PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Frank McAfee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabian Kabakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fabian Kabakov has the eye of the tiger tonight.

McAfee
vs
Kabakov

177 cm
24
194 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

213 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frank McAfee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fabian Kabakov!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Konstantin Menshow and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McAfee ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kabakov looks to throw the jab but McAfee is out of range.
McAfee was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kabakov misses with a body kick.

McAfee clinches up with Kabakov and pushes him back against the cage.
Kabakov misses with a hook to the ribs.
McAfee avoids the elbow strike from Kabakov, against the cage.
Kabakov misses with a knee strike.
Our sources have told us that McAfee has been working on his elbows in the gym.

McAfee turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

McAfee wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kabakov, who protects the arm well.
Kabakov is looking for a sweep.

McAfee stands up.

Kabakov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kabakov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kabakov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McAfee stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Kabakov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Kabakov can't find room to land a body shot as McAfee controls the action.

McAfee gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Kabakov wants to get back to full guard.
Kabakov misses with some strikes from the bottom.
McAfee wants to control but Kabakov is keeping him busy.
Kabakov is looking for a sweep. McAfee is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McAfee landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
McAfee scoring with strikes to the body and head.
McAfee trying to control from half guard but Kabakov is working away.
Kabakov wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McAfee decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
McAfee moves out of range of the body kick from Kabakov.

Kabakov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kabakov swings wildly with an uppercut but McAfee uses good head movement to avoid it.

McAfee manages to pull guard.
Kabakov tries to free his leg and advance position but McAfee is retaining full guard.
McAfee working a defensive guard here.

McAfee looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
McAfee is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kabakov working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kabakov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kabakov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kabakov looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

McAfee looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kabakov is looking to work some ground and pound but McAfee has wrist control.

McAfee is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McAfee is on top in guard.

McAfee is pushing down on Kabakov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kabakov is fighting to maintain full guard but McAfee has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kabakov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kabakov wants to sweep but no luck.
McAfee sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kabakov's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kabakov trying to get back to full guard but McAfee takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
McAfee manages to capitalize on a mistake by Kabakov to take his back!
Kabakov looking very determined here, making life difficult for McAfee.
McAfee keeps control of the position as Kabakov tries to break free.
McAfee controls the position.

McAfee has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Kabakov has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
McAfee gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kabakov tries to escape but McAfee has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

McAfee ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
McAfee ducks under a wild hook from Kabakov.
McAfee moves out of range of the body kick from Kabakov.
Kabakov throws a leg kick that is checked
and McAfee counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
McAfee throws a sloppy head kick and Kabakov moves out of range easily.
Kabakov misses the shot to the body.
McAfee misses with a head kick.

Kabakov gets a clinch.
Kabakov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. McAfee is defending well for now.
Kabakov throws an elbow but it misses.
Kabakov misses with a knee to the head.

McAfee breaks the clinch.
Fabian Kabakov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kabakov throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
McAfee avoids the head kick by Kabakov.
McAfee fails with a takedown attempt.
McAfee keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kabakov just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromMcAfee.

Kabakov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kabakov throws an elbow but it misses.

McAfee pulls Kabakov into guard.
Kabakov scoring with punches to the head and body.

McAfee pushes a forearm under Kabakov's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Kabakov is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Frank McAfee!