PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pete Cain (ranked 5333 p4p, 473 weight class) and Ruslan Tagirbekov (ranked 6061 p4p, 498 weight class). Tagirbekov is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Sabina Saidova - Dagestan. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cain
vs
Tagirbekov

196 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Pete Cain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ruslan Tagirbekov!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Summer Carpenter and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tagirbekov just misses with a punch to the body.
Cain wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Tagirbekov doesn't manage to clinch there - Cain circles away.
Cain wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Cain moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Tagirbekov lands a nice looking body shot.
Tagirbekov throws out a powerful jab.
Tagirbekov lands with a good body shot.
Tagirbekov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tagirbekov scores with a jab.
Tagirbekov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Cain looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Tagirbekov cracks Cain with a right hand to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tagirbekov looks to score with a jab to the body but Cain is just out of range.
Cain throws a big counter combination but Tagirbekov scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cain takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Cain showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tagirbekov.
Cain appears to be looking for a big counter.
Good standup being displayed there by Tagirbekov as he connects with a hook.
Cain takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Tagirbekov digs a good body shot into Cain's ribs.
Cain takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Ruslan Tagirbekov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tagirbekov throws a nice looking combination but Cain bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cain feinted with a counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cain takes one on the button.
Tagirbekov scores with a decent looking hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tagirbekov's jab looks to have found its range, popping Cain under the eye.
Tagirbekov just misses with a punch to the body.
Tagirbekov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tagirbekov jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

Tagirbekov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Tagirbekov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tagirbekov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cain backwards.
Tagirbekov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cain walks away with a smile on his face. Tagirbekov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Cain drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cain takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Tagirbekov lands with a shot to the body.
Cain takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Tagirbekov lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Tagirbekov tries to bum rush Cain with a series of wild strikes but Cain uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tagirbekov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Good shot there by Tagirbekov.

Tagirbekov closes the distance and clinches.
Tagirbekov is trying to pull guard but Cain turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Cain is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Tagirbekov.
Tagirbekov displaying some good clinch control by pressing Cain up against the cage.
Tagirbekov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Tagirbekov's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Tagirbekov's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Tagirbekov tries to pull guard but Cain holds him up against the cage and eventually Tagirbekov drops back down to his feet.
Pete Cain has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruslan Tagirbekov.
Tagirbekov slows down the pace here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Ruslan Tagirbekov.
Tagirbekov cracks Cain with an open hand slap.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruslan Tagirbekov dominated that 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.

Cain takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Cain takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Cain takes a jab right on the kisser.
Tagirbekov lands with a straight right. Cain didn't see that one coming.
Tagirbekov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Tagirbekov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Tagirbekov catches Cain with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Tagirbekov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cain stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Tagirbekov just misses with a punch to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Cain gets tackled into the cage by Tagirbekov. Tagirbekov maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tagirbekov lands a right hand.
Cain tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Cain on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cain looking to stall.
Cain is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Cain letting Tagirbekov take a breather here.
Cain connects with a knee to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Cain's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Tagirbekov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cain just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cain throws a knee to the head but misses.

Tagirbekov pulls guard.
Cain trying to control the position from guard on top but Tagirbekov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cain controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cain is sitting in close to Tagirbekov's body. Tagirbekov has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Cain is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Cain is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Tagirbekov.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Ruslan Tagirbekov!
In his post fight interview, Ruslan Tagirbekov started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.