PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alik Mikhailov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Baio Cain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baio Cain has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Mikhailov
vs
Cain

183 cm
18
144 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

165 cm
20
147 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alik Mikhailov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Baio Cain!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Vladimir Khabensky and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cain drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Cain makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cain throwing strikes but missing.
Mikhailov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cain won't allow Mikhailov to sweep him here.
Cain wants to control from the top but Mikhailov keeps moving.
Cain stopping the sweep attempt from Mikhailov.
Cain wants to control from the top but Mikhailov keeps moving.
Mikhailov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cain.
Cain throwing strikes but missing.
Cain really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mikhailov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cain working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mikhailov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Mikhailov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cain to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Mikhailov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cain with a nice head shot there.
Cain trying to control but Mikhailov is working from the bottom.

Mikhailov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cain lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cain stands up over Mikhailov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cain scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Mikhailov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cain.
Cain won't allow Mikhailov to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mikhailov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cain loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cain throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cain connects with a couple of short punches.
Cain postures up.
Mikhailov is breathing heavily.
Mikhailov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Cain!
Cain is wriggling around trying to escape.
Mikhailov is looking to stand but Mikhailov has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Mikhailov cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Mikhailov avoids the attempt from Cain to control.
Cain is squirming around, avoiding Mikhailov's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mikhailov blocks Cain's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Cain working to try and regain half guard.
Mikhailov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cain is looking to escape.
Mikhailov avoids the attempt from Cain to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cain throwing hammer fists to the chest of Mikhailov. What's that going to do exactly?
Mikhailov wants to control the pace but Cain is squirming around nicely.
Cain tries to improve his position but instead Mikhailov has taken his back!
Mikhailov has the hooks in. Cain is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Cain trying to control the action but Mikhailov just sinks the hooks in.

Mikhailov is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Cain is defending well though. Mikhailov let's go of the attempt for now.
Mikhailov struggling to keep hold of the position.
Mikhailov throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baio Cain 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.

Mikhailov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mikhailov slaps away a takedown attempt from Cain, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cain is defended easily by Mikhailov.
Cain tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mikhailov swivels and escapes.
Alik Mikhailov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Baio Cain.
Mikhailov is looking to clinch.

Mikhailov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Mikhailov wants to stand but Cain has his arm trapped.
Cain striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Cain is trying to work for a sweep but Mikhailov has mounted him!
Cain throwing hammer fists to the chest of Mikhailov. What's that going to do exactly?
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mikhailov trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mikhailov jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Cain manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Cain gets back to half guard.
Cain keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Cain missing with punches from the bottom.
Mikhailov is trying to control. Cain wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Cain manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mikhailov shoots in for a takedown but Cain shows good takedown defense.
Baio Cain seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cain cracks a nice hook into Mikhailov's ribs.
Mikhailov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cain swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Cain shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mikhailov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Cain lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cain with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Mikhailov trying to keep a closed guard but Cain is proving a slippery customer.
Cain lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cain trying to control the position from guard on top but Mikhailov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mikhailov looking for a sweep. Not yet Mikhailov, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cain landing with the ground and pound.
Cain postures up.
Baio Cain has got the better of the ground game so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Cain gets a clinch.

Mikhailov manages to pull guard.
Cain must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cain loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mikhailov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mikhailov looking to control.
Cain with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Cain stands up from Mikhailov's guard - Cain perhaps looking for a knockout.

Cain shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mikhailov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Cain postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mikhailov controls Cain momentarily but Cain frees himself.
Cain makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cain wants to control from the top but Mikhailov keeps moving.
Cain preventing the sweep.
Mikhailov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cain keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mikhailov's head.
Cain throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mikhailov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baio Cain showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cain tries for a takedown but Mikhailov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cain shoots in for a takedown but Mikhailov shows good takedown defense.
Cain displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mikhailov.
Cain throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cain changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mikhailov tries to avoid it but Cain manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mikhailov to the ground. Mikhailov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Alik Mikhailov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Baio Cain.
Mikhailov lands a head kick. Cain smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Nice takedown defense from Cain. No joy for Mikhailov on that attempt.

Mikhailov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cain to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Cain lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cain wants to control from the top but Mikhailov keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cain accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cain postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cain throwing strikes from guard but Mikhailov blocks nicely.
Cain scoring with some ground and pound.
Mikhailov looking to control.

Cain got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mikhailov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cain has managed to get both his arms back between Mikhailov's legs - danger averted.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cain misses with a takedown attempt
and Mikhailov counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Mikhailov moves in looking to clinch but Cain pushes him off.

Cain feints and as Mikhailov raises his hands in defense, Cain changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cain is looking to work some ground and pound but Mikhailov has wrist control.
Mikhailov keeping moving, preventing Cain from controlling successfully.
Cain chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cain throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Mikhailov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cain lands a couple of elbows.
Cain in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cain works over Mikhailov with some ground and pound from guard.
Cain not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Cain working some strikes from top position.
Cain cracks Mikhailov with a solid left hand.
Mikhailov controls Cain momentarily but Cain frees himself.
Cain landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cain looking to sit in guard and control but Mikhailov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Cain has a closed guard, preventing Mikhailov from standing up.
Cain throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Cain looking for a sweep. Not yet Cain, not yet.
Cain keeping moving, preventing Mikhailov from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Cain drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Mikhailov manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mikhailov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cain scores with a couple of nice shots.
Mikhailov is trying to control but can't.
Cain scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Mikhailov looks like he's trying to stand up.
Cain missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Baio Cain is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cain working Mikhailov over with strikes.

Mikhailov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cain pulls his head out easily.
Mikhailov tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Cain shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Alik Mikhailov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cain is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Baio Cain comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cain winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Baio Cain!