PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Usmir Lagamdeov (ranked 4897 p4p, 24773 weight class) and Miguel Garcia (ranked 437 p4p, 503 weight class). Usmir Lagamdeov is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Lagamdeov
vs
Garcia

178 cm
22
155
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
19
155
1 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Usmir Lagamdeov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Miguel Garcia!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Josh West and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Garcia gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Garcia looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Lagamdeov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Garcia.

Lagamdeov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Garcia takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Miguel Garcia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lagamdeov swats away the attempt to clinch by Garcia.
Garcia doesn't manage to clinch there - Lagamdeov circles away.
Lagamdeov takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Garcia has Lagamdeov up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lagamdeov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Garcia just stands there and leans against the cage.

Lagamdeov successfully pulls guard.
Garcia trying to control the position from guard on top but Lagamdeov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lagamdeov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia trying to stand up but can't free himself from Lagamdeov's guard.
Lagamdeov pulls Garcia in close to prevent any damage.
Garcia won't allow Lagamdeov to sweep him here.
Garcia advances to half guard.
Lagamdeov is looking to improve his position.
Lagamdeov moves into full guard.
Garcia preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Lagamdeov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Garcia doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Garcia manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Garcia stopping the sweep attempt from Lagamdeov.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lagamdeov has control of Garcia's left arm, preventing Garcia from doing any damage.
Lagamdeov seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Lagamdeov has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Garcia is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Garcia throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Garcia breaks from the clinch.
Garcia moves in looking to clinch but Lagamdeov pushes him off.
Lagamdeov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Lagamdeov scores with a takedown into Garcia's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Garcia scrambles and gets back to his feet.
A punch combination from Lagamdeov misses.

Lagamdeov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Garcia was covering up waiting for the punch and Lagamdeov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Lagamdeov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Garcia is keeping the position for now.
Lagamdeov won't allow Garcia to get back to his feet.
Garcia controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lagamdeov is controlling him.
Garcia is looking to stand back up but Lagamdeov counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Garcia.
Garcia tries to kick Lagamdeov off but Lagamdeov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Lagamdeov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Lagamdeov connects with a nice short shot to Garcia's temple.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Usmir Lagamdeov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lagamdeov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Garcia fails in his attempt to clinch.
Garcia tries to clinch up
and Lagamdeov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've been informed that Garcia has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Lagamdeov with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Garcia keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lagamdeov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Garcia walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcia tries to clinch but Lagamdeov moves away
and Lagamdeov counters with a nice uppercut.

Garcia closes the distance and clinches.
Lagamdeov tries to score a body lock takedown but Garcia shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Garcia swings wildly with an uppercut but Lagamdeov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Garcia misses with an elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lagamdeov tries to throw a body punch but Garcia avoids it by throwing Lagamdeov back against the cage.
Garcia lands an elbow inside.
Lagamdeov blocks an uppercut.
Garcia letting Lagamdeov take a breather here.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Garcia.
Garcia is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Lagamdeov has clasped his hands together around Garcia's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Garcia tries to buck Lagamdeov off but Lagamdeov is having none of it.
Lagamdeov working away.
Garcia is trying to get back to his feet.
Lagamdeov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Garcia can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Lagamdeov wants to work for an arm triangle but Garcia is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Garcia kicks off Lagamdeov and gets to his feet.
Miguel Garcia is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Garcia is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lagamdeov is looking to counter punch.
Garcia is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lagamdeov went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Lagamdeov doesn't manage to clinch there - Garcia circles away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Garcia! But no joy.
Lagamdeov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Garcia manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia doesn't manage to clinch there - Lagamdeov circles away.
Lagamdeov throws a big counter combination but Garcia scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Lagamdeov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Lagamdeov throws an elbow but Garcia slips to the side and avoids it well.
Garcia is pushing Lagamdeov's head away, looking to escape. Lagamdeov manages to hold on to the position though.
Garcia tries to control but Lagamdeov manages to take his back.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Lagamdeov controlling the positon.

Garcia is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Lagamdeov cracks Garcia with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Garcia from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lagamdeov is punishing Garcia with some ground and pound.
Lagamdeov biding his time, looking for the opening.
Garcia is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Garcia looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Lagamdeov punishes Garcia with strikes from the back mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Usmir Lagamdeov dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Garcia tries to clinch but Lagamdeov moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Garcia looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Garcia moves to clinch but Lagamdeov breaks away
and Lagamdeov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lagamdeov goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Garcia tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lagamdeov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lagamdeov feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Lagamdeov throws a nice inside leg kick.
Garcia takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Garcia has closed the distance and engaged Lagamdeov in a clinch.
Garcia creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Garcia pushes off an throws an elbow but Lagamdeov leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Lagamdeov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Garcia fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lagamdeov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lagamdeov misses with an uppercut.
Garcia tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lagamdeov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Garcia tries to clinch up but Lagamdeov circles away and keeps his distance.
Garcia tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lagamdeov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Garcia tries to clinch but Lagamdeov moves out of range.
Lagamdeov thinks about countering with a body kick.
Garcia tries to clinch but Lagamdeov moves out of range.
Lagamdeov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jab, jab by Lagamdeov - just one landing.
Garcia tries to close the distance and clinch but Lagamdeov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lagamdeov appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Garcia tries to clinch up but Lagamdeov circles away and keeps his distance.
Garcia wants to clinch.
Lagamdeov throwing a counter right hand but Garcia manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lagamdeov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Garcia to the mat! Garcia manages to get full guard.
Lagamdeov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lagamdeov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lagamdeov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Usmir Lagamdeov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lagamdeov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Garcia keeping moving, preventing Lagamdeov from controlling successfully.
Garcia working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lagamdeov.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lagamdeov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Lagamdeov stops Garcia from standing up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Garcia looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
It looked like Lagamdeov wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Lagamdeov will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Garcia is looking to clinch but Lagamdeov is avoiding it.
Lagamdeov looks to throw the jab but Garcia is out of range.
Lagamdeov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Garcia is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Lagamdeov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Garcia's guard.
Garcia is looking to stand up but Lagamdeov isn't so interested in that idea.
Miguel Garcia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lagamdeov is pushing down on Garcia's leg trying to pass to half guard. Garcia is fighting to maintain full guard but Lagamdeov has managed to sneak the leg through.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lagamdeov is taking a breather. Garcia 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.

Garcia actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Usmir Lagamdeov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lagamdeov, 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Usmir Lagamdeov!
After winning the bout, Usmir Lagamdeov thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.