PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Igor Byhenikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shafi Shalodin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Byhenikov
vs
Shalodin

171 cm
18
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Igor Byhenikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shafi Shalodin!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Byhenikov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Byhenikov working the ground and pound.
Byhenikov working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Shalodin is rocked!
Byhenikov landing strikes.
Shalodin is still in real trouble! Can Byhenikov finish him?
Shalodin tries to improve position but can't.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Byhenikov working the ground and pound.
Shalodin is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Byhenikov off and has taken his back!
Byhenikov trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Byhenikov trying to survive by controlling the hands.

Byhenikov defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Byhenikov trying to control the hands but Shalodin breaks the grip.
Byhenikov wants to escape the position but for the time being he's just trying to control the pace.
Shalodin seems to have recovered his senses.
Byhenikov tries to roll but Shalodin sticks to his back.
Shalodin throwing wild punches that miss their target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byhenikov tries to escape but Shalodin has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Byhenikov is working hard here to advance position.
Shalodin is looking to control Byhenikov but Byhenikov is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Byhenikov controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Byhenikov trying to control the position but Shalodin manages to sink in the hooks.

Shalodin is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Byhenikov has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Byhenikov wants to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byhenikov wants to control his opponent's hands but Shalodin gets his hands free.
Byhenikov can't escape the position.
Byhenikov needs to remain patient if he's going to get out of this sticky situation.
Byhenikov is trying to break free.
Shalodin tries to keep control of the position but Byhenikov is staying busy.
Shalodin is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Shalodin looks winded!

Shalodin is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Byhenikov is defending well though. Shalodin let's go of the attempt for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byhenikov holding on to Shalodin's left wrist, preventing the choke.
Byhenikov tries to roll but Shalodin sticks to his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shalodin thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Byhenikov is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Can Byhenikov hold on?! Shalodin is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Byhenikov surviving as best he can, preventing damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byhenikov holding both Shalodin 's hands and preventing any damage.
Byhenikov rolls, trying to escape but Shalodin keeps control of the position.
Byhenikov is holding onto Shalodin's left hand, preventing any choke attempts.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Shalodin looking for the RNC.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Byhenikov dominated that round.
That's time! Byhenikov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A swing and a miss from Byhenikov.

Byhenikov drives through with a takedown into guard.
Byhenikov prevents Shalodin from getting back to his feet.
Byhenikov trying to control but Shalodin is working from the bottom.
Shalodin trying to control the position.
Byhenikov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Byhenikov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Byhenikov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Byhenikov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byhenikov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Byhenikov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Shalodin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shalodin is breathing heavily.
Byhenikov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Byhenikov tries to free his leg and advance position but Shalodin is retaining full guard.
Byhenikov distracts Shalodin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Byhenikov wants to pass the guard but Shalodin is keeping the position.
Byhenikov content to stall in guard here.
Byhenikov trying to control but Shalodin is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byhenikov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shalodin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Byhenikov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Byhenikov lands a couple of elbows.
Byhenikov is in close to Shalodin's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Byhenikov chips away with some ground and pound.
Byhenikov stands up over Shalodin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Byhenikov distracts Shalodin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Byhenikov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Byhenikov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shalodin is keeping the position for now.
Byhenikov sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shalodin has momentary wrist control but Byhenikov slips an elbow through the middle.
Igor Byhenikov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Byhenikov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Shalodin's head.
Byhenikov distracts Shalodin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Byhenikov arches his back and unloads with a massive left and a right! Shalodin's eyes roll back into his head, he's out cold! The ref dives in to stop the fight - wow, they were hard shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Igor Byhenikov!
Igor Byhenikov bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.