PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Stanislaus Kasava (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eli Gull (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kasava comes to the cage accompanied by Faith No More - As The Worm Turns. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kasava
vs
Gull

175 cm
24
156 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

172 cm
28
148 lbs
14 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Shorts a [JMFC] Joint

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 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Stanislaus Kasava!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Eli Gull!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Matheus Silva and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gull changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kasava looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kasava is looking to regain half guard here but Gull keeps moving and retains side control.
Kasava managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Gull.
Kasava is not content to let Gull control the position.
Kasava stops Gull from passing to mount.

Gull looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gull has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kasava is not content to let Gull control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kasava can't do much from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kasava explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Kasava throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gull throws the left hand but Kasava avoids the punch easily.
A combination from Kasava does no damage.
Gull misses with a body punch
and Kasava makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Gull moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Gull lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Stanislaus Kasava has been cut.
Gull's corner calls for a 1-2. Gull obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kasava throws a right hand that misses

and Gull counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gull.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gull is pushing down on Kasava's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kasava is fighting to maintain full guard but Gull has managed to sneak the leg through.
Gull is just content to waste time from the top position. Kasava takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Kasava controlling Gull's posture.

Gull postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kasava is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gull, into his guard.
Kasava slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gull wants to improve his position but instead Kasava has moved into half guard.
Gull is looking to improve his position.
Kasava looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Gull looking for submissions off his back.

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.
Gull is trying to stand up here but Kasava is controlling him well.
Kasava keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Gull trying to get back to full guard but Kasava takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kasava controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Gull dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Stanislaus Kasava's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gull scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Kasava takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A shot to the body from Kasava misses

and Gull counters with a single leg into guard. Kasava didn't expect that.
Kasava keeping full guard, as Gull tries to pass.

Gull has gone for a leg lock! Kasava slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gull's guard.
Kasava pushes down on Gull's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Gull is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kasava's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kasava's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kasava staying busy and making it hard for Gull to control.
Gull keeps control of the position as Kasava tries to break free.
Kasava just trying to survive but Gull is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Gull tightening his grip on Kasava, looking for the choke.
Kasava is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gull controlling well, preventing Kasava from escaping the position.
Kasava wants to get back to his feet.

Kasava preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Gull.

Gull tightening his grip on Kasava, looking for the choke.

Gull patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Gull controlling the positon.

Gull seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Kasava's chin but Kasava turns very nicely into Gull's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Kasava.
Gull looking for a sweep. Not yet Gull, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Kasava got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gull has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kasava has managed to get both his arms back between Gull's legs - danger averted.
Gull looking for a sweep. Not yet Gull, not yet.

Gull escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kasava gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Gull working for a triangle but Kasava defends it easily.
Gull is looking to stand up but Kasava isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Gull showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Stanislaus Kasava's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kasava lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Gull misses with a takedown attempt
and Kasava counters with a nice body shot.
Kasava rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gull moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kasava throws a right hand that misses

and Gull counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gull works his foot free and advances to mount.

Gull swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Kasava is now in Gull's guard. A big mistake from Gull there, giving up the dominant position!
Kasava trying to control but Gull is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kasava stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gull swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kasava looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kasava wants to control from the top but Gull keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Stanislaus Kasava has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Gull takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kasava scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Gull fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kasava checks it well.
Kasava scores with a crisp jab that stopped Gull in his tracks.
Gull has his takedown stuffed
and Kasava counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kasava walks into a stiff left hand from Gull.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Gull tenderised Kasava's leg. Kasava is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kasava fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gull manages to avoid it.
Kasava lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Gull at a distance.
Kasava swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gull falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kasava counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gull takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kasava misses with a hook
and Gull counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kasava thinking.
Gull shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kasava defends it nicely.
Stanislaus Kasava has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eli Gull.
Gull misses with a wild body shot.
Eli Gull is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gull connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Stanislaus Kasava has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kasava scores with a jab.
Kasava misses with a few strikes there.
Gull keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gull has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kasava finds it's way round the side to connect with Gull's head.
Stanislaus Kasava is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gull lands a leg kick that knocks Kasava off balance momentarily.
Stanislaus Kasava is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gull lands a body shot.
Gull fails to land the takedown.
Kasava throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gull counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kasava falls off balance throwing a combination
and Gull cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kasava misses with a wild body shot.
Gull shoots in looking for a takedown. Kasava tries to sprawl out of it but Gull keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kasava manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Stanislaus Kasava.
I think Gull 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eli Gull!