PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Feodor Shemelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Muay Thai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shemelianenko comes to the cage accompanied by 2Pac - I'm A Soldier (Echale Mojo Remix) . The crowd seem to be enjoying Thai's choice of entrance music: Town Called Malice. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Shemelianenko
vs
Thai

184 cm
31
202 lbs
14 - 9 - 1

191 cm
38
222 lbs
39 - 26 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Instinct

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 14 - 9 - 1, fighting out of London, Feodor Shemelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 39 - 26 - 0, fighting out of London, Muay Thai!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Ackerman and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shemelianenko moves out of range of the body kick from Thai.
Shemelianenko has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Thai throws a low kick but it's checked well by Shemelianenko.
Muay Thai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A chopping leg kick lands by Thai.
Shemelianenko misses with an attempted mid kick.
Thai was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Thai tries to land a body kick
and Shemelianenko counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Muay Thai has been cut.
Thai smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

It looks like Feodor Shemelianenko has been cut.
Thai on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shemelianenko. Shemelianenko obviously looking to wear him down.
Thai walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Thai throws a lazy head kick

and Shemelianenko counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Shemelianenko.
Thai lands a left hand.
Thai throws a punch but it's blocked by Shemelianenko.
Thai dodges an elbow strike from Shemelianenko.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thai.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Shemelianenko misses with a body punch.

Thai breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thai 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 one minute gone in the round.
Thai lands a jab.
Shemelianenko lands a jab to the nose.
A low kick from Thai misses
enabling Shemelianenko to counter with a crisp jab.
A nice inside leg kick there by Shemelianenko. That's going to slow Thai down.
Shemelianenko moves out of range of the body kick from Thai.
Shemelianenko rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Thai counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Shemelianenko uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thai.
Thai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shemelianenko throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Shemelianenko is defended easily by Thai.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thai misses with a leg kick
and Shemelianenko counters with a series of strikes. Thai will be more careful next time no doubt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A lazy body kick from Thai
and Shemelianenko counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thai tries to land a body kick
and Thai takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Shemelianenko takes a swing at Thai's ribcage but misses.
Thai appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Shemelianenko throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Shemelianenko dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Thai. That did some damage!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Thai.
Good leg kick by Thai there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
An inside leg kick lands from Shemelianenko.
Thai swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Shemelianenko to counter with a crisp jab.
Thai throws a sloppy head kick and Shemelianenko moves out of range easily.
It looked like Shemelianenko was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Shemelianenko throws a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thai misses with a body shot.
Shemelianenko looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.

Shemelianenko drops Thai with a left right combo! Shemelianenko follows him down to the ground into side control.

Thai is rocked!

That has opened up Muay Thai's cut even more.
A lull in the action here.
Thai is still in real trouble! Can Shemelianenko finish him?
Thai is trying to improve his position.

Shemelianenko working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Thai seems to have recovered his senses.
Shemelianenko is looking to take a break and control but Thai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sloppy strikes there by Shemelianenko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shemelianenko landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Shemelianenko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thai keeps working.
You can see the frustration on Thai's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Shemelianenko goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Thai has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Shemelianenko but great work by Thai.
Shemelianenko is trying to get back to half guard.

Thai decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Shemelianenko is looking to land body kicks.
Thai pushes Shemelianenko away with a front kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Shemelianenko.
Shemelianenko shoots in and drives through. Thai sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Feodor Shemelianenko dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Shemelianenko moves out of range of the body kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Shemelianenko misses the target.
Shemelianenko takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Thai shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Thai lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Shemelianenko dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Feodor Shemelianenko is winning the standup battle so far.
Shemelianenko throws a right hand that Thai ducks under and follows up with a left that Thai also avoids with ease.
Thai looks for the body kick but Shemelianenko saw that one coming.
Shemelianenko quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Shemelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch but Thai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shemelianenko scoring well with a low kick there.
Thai chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Shemelianenko can pounce on him.
Shemelianenko is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thai can do to turn this around?
Thai gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Thai looks to land a body kick but Shemelianenko moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thai looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Shemelianenko jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Thai throws a head kick that misses
and Shemelianenko counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Shemelianenko closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Shemelianenko blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Shemelianenko tries to throw a body punch but Thai avoids it by throwing Shemelianenko back against the cage.
Shemelianenko lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Shemelianenko cracks Thai with a nice body shot.
Shemelianenko doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Shemelianenko swings wildly with an uppercut but Thai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shemelianenko lands with a light punch inside.

Shemelianenko gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Thai regains guard.
Shemelianenko controls from within his opponent's guard.
Shemelianenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thai is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shemelianenko stays in close to Thai's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shemelianenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Thai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shemelianenko wants to pass the guard but Thai is keeping the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shemelianenko controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Thai pulls Shemelianenko in close to prevent any damage.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thai throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Shemelianenko on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Thai tries to land a leg kick but Shemelianenko saw it coming and moves away.
A little feinted left hand from Shemelianenko on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Shemelianenko pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A head kick by Thai misses
and Shemelianenko counters with a nice body kick.
Thai is breathing heavily.
A punch combination from Thai misses.
Thai gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Thai walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Thai throws a low kick but Shemelianenko avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Shemelianenko as he checks the leg kick.
Thai lands a head kick. Shemelianenko smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Shemelianenko connects with a crisp jab.

The cut above Muay Thai's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Shemelianenko feints and then cracks Thai's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Thai down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shemelianenko takes a swing at Thai's ribcage but misses.
Thai throws a head kick but Shemelianenko moves out of range.
Thai tries to land a leg kick but Shemelianenko saw it coming and moves away.
Thai lands a nice looking body kick.
Shemelianenko moves out of range of the body kick.
Thai throws a head kick but Shemelianenko moves out of range.
Shemelianenko moves into range and connects with a jab.
Shemelianenko misses with a straight right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Feodor Shemelianenko dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Shemelianenko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Thai moves forwards but Shemelianenko connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Thai misses with a head kick.
Shemelianenko misses the jab.
Thai throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Shemelianenko counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The fight stays on the outside here - Shemelianenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice uppercut lands for Shemelianenko. That snapped Thai's head back.
Thai's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thai gets caught by a brutal right hook which buckles his knees! Thai tries to backpedal with his spaghettilegs but Shemelianenko is headhunting and goes for the kill. A jab and a right hook connect and Thai buckles badly as his eyes roll back. The referee steps in and saves Thai!! Thai is complaining but he was clearly out on his feet. Shemelianenko throws his mouthpiece into the crowd. Mmmm spit-tastic.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Feodor Shemelianenko!
Feodor Shemelianenko took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'I want to credit this win to my new manager Mark O'Sullivan!'.