PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alexei Kaliniev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cumpadi Waxinton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kaliniev
vs
Waxinton

176 cm
25
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexei Kaliniev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cumpadi Waxinton!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Cecil Peabody and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Waxinton lands a jab.
Kaliniev fails with the takedown
and Waxinton counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Some wild striking there from Waxinton.
Waxinton tries to clinch but Kaliniev moves out of range.
Waxinton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kaliniev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Waxinton with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kaliniev stuffs the takedown.
Waxinton scores with a sloppy right hand. Kaliniev should have avoided that one.
Waxinton cracks a nice hook into Kaliniev's ribs.
Waxinton tests Kaliniev's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cumpadi Waxinton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Waxinton scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waxinton with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kaliniev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Waxinton works over Kaliniev's head and body with a nice combination.
Kaliniev takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Waxinton's corner calls for a 1-2. Waxinton obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Waxinton, as that shot connected.
Waxinton has his takedown stuffed

and Kaliniev decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Waxinton's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Waxinton scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Waxinton misses with an uppercut. Kaliniev saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaliniev takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kaliniev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Waxinton as he jumps to the side.

Waxinton fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kaliniev sprawls well initially but Waxinton persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Waxinton not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Waxinton seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kaliniev does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Waxinton is taking a breather. Kaliniev says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Kaliniev keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kaliniev blocking the ground and pound attempt from Waxinton.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaliniev blocking the ground and pound attempt from Waxinton.
Waxinton is trying to control. Kaliniev wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Cumpadi Waxinton has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Waxinton tries for a takedown but Kaliniev sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Alexei Kaliniev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cumpadi Waxinton.
Waxinton gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kaliniev counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Waxinton looks gassed!
Kaliniev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kaliniev makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kaliniev is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kaliniev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Waxinton works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kaliniev throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kaliniev landing with the ground and pound.
Kaliniev 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.
Kaliniev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Waxinton works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kaliniev with a flurry of punches that miss.
Waxinton avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kaliniev throwing strikes from guard but Waxinton blocks nicely.
Kaliniev throwing strikes from guard but Waxinton blocks nicely.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kaliniev thows a big elbow that misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kaliniev throwing strikes but missing.
Kaliniev distracts Waxinton with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cumpadi Waxinton dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Waxinton punishes Kaliniev's body with a nice straight punch.
Nice takedown defense from Waxinton. No joy for Kaliniev on that attempt.
Kaliniev takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Waxinton moves into range and clinches up with Kaliniev.
Waxinton taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Waxinton has hold of one of Kaliniev's legs. Kaliniev is fighting the takedown attempt but Waxinton gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Waxinton is stalling in the full guard.
Waxinton throws a big right hand that misses.

Kaliniev scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Waxinton closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Waxinton stands up from half guard.
Waxinton shoots in but no luck this time.
Waxinton is breathing heavily.
Waxinton connects with the punch.
Waxinton swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Waxinton misses with a double jab

and Kaliniev counters with a shoot takedown. Waxinton fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kaliniev lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Waxinton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kaliniev.
Kaliniev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kaliniev scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kaliniev throws a big right hand that misses.
Kaliniev stands up over Waxinton, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kaliniev with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kaliniev connects with a couple of short punches.
Kaliniev lands a couple of elbows.
Kaliniev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kaliniev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kaliniev distracts Waxinton with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kaliniev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaliniev postures up and lands a big shot to Waxinton's brow.
Kaliniev postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kaliniev landing some decent shots from guard.
Kaliniev postures up in Waxinton's guard and throws a big left but Waxinton blocks it.
Kaliniev postures up in Waxinton's guard and throws a big left but Waxinton blocks it.
Kaliniev advances position into side control!
Kaliniev scoring with punches from side control.
Kaliniev has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Kaliniev with shots to the head and body - Waxinton looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaliniev postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Waxinton looks a forlorn figure.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kaliniev landing strikes from the mount.
A nice elbow there by Kaliniev.
Waxinton really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kaliniev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kaliniev punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kaliniev postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Waxinton looks a forlorn figure.
The referee warns Waxinton that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kaliniev fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Kaliniev with the ground and pound from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexei Kaliniev dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Kaliniev closes this distance looking for a takedown but Waxinton circles away.
Waxinton bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kaliniev's head backwards.
Some wild striking there from Waxinton.
Waxinton scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Waxinton shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Waxinton was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Kaliniev bucks up and throws Waxinton to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Kaliniev tries to score a power double leg takedown but Waxinton sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kaliniev somewhat.
Waxinton shoots in looking for a takedown. Kaliniev tries to sprawl out of it but Waxinton keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kaliniev manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waxinton misses with a wild combination.
Waxinton looks for a takedown but Kaliniev sprawls well.
Waxinton throws a series of punches but Kaliniev moves out of range.
Kaliniev blocks a jab.
Waxinton tries for a takedown but Kaliniev sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Alexei Kaliniev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cumpadi Waxinton.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Waxinton misses with the combination.
Kaliniev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Waxinton counters with a straight right hand.
Cumpadi Waxinton seems to be getting the better of the standup.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kaliniev.
The fight stays on the outside here - Waxinton looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Waxinton misses with an uppercut. Kaliniev saw that one coming.
Waxinton just misses with a punch to the body.
Waxinton misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kaliniev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waxinton looks to score with a jab to the body but Kaliniev is just out of range.
Waxinton stuns Kaliniev with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kaliniev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Waxinton is fending him off so far but Kaliniev persists. Nope, Waxinton circles away and we're back to standing.
Kaliniev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Waxinton pinned against the cage. Waxinton gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Waxinton misses with a jab, cross combination.
Waxinton misses with an uppercut. Kaliniev saw that one coming.

Kaliniev closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Waxinton did well to prevent Kaliniev getting side control.
Kaliniev not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Waxinton wants to get back to his feet.
Kaliniev slips a nice elbow through Waxinton's hands, connecting with Waxinton's forehead.
Kaliniev landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kaliniev is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Waxinton is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kaliniev scores with a couple of nice shots.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kaliniev is nestled in close to Waxinton, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Kaliniev working the head and body with strikes.
Waxinton is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kaliniev scores with a couple of nice shots.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kaliniev passes the guard and advances to mount!
Waxinton's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

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 Alexei Kaliniev.
I think Kaliniev has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexei Kaliniev!