PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Emin Timurovich (ranked 5298 p4p, 379 weight class) and Jacob Cass (ranked 24188 p4p, 436 weight class). Emin Timurovich had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 147.4lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Emin Timurovich looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Timurovich
vs
Cass

182 cm
24
152 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

183 cm
19
153 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Emin Timurovich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jacob Cass!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Dmitry Maklakov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cass shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Timurovich as he jumps to the side.
Timurovich looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Cass scores with a one two! Timurovich had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Cass dives in and grabs Timurovich's left leg, looking for a takedown. Timurovich pushes down on Cass's head and hops out.
As Cass looks to move away, Timurovich throws a big counter combo but Cass just gets out of the way.
Timurovich shoots in for a takedown but Cass shows good takedown defense.

Timurovich drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Cass throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
You can see the frustration on Cass's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cass tries to control but Timurovich manages to take his back.
Timurovich seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Timurovich's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
You can see the frustration on Cass's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Timurovich trying to control momentarily.
Timurovich avoiding Cass 's attempts to control his hands.
Timurovich controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Timurovich lands with a hammerfist to the side of Cass's head.
Cass tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Cass is trying to stand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cass working to try and regain half guard.

Timurovich jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Cass is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Cass and Timurovich has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Cass is trying to get back to half guard.
Cass is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cass keeps trying to improve his position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Cass is still trying to improve position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Timurovich shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cass as he avoids it easily.

Cass moves into range and clinches up with Timurovich.
We've been informed that Cass has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Cass has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Timurovich uses from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Timurovich slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Cass is looking for a sweep.
Timurovich tries to stand but Cass is controlling his head.
Cass is looking for a sweep.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jacob Cass will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cass tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Timurovich swivels and escapes.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Timurovich.

Timurovich closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cass did well to prevent Timurovich getting side control.

Cass manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Cass shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Timurovich sprawls well. Timurovich wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cass gets slowly back to his feet.
Cass fails with a takedown attempt.
Timurovich tries to counter by clinching up but Cass breaks away and moves out of range.
Emin Timurovich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacob Cass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cass moves in looking to clinch but Timurovich pushes him off.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cass misses with a takedown attempt
and Timurovich counters with a two punch combo.
Cass blocks a low kick nicely.
Timurovich checks the leg kick.
Cass fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Timurovich closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Cass quickly recovers to half guard.

Cass manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Cass shoots in but Timurovich avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Timurovich shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cass as he jumps to the side.
Cass misses with a takedown attempt - Timurovich sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Timurovich goes for a double leg but Cass avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Cass continues to drive forward.
Timurovich slips a jab and a cross from Cass.
Cass shoots in but Timurovich avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Timurovich is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Cass.
Cass shoots in and drives through. Timurovich sprawls well.
Timurovich stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cass fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Timurovich swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Timurovich throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Cass tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Timurovich is in Cass's guard.

Cass has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Timurovich has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Timurovich successfully pulls guard.
Cass slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Timurovich avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Timurovich controls Cass momentarily but Cass frees himself.
Timurovich can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cass controls the pace.
Cass looking to pass the guard.

Cass avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Timurovich had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cass defends it easily.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jacob Cass will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Timurovich's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Cass looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Timurovich throws a right hand that Cass ducks under and follows up with a left that Cass also avoids with ease.
Cass shoots in looking for a takedown but Timurovich manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cass's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cass tries to close the distance and clinch up but Timurovich swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Timurovich has his takedown stuffed
and Cass counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cass shoots in but no luck this time.
Emin Timurovich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacob Cass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Timurovich takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
No luck for Cass with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Timurovich has Cass up against the cage in a clinch.
Timurovich tries for a takedown but Cass manages to get underhooks.
Cass tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Timurovich smiles and moves away.
Cass lands a jab.
Cass shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Timurovich as he avoids it easily.
Cass closes this distance looking for a takedown but Timurovich circles away.
Timurovich appears to be looking for a big counter.

Timurovich shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Timurovich was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Timurovich working the head and body with strikes.
Timurovich working away.
Cass is trying to get back to half guard.
Timurovich tries to stand but Cass is controlling his head.

Timurovich wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cass, who protects the arm well.
Cass defending against the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cass is trying to control Timurovich's posture but Timurovich avoids it.
The strikes coming from Timurovich are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Cass tries to control but Timurovich manages to take his back.
Cass wants to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Cass manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.
Cass shoots in for a takedown but Timurovich shows good takedown defense.

Timurovich changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Cass looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Cass is letting Timurovich control him for a moment.
Timurovich wants to control but Cass is keeping him busy.
Jacob Cass has got the better of the ground game so far.
Timurovich tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Timurovich throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emin Timurovich showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cass has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jacob Cass!