PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Luka Rains (ranked 4910 p4p, 5123 weight class) and Abdul Kaloev (ranked 0 p4p, 455 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.

Rains
vs
Kaloev

180 cm
23
185
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
23
185
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Luka Rains!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Abdul Kaloev!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, William Peck and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rains changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kaloev looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kaloev is looking to regain half guard here but Rains keeps moving and retains side control.
A lull in the action here.
Kaloev sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Kaloev tries to get to full guard but Rains has control of the leg.
Rains is taking a breather. Kaloev 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.

Rains is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kaloev sees it coming and defends easily.
Kaloev regains full guard. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rains stays in close to Kaloev's body and controls the position.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Kaloev has eaten all the pies!
Kaloev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kaloev trying to pass the guard but Rains defending well.
Rains knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kaloev on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaloev is keen to just control but Rains is a slippery customer.

Kaloev is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rains is just riding it out for now. Kaloev eventually gives up the hold.
Rains tries to get to full guard but Kaloev has control of the leg.
Kaloev works his way into full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kaloev with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Kaloev tries to control but Rains wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaloev avoids the attempt from Rains to control.
Rains holds on for dear life, controlling Kaloev's posture momentarily.
Rains tries to lock up and control but Kaloev gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kaloev trying to control but Rains is having none of it.
Rains is looking to get to half guard.
Kaloev looking to control but Rains is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rains wants to hold on but Kaloev pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaloev trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Kaloev working for a submission but Rains is keeping him at bay.
Kaloev wants to control the action but instead Rains gets a body lock and reverses into Kaloev's guard! Nice work!

Kaloev has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rains can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rains has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kaloev is on top in guard.

Kaloev wants to pass the guard but Rains is keeping the position.
Rains looking for a sweep. Not yet Rains, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaloev slips nicely into half guard.
Rains trying to hold on to Kaloev's head to control him but Kaloev postures up.

Kaloev is looking for a kimura but Rains is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kaloev to get the leverage.
Kaloev wants to free his trapped foot but Rains is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rains is trying to stand up here but Kaloev is controlling him well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kaloev thows a huge punch but Rains dodges it nicely.
Kaloev works his foot free and advances to mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rains is squirming around, avoiding Kaloev's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kaloev gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Abdul Kaloev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kaloev lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kaloev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Rains manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Kaloev swats away the attempt to clinch by Rains.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rains shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kaloev is trying to defend but Rains finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rains perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rains not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kaloev trying to hold on to Rains's head to control him but Rains postures up.
Kaloev is pressing down on Rains's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kaloev is trying to control the position but Rains postures up.
Kaloev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kaloev passes to full mount!
Kaloev trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rains wants to control but Kaloev is having none of it.
Kaloev throws some wild stikes that Rains manages to avoid easily.
Kaloev tries to control but Rains wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaloev unloads with some shots from mount but Rains bucks and avoids them well.
Kaloev can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rains is looking to escape.
Kaloev punching from mount but Rains doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Kaloev looking to control but Rains is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kaloev is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Rains keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kaloev is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Rains has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Rains!
Kaloev bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rains's guard.

Kaloev trying to control the position from guard on top but Rains is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kaloev wants to pass the guard but Rains is keeping the position.

Rains is looking for a triangle but Kaloev pushes his legs off easily.

Kaloev drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Kaloev seems to have locked his on tight now - Rains screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Kaloev, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Abdul Kaloev!