PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Marco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitali Zaitsef (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marco comes to the cage accompanied by Let the bodies hit the floor. Zaitsef has chosen Mother Puncher - Mastodon as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Cain Marco has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Marco
vs
Zaitsef

191 cm
27
265 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

194 cm
20
275 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cain Marco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vitali Zaitsef!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Vladimir Khabensky and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marco fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Zaitsef.
Marco defending well as Zaitsef loads up on a big left hand.
Zaitsef misses with a right hand

and Marco counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zaitsef won't be happy with that.
Marco scores with a couple of short elbows.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marco working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Marco has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Marco looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Zaitsef is avoiding damage well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zaitsef manages to work his way to half guard, despite Marco's best efforts.
Marco seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marco not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Marco lands a nice short elbow.
Marco performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Marco works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaitsef is in a horrible position here. Marco smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Zaitsef slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Zaitsef avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Marco.
Zaitsef is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Marco misses with a head shot. Zaitsef uses the momentum to regain guard.
Marco with a nice head shot there.
Marco postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Zaitsef trying to keep a closed guard but Marco is proving a slippery customer.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Marco is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaitsef throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Marco prevents Zaitsef from getting back to his feet.
Zaitsef preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Zaitsef has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Marco can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Marco working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Zaitsef keeping moving, preventing Marco from controlling successfully.
Marco wants to pass the guard but Zaitsef is keeping the position.
Marco postures up.
Marco lands a couple of digs.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zaitsef can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marco trying to control but Zaitsef is working from the bottom.
Marco distracts Zaitsef with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Zaitsef is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Marco defends well.
Zaitsef working a defensive guard but Marco manages to pass into side control anyway.
Marco landing a few strikes.
Zaitsef wants to get back to his feet but Marco is dominant here and he's now got Zaitsef's back!
Marco is punishing Zaitsef with strikes - can he finish him?!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zaitsef grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.

Zaitsef is rocked!
Marco is scoring with a succession of shots from the back. Zaitsef is covering up - he's had enough and the ref steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:04 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Cain Marco!