PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marat Gafurov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jamari Caram (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gafurov's entrance music is Queen – I Want To Break Free. A fine choice. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Gafurov
vs
Caram

175 cm
25
154 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

168 cm
20
155 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Mohito Fightwear
GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marat Gafurov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jamari Caram!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Caram misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Caram looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gafurov feinted with a counter takedown.
Caram explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Caram tries to land a front kick but Gafurov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gafurov shoots in and drives through. Caram sprawls well.
Jab from Gafurov.
Gafurov scores with a punch to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Caram motions for Gafurov to come forward. Caram throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Caram misses with a double jab.
A slow jab from Gafurov misses its intended target.
Gafurov slips a jab and a cross from Caram.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caram misses with a body shot.
Caram throws a chopping leg kick but Gafurov manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Gafurov scores with a nice right hand.
Gafurov has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

Gafurov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Caram did well to prevent Gafurov getting side control.
Gafurov wants to pass the guard but Caram is defending well.
Caram gets back to full guard.
Gafurov passes into half guard.

Gafurov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Caram wants to improve his position but Gafurov is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gafurov trying to pass the guard but Caram defending well.
Caram is controlling Gafurov's trapped leg to prevent Gafurov from advancing to side control.
Caram really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gafurov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gafurov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Caram knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Caram trying to control but Gafurov postures up.
Caram won't allow Gafurov to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gafurov prevents Caram from improving his position.
Gafurov is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Gafurov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Gafurov has gone for a leg lock! Caram slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gafurov's guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gafurov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Caram wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gafurov is looking to advance position but Caram won't allow it.

Gafurov seems to be looking for submissions.

Gafurov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Caram is just riding it out for now. Gafurov eventually gives up the hold.
Gafurov has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Caram wants to hold on but Gafurov pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marat Gafurov dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Caram lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gafurov's sensitive parts.
Caram throws a leg kick but Gafurov moved away.
Gafurov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gafurov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Caram as he avoids it easily.
Caram throws a sloppy head kick and Gafurov moves out of range easily.
Gafurov tries to counter with a takedown but Caram is quick to defend against it.
Gafurov checks a low kick from Caram.
Gafurov thows a left - swing and a miss!

Gafurov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Gafurov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Caram sees it coming and defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gafurov wants to work for an arm triangle but Caram is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gafurov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Gafurov is looking to stall here but Caram recovers full guard.
Gafurov trying to control the position from guard on top but Caram is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Caram can't keep his opponent in guard - Gafurov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

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.
Caram moves into full guard.
Caram keeping moving, preventing Gafurov from controlling successfully.
Gafurov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Caram can do to turn this around?

Gafurov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gafurov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Caram keeping full guard, as Gafurov tries to pass.
Gafurov wants to control from the top but Caram keeps moving.
Gafurov advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caram is staying active underneath Gafurov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gafurov trying to mount his opponent but Caram defends it.
Caram tries to roll over but Gafurov keeps him under control.
Gafurov trying to control the action but Caram is working from the bottom.
Caram trying to hold on to Gafurov's head to control him but Gafurov postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Gafurov goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Caram uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gafurov.
Caram finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Caram tries to clinch there but Gafurov circles away.
Gafurov throws a jab but it's blocked by Caram.
Caram throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Caram misses with a low kick.
A head kick by Caram misses

and Gafurov counters with a single leg into guard. Caram didn't expect that.
Gafurov is pushing down on Caram's leg trying to pass to half guard. Caram is fighting to maintain full guard but Gafurov has managed to sneak the leg through.
Caram trying to control but Gafurov postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gafurov trying to control the action but Caram is working from the bottom.
Gafurov wants to pass to mount but Caram is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marat Gafurov dominated that second 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Caram tries to land a front kick but Gafurov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Good standup being displayed there by Gafurov as he connects with a hook.
Caram misses with a looping left.
A decent looking cross lands there for Gafurov.
Caram turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Gafurov scores with the left hand. Caram knows he should have avoided that one.
Caram throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gafurov avoids a kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Caram throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gafurov feinted with a counter takedown.
Caram scores with a leg kick.
Jamari Caram seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gafurov bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Caram's head backwards.
Caram misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gafurov darts in looking for a takedown but Caram gets double underhooks and turns Gafurov into the cage.
Caram wants to counter with a clinch but Gafurov pushes him away.
Gafurov digs a good hook to Caram's body.
Caram tried to score with a low kick but Gafurov checks it.
Gafurov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Jamari Caram is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd cheers as Gafurov lands an impressive looking overhand right. Caram doesn't seem phased though.
Caram tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gafurov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A head kick misses from Caram.
Caram throws a sloppy head kick and Gafurov moves out of range easily.
Gafurov drops down looking for a counter takedown but Caram sprawls and moves away.
Good leg kick by Caram there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Caram throws a wild body kick that Gafurov sees coming a mile off.
A clash of legs there as Gafurov blocks the low kick.
Gafurov takes a swing at Caram's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Caram thuds his right hand into Gafurov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Caram lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Caram throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Caram showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gafurov.
Gafurov sets himself, and Caram steps forward looking for the clinch! Gafurov avoids it this time.
Gafurov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Caram defends it nicely.
Caram connects with a looping right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Caram slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caram throws a sloppy head kick and Gafurov moves out of range easily.

Gafurov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Gafurov trying to pass the guard but Caram defending well.
Gafurov passes to side control.

Gafurov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Caram has escaped the position, nice work there.

Gafurov goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Caram rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Gafurov's guard! Nice work there by Caram!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gafurov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Marat Gafurov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Marat Gafurov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Caram stopping the sweep attempt from Gafurov.
Gafurov keeping full guard, as Caram tries to pass.
Caram won't allow Gafurov to sweep him here.
Jamari Caram has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gafurov is trying to control the position but Caram postures up.
Caram stopping the sweep attempt from Gafurov.
Caram lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gafurov is on top in guard.

This has been an exciting period of action!
Gafurov trying to control but Caram is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jamari Caram.
I think Gafurov 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marat Gafurov!
In his post fight interview, Marat Gafurov gave a big smile as he said 'I wanna rematch with Kowalchuk!'.