PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Azad Bekzod (ranked 986 p4p, 1282 weight class) and Heraclio Cabrera (ranked 138 p4p, 171 weight class). Bekzod comes to the cage accompanied by "Weird" Al Yankovic - Amish Paradise. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bekzod
vs
Cabrera

183 cm
22
174
7 - 2 - 0

182 cm
22
178
4 - 0 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Groove Gear

FF Gear
Sakura Style

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Azad Bekzod!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Heraclio Cabrera!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Ian Loll and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bekzod tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cabrera manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cabrera let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Bekzod with a hook.

It looks like Heraclio Cabrera has been cut.
Cabrera throws a half hearted mid kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Bekzod misses the target.
Azad Bekzod seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cabrera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bekzod is looking to clinch but Cabrera is avoiding it.
Bekzod throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Cabrera on the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bekzod gets a clinch.
Cabrera tries to pull guard but Bekzod holds him up against the cage and eventually Cabrera drops back down to his feet.

Cabrera pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bekzod fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Cabrera on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bekzod throws an overhand right that lands on Cabrera's shoulder, as Cabrera tries to avoid the shot.
Cabrera throws a body kick that misses
and Bekzod counters with a right hand to the body.
Bekzod swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Cabrera counters with a leg kick.
Cabrera misses with an attempted mid kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Bekzod misses the target.

Bekzod clinches.
Cabrera misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cabrera fails to pull guard.
Cabrera tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bekzod just stands there and leans against the cage.
Azad Bekzod has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Heraclio Cabrera.
Bekzod scores with a shot to the side of Cabrera's head.
Cabrera misses with a punch to the body.
I was talking to Bekzod's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Bekzod goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bekzod misses with a body punch.
Cabrera working aggressively here.
Bekzod misses with a body punch.

Cabrera breaks from the clinch.
Cabrera keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
It looked like Bekzod wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Bekzod lands a nice shot that snaps Cabrera's head back.
Cabrera misses with an uppercut.
Bekzod was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bekzod. Cabrera does a little dance to reset his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bekzod swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bekzod lands a jab.

Bekzod moves into the clinch.

Cabrera pulls guard effortlessly.

Cabrera pushes Bekzod off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bekzod closes the distance looking to clinch
and Cabrera counters with a good low kick that Bekzod was not able to check.
Cabrera throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Bekzod throws a shot from downtown. Cabrera moves away and avoids it.
Cabrera throws out a counter right but Bekzod avoids it with no problem.
Bekzod misses with a body kick.
Cabrera looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bekzod scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Cabrera tests Bekzod's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bekzod throws a sloppy body shot
and Cabrera counters with a stiff right hand.
Cabrera looks to throw the jab but Bekzod is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera wants to land a leg kick but Bekzod is out of range.
Bekzod throwing a counter right hand but Cabrera manages to avoid it.
Bekzod throws a poor cross that misses
and Cabrera counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bekzod lands a jab.
Bekzod throws a shot from downtown. Cabrera moves away and avoids it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bekzod swings for the body but Cabrera moves out of range.
Cabrera throws a body punch but Bekzod moves out of range.
Bekzod misses with a straight left.
Bekzod wants to clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Azad Bekzod will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Heraclio Cabrera's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cabrera scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Bekzod on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Cabrera misses with a body kick.
Cabrera keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bekzod.
Cabrera only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Bekzod lands a jab to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bekzod scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Cabrera misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cabrera moves out of range of the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bekzod moves in looking to clinch but Cabrera pushes him off.
Bekzod blocks a head kick by Cabrera.
Bekzod wants to clinch up but Cabrera keeps it at a distance.
Cabrera moves away from the strike by Bekzod.
Bekzod defending well as Cabrera loads up on a big left hand.
A head kick from Cabrera lands but Bekzod takes it in his stride.
Cabrera takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A nice inside leg kick there by Cabrera. That's going to slow Bekzod down.
Cabrera uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bekzod.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera tries a head kick but it misses.
Bekzod throwing a counter right hand but Cabrera manages to avoid it.
Bekzod bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Cabrera's head backwards.
Bekzod with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Cabrera displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bekzod throws out the jab.
A punch lands to the side of Cabrera 's head but he takes it in his stride.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Bekzod rushes Cabrera and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cabrera.
Cabrera's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Bekzod misses with a punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cabrera.
Bekzod misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bekzod working aggressively here.
Bekzod prevents a body shot from Cabrera.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Bekzod.
Bekzod lands a hook to the side of the head.
Bekzod tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A nice left hand lands by Cabrera.
A left hand lands to the body for Bekzod.

Cabrera breaks the clinch.
Cabrera connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Bekzod moves out of range of the body kick from Cabrera.
Bekzod misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cabrera.
Bekzod lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Cabrera swats away the attempt to clinch by Bekzod.
Cabrera is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Bekzod ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Azad Bekzod is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Bekzod cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cabrera uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bekzod.
A telegraphed right hand from Bekzod misses the target.
Cabrera steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Cabrera thumps Bekzod with a low kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cabrera on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Bekzod wants to clinch.
A good leg kick by Cabrera.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Azad Bekzod dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Heraclio Cabrera's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Bekzod throws a big shot that misses.
As Bekzod backs off Cabrera throws a huge counter combo but Bekzod manages to avoid it all.
Heraclio Cabrera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cabrera avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A slow jab from Cabrera misses its intended target.
Cabrera throws a hook but Bekzod blocks it.
Bekzod scores with a body shot.

Bekzod drives through and clinches with Cabrera against the cage.
Bekzod working some nice short punches in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bekzod tries a body shot but Cabrera blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Cabrera fails to land.
Bekzod misses with a body punch.
Bekzod working aggressively here.

Cabrera drags the fight down to the ground.
Bekzod showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Cabrera is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cabrera is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bekzod prevents Cabrera from getting back to his feet.

Cabrera has his foot on Bekzod's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bekzod works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bekzod stops Cabrera from standing up.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cabrera looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Cabrera is looking for a triangle here but Bekzod uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Cabrera is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Bekzod is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Bekzod avoids the strikes from the bottom by Cabrera.
Cabrera is pushing Bekzod's head away, looking to escape. Bekzod manages to hold on to the position though.
Cabrera trying to remain calm as Bekzod controls from the top position.
Cabrera wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cabrera lands a glancing blow to the side of Bekzod's head.
A shot to the liver by Bekzod. Beautiful body shot.
Bekzod misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cabrera.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bekzod wants to clinch but Cabrera slips to the side
and Cabrera counters with a leg kick.
Cabrera walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Bekzod checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A counter left hand to the body from Bekzod misses its target.
Bekzod slips under a jab from Cabrera.
Cabrera misses with a left hand
and Bekzod counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Bekzod fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Cabrera on the side of the head.
Bekzod lands a jab to the nose.
Cabrera shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Jab, jab by Bekzod - just one landing.
Azad Bekzod is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Bekzod tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cabrera manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A little jabbing left from Cabrera on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cabrera gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Bekzod counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cabrera pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Bekzod showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cabrera.
A little feinted left hand from Bekzod on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Cabrera walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Good shot there by Bekzod.

And that's the end of the fight!
Azad Bekzod showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bekzod, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Azad Bekzod!
A relieved looking Azad Bekzod thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.