PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Marius Dabija (ranked 4076 p4p, 4222 weight class) and Baysangur Makaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dabija comes to the cage accompanied by Hajime no Ippo Intro 3. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Dabija
vs
Makaev

176 cm
20
150
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
155
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 Rio de Janeiro, Marius Dabija!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Baysangur Makaev!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Luis Engracia and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Makaev closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Makaev will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Dabija up against the cage.
Dabija tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Dabija tries to pull guard but Makaev forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Come on Dabija - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Dabija jumps guard and drags Makaev to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makaev is looking to advance position but Dabija has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Dabija content just to control the position here.
Makaev tries to hold on but Dabija pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dabija trying to control but Makaev is having none of it.
Makaev working to try and regain half guard.
Dabija can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Makaev is looking to escape.
Makaev holds of for dear life.

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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dabija can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Makaev is looking to escape.
Makaev is looking to improve his position but Dabija isn't that keen on the idea.
Dabija controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dabija sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Makaev tries to hold on but Dabija postures up.
Dabija tries to control but Makaev wriggling away.
Makaev wants to control but Dabija is having none of it.
Makaev throwing hammer fists to the chest of Dabija. What's that going to do exactly?

That's four 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.
Makaev working to try and regain half guard.
Makaev wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Dabija looking to control but Makaev is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Dabija breaks from Makaev's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dabija throwing strikes here but Makaev is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marius Dabija dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dabija feints and as Makaev raises his hands in defense, Dabija changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Makaev striking off his back but it's not causing Dabija any problems.
Dabija looking to pass the guard.
Makaev keeping moving, preventing Dabija from controlling successfully.
Dabija controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makaev wants to stand up but Dabija is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dabija with a flurry of punches that miss.
Makaev lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Dabija had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Makaev defends it easily.
Dabija is trying to keep Makaev in close.
Makaev controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dabija working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Makaev doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Makaev manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Makaev showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Makaev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makaev scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Makaev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dabija is keeping the position for now.
Makaev wants to stand and escape but instead Dabija has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Makaev throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Marius Dabija overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dabija stops Makaev from standing up.
Makaev looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dabija stops Makaev from standing up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Some wild striking there from Makaev.

Makaev closes the distance and clinches.
A frustrated look appears on Makaev's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Dabija jumps guard but Makaev stands there with Dabija around his waist. Dabija gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Makaev has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Dabija uses from the top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dabija stops Makaev from standing up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Baysangur Makaev will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Dabija shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Makaev's guard.
Dabija trying to control the position from guard on top but Makaev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dabija tries to free his leg and advance position but Makaev is retaining full guard.
Dabija passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Dabija is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Makaev can do to turn this around?

Dabija wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Makaev, who protects the arm well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dabija looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dabija tries for a kimura but Makaev is defending well.
Makaev isn't going anywhere.
Dabija working away.

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

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.
Dabija trying to control the action but Makaev is working from the bottom.
Makaev is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Dabija is controlling him well.
Dabija in side control lands a decent elbow.

Dabija has hold of Makaev's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Makaev tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Dabija cranks the arm and Makaev screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Makaev, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Marius Dabija!
During a confident post fight interview, Marius Dabija thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.