's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shkutov avoid being mounted?
I takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
I takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
I is pressing down on Shkutov's thigh, looking to free his foot. Shkutov is holding on for now.
I wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shkutov keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Shkutov is looking to control I 's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shkutov avoid being mounted?

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Shkutov with a poor takedown

and I counters with a nice double leg into side control. Shkutov won't be happy with that.
Ivan Shkutov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
I working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Shkutov is looking for a sweep.
A lull in the action here as I stalls from top position.
DATU I is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
I works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
DATU I comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well I has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... DATU I !