PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Maxim Taisumov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dustin Wagner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taisumov's entrance music is eRa- Enae Volare Mezzo. A fine choice. Wagner has chosen Hall of fame as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Taisumov
vs
Wagner

174 cm
21
166 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

183 cm
21
160 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite 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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maxim Taisumov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dustin Wagner!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Jorge Garcia and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taisumov bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Wagner's head backwards.
Wagner tries to clinch there but Taisumov circles away.
Dustin Wagner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taisumov misses with a few strikes there.
Taisumov keeps the fight on the outside.
Taisumov appears to be looking for a big counter.
Wagner uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taisumov.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Wagner lands a left hand that snaps the head of Taisumov backwards.
Wagner struggles to land a body shot inside as Taisumov controls his hands.
Taisumov blocks a body shot from Wagner.
Taisumov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Taisumov is trying to force a seperation but Wagner has the dominant position.
Taisumov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Taisumov manages to break the clinch.
Wagner tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Taisumov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Taisumov has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Taisumov darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Wagner tries to close the distance and clinch but Taisumov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Taisumov throws a nice looking combination but Wagner bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taisumov misses with a series of wild punches.
It seemed like Wagner was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Taisumov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Taisumov lands a really nice looking cross but Wagner seems unphased.
Wagner tries for a takedown but Taisumov circles away easily
and Taisumov counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Wagner tries to clinch up.
It looked like Taisumov was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Wagner rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Taisumov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Taisumov seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Wagner fails with a takedown attempt.
Danga de danga de dang - Taisumov scores with a four punch combination!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wagner tries to clinch up but Taisumov circles away and keeps his distance.
Taisumov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wagner dodges the punch combination from Taisumov.
Taisumov lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Wagner backs up against the cage.
Wagner tries to close the distance and clinch but Taisumov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
No joy there for Taisumov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wagner doesn't manage to clinch there - Taisumov circles away.
Taisumov went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Taisumov clobbers Wagner with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Wagner moves to clinch but Taisumov breaks away
and Taisumov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wagner tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Taisumov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Wagner tries to clinch there but Taisumov circles away.
Taisumov misses with a wild combination.
Wagner misses with a takedown attempt
and Taisumov counters with a series of strikes. Wagner will be more careful next time no doubt.
Maxim Taisumov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dustin Wagner.
Wagner closes the distance but Taisumov moves to the side
letting Taisumov counter with a right hand.
Taisumov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Wagner circles away quickly and effectively.
Wagner tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Taisumov counters with a series of strikes. Wagner will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wagner will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Taisumov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taisumov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Wagner fails with an attempt to clinch.
Wagner tries to clinch but Taisumov moves out of range.
Wagner tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Taisumov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Wagner misses with a takedown attempt - Taisumov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
It looked like Taisumov was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Wagner has his takedown stuffed
and Taisumov counters with a two punch combo.
Wagner throws a head kick that misses
and Taisumov counters with a stiff right hand.

Wagner is rocked!
Taisumov cracks Wagner with a hook to the temple - Wagner is on wobbly legs here! Taisumov swarms him with hook after hook, landing with each one! Wagner falls to the canvas face first and the referee dives in to stop the fight! Taisumov wins by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Maxim Taisumov!
During a confident post fight interview, Maxim Taisumov thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
In defeat, Dustin Wagner stepped up to the mic, saying 'will do better next time'.