PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shamil Astakhov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gavin Duff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Duff has chosen Ride of the valkyries as his entrance music. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Astakhov
vs
Duff

182 cm
28
197 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

183 cm
31
200 lbs
5 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shamil Astakhov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Gavin Duff!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Duff darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Astakhov wants to get back to full guard.
Astakhov has hold of Duff's hands but Duff slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Duff prevents Astakhov from improving his position.
Astakhov throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Astakhov trying to control here.
Duff throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Duff missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Duff seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Astakhov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Astakhov trying to control from the bottom.
Duff perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Astakhov trying to control here.
Astakhov tries to kick Duff off but Duff keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Duff is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Astakhov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Duff.

Duff is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Astakhov sees it coming and defends easily.
Duff trying to pass the guard but Astakhov defending well.
Astakhov is trying to escape back to his feet but Duff uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Astakhov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Astakhov tries to get out of the position.
Duff lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Astakhov tries to buck Duff off but Duff is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Astakhov holding on.
Astakhov is trying to get back to half guard.

Duff thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Duff avoids the strikes from the bottom by Astakhov.
Astakhov is trying to get back to half guard.
Astakhov regains half guard.
Astakhov is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Duff is trying to work for a kimura but Astakhov is defending well.
Duff passes the guard and advances to mount!
Duff lands a big elbow.

Duff working for a guillotine from mount but Astakhov is in no mood to give up.
Astakhov is trying desperately to improve position.
Astakhov is working hard here to advance position.
Duff breaks from Astakhov's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Astakhov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Astakhov manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Duff wants to pass the guard but Astakhov is defending well.

Astakhov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Astakhov is refusing to be controlled, as Duff sits in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Duff tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Astakhov.

Duff looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gavin Duff dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Duff throws a body kick that misses

and Astakhov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Duff looking for submissions off his back.
Astakhov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Duff with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Duff regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Astakhov.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Duff controlling Astakhov's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Astakhov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Astakhov trying to control the position from guard on top but Duff is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Astakhov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Astakhov tries to free his leg and advance position but Duff is retaining full guard.
Astakhov trying to control but Duff is working from the bottom.
Astakhov won't allow Duff to sweep him here.
Duff keeping moving, preventing Astakhov from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Duff fails with a takedown attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Astakhov misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Duff tries to score a power double leg takedown but Astakhov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Duff somewhat.
Astakhov half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Duff closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Duff lands in his opponent's guard.

Astakhov looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Duff is defending well. Astakhov quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Duff has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Astakhov celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Shamil Astakhov!