PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tsuyoi Kakuto (ranked 1499 p4p, 1909 weight class) and Borscht Balgav (ranked 57 p4p, 103 weight class). Kakuto comes to the cage accompanied by Gorillaz-Dirty Harry. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Borscht Balgav was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Kakuto
vs
Balgav

190 cm
45
243
27 - 9 - 1

200 cm
30
300
9 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 1 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Tsuyoi Kakuto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Borscht Balgav!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Trevor Gratis and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kakuto shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Balgav is trying to defend but Kakuto finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Still in half guard, Kakuto seems content to control.
Kakuto not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kakuto is controlling the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kakuto is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kakuto is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Balgav is trying to escape back to his feet but Kakuto uses the scramble to pass into side control.

Kakuto is trying to get an arm triangle but Balgav is defending well.
Kakuto works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kakuto tries for a kimura but Balgav is defending well.
Balgav is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Kakuto has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Kakuto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Balgav keeps working.
Balgav pushes Kakuto away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Kakuto gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Kakuto is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Balgav has escaped the position, nice work there.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Balgav can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balgav tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Kakuto biding his time, controlling Balgav.
Balgav really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kakuto. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Balgav is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kakuto punches Balgav on the ear.

Kakuto has his arm under Balgav's chin here. Game over son! Kakuto squeezes tightly and Balgav is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Tsuyoi Kakuto!
Tsuyoi Kakuto managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Furnace Performance 🔥, into his post fight interview.