PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Carwyn Cain (ranked 2570 p4p, 0 weight class) and Magomed Shamhalaev (ranked 5862 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cain
vs
Shamhalaev

175 cm
25
154 lbs
4 - 1 - 1

175 cm
25
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Big heart

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

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 4 - 1 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Carwyn Cain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Magomed Shamhalaev!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Peter Branson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cain tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shamhalaev tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cain sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Shamhalaev somewhat.
Shamhalaev tries to clinch but Cain is having none of it.
Cain tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shamhalaev looks for a takedown but Cain sprawls well.
Cain misses with an attempted mid kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shamhalaev throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cain thinks about countering with a body kick.
Cain throws a leg kick that is checked

and Shamhalaev counters with a shoot takedown. Cain fights it but they end up in guard.
Cain working a defensive guard here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cain is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cain postures up and lands a big shot to Shamhalaev's brow.
Cain throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shamhalaev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cain trying to control the position from guard on top but Shamhalaev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shamhalaev has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Cain 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.
Shamhalaev can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cain controls the pace.
Cain connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Shamhalaev preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cain trying to control but Shamhalaev is working from the bottom.
Shamhalaev controls Cain momentarily but Cain frees himself.
Cain prevents Shamhalaev from getting back to his feet.
Cain wants to control from the top but Shamhalaev keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cain is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Shamhalaev has a takedown stuffed.
Cain feinted with a counter takedown.
Carwyn Cain has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Magomed Shamhalaev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cain tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Shamhalaev shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Cain is trying to defend but Shamhalaev finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Cain is trying to control but can't.
Cain has his hands clasped together around Shamhalaev's back. He's all about the action.

Cain looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Shamhalaev wants to advance to full mount but Cain doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cain looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Shamhalaev has picked Cain up and slammed him! Cain can't keep hold of the triangle and Shamhalaev manages to pass to side control!
Cain wants to control but Shamhalaev postures up.
Cain is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Shamhalaev off and has taken his back!
Shamhalaev is trying to break free.
Cain looking to soften up his opponent with punches.

Cain has got his arm under Shamhalaev's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Shamhalaev has spun round into Cain's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shamhalaev wants to control from the top but Cain keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Carwyn Cain will probably get the nod.
That's time! Cain's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cain circles away from the clinch attempt.
Shamhalaev tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cain sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Shamhalaev somewhat.
Cain throws a push kick but Shamhalaev slaps the foot to one side.
Cain displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Shamhalaev.
Shamhalaev thows a leg kick but Cain checks it

and Cain counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Shamhalaev!
Cain trying to control the action but Shamhalaev is working from the bottom.
Magomed Shamhalaev has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shamhalaev is looking for a sweep.
Cain lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cain wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shamhalaev keeps working.
Shamhalaev is looking to regain half guard here but Cain keeps moving and retains side control.
Cain trying to control the action but Shamhalaev is working from the bottom.

Cain tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Cain is looking to take a break and control but Shamhalaev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Cain tries to advance to mount but can't.
Cain trying to control the action but Shamhalaev is working from the bottom.

Cain tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cain has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Cain working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shamhalaev wants to control but Cain postures up.
Cain trying to control the position but Shamhalaev is working away.

Cain looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Shamhalaev is trying to get back to half guard.
Shamhalaev is still trying to improve position.
Cain wants to control but Shamhalaev is keeping him busy.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Shamhalaev blocks a head kick by Cain.
Cain misses with a head kick.
Shamhalaev tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cain defends well and Shamhalaev ends up having to push Cain into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Carwyn Cain has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Magomed Shamhalaev.
Shamhalaev misses with a few strikes there.
Cain changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Cain misses with an attempted mid kick.
Cain throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Shamhalaev counters with a shoot takedown. Cain fights it but they end up in guard.
Cain on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cain tries to get out of the position.

Cain working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Shamhalaev doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Shamhalaev manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cain looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Shamhalaev puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shamhalaev content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carwyn Cain dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Shamhalaev is looking to clinch but Cain is avoiding it.
Shamhalaev checks a low kick from Cain.

Shamhalaev scores with a takedown into Cain's guard.
Cain trying to keep a closed guard but Shamhalaev is proving a slippery customer.

Cain throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Cain is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Shamhalaev is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cain wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cain is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shamhalaev forces his way into half guard.

Cain is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Shamhalaev pulls his head out easily.

Shamhalaev looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Cain blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shamhalaev.

That's two 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.
Cain blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shamhalaev.
Shamhalaev passes to full mount!
Cain is desperately trying to improve his position but Shamhalaev has a good base and remains in mount.
Shamhalaev throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Cain because Shamhalaev loaded up on that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cain is wriggling around trying to escape.
Shamhalaev looking to control but Cain is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Shamhalaev has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Cain's face.

Shamhalaev goes for an armbar but Cain turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Cain.
Cain wants to control from the top but Shamhalaev keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shamhalaev avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Shamhalaev has Cain pulled in close to control his posture.
Let's hope that Shamhalaev has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Cain distracts Shamhalaev with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Shamhalaev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shamhalaev is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Cain reverses the position - he's now on top in Shamhalaev's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Magomed Shamhalaev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cain 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!