PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Renan Cavalcante (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artak Gasaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Renan Cavalcante had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Cavalcante
vs
Gasaev

188 cm
24
264 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Renan Cavalcante!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Artak Gasaev!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Alexandre Firmino and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gasaev fails with a takedown attempt.
Cavalcante misses with an uppercut.
Gasaev shoots in for a double leg but Cavalcante sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cavalcante misses with a series of wild punches.
Gasaev goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Gasaev forces Cavalcante back against the cage and clinches.
Gasaev tries to pull guard but Cavalcante holds him up against the cage and eventually Gasaev drops back down to his feet.
Renan Cavalcante has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Artak Gasaev.
Gasaev putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Cavalcante in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Cavalcante is trying to break the clinch but Gasaev has him pressed against the cage.
Cavalcante stops a takedown attempt from Gasaev.
Cavalcante wants to break free but Gasaev has control.
Cavalcante wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gasaev wants a takedown but no success here.
Gasaev leaning against his opponent.
Gasaev fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gasaev jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cavalcante walks away with a smile on his face. Gasaev gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cavalcante throws a big shot that misses.

Cavalcante drops Gasaev with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Gasaev looks back up at him and smiles so Cavalcante waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

It looks like Artak Gasaev has been cut.
Cavalcante misses with an uppercut. Gasaev saw that one coming.
Cavalcante throws a series of punches but Gasaev moves out of range.

Gasaev has closed the distance and engaged Cavalcante in a clinch.
Cavalcante wants to get back to striking at distance but Gasaev won't allow it.
Cavalcante has had enough of the clinch but Gasaev keeps him there for the moment.

Gasaev pulls guard.
Cavalcante trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gasaev's guard.
Cavalcante knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gasaev on the ground.
Gasaev has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Cavalcante wanted to stand there but Gasaev had control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cavalcante won't allow Gasaev to get back to his feet.
Gasaev looks gassed!

Gasaev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Gasaev pushes Cavalcante off and scrambles back to his feet.
Cavalcante takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cavalcante looks to score with a jab to the body but Gasaev is just out of range.
Gasaev takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Cavalcante keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Cavalcante connects with a crisp jab.

Gasaev instigates a clinch.
Cavalcante prevents a takedown attempt there.

Gasaev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Gasaev clinches.
Cavalcante tries to break the clinch but Gasaev is controlling the position.

Gasaev pulls guard effortlessly.
Gasaev bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cavalcante's guard.
Gasaev slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cavalcante wants to get back to his feet but Gasaev drags him back down.

Gasaev decides to stand back up. Gasaev steps back and let's Cavalcante get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cavalcante swinging wildly here.

Gasaev fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cavalcante, pushing him back against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Gasaev scores with a nice short uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gasaev drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cavalcante gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Gasaev tries to pull guard but Cavalcante holds him up against the cage and eventually Gasaev drops back down to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renan Cavalcante dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Artak Gasaev's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Some wild striking there from Cavalcante.
Cavalcante lands a really nice looking cross but Gasaev seems unphased.
Gasaev keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cavalcante.
Renan Cavalcante seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cavalcante misses with the combination.
No luck for Gasaev with that takedown attempt.
Gasaev takes one to the side of the head.
Cavalcante throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gasaev sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Gasaev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Gasaev can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cavalcante is looking to escape.
Cavalcante's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cavalcante avoids a series of strikes thrown by Gasaev.
Gasaev throwing strikes here but Cavalcante is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Gasaev throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Cavalcante because Gasaev loaded up on that one.
Gasaev works his way to his opponent's back.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Gasaev's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Cavalcante looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Even with his hooks in, Gasaev manages to miss with strikes from the back.

Gasaev has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Cavalcante wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cavalcante trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gasaev trying to control momentarily.
Cavalcante is trying to stand back up.
Cavalcante prevents Gasaev from getting a body triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cavalcante covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Gasaev throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Gasaev wants to control but Cavalcante is keeping busy.
Cavalcante holding both Gasaev 's hands and preventing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Renan Cavalcante will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Artak Gasaev's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Cavalcante throws a hook but Gasaev avoids it easily.
Cavalcante throws a lazy right hand but Gasaev sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gasaev moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Gasaev scores with a head kick.
Cavalcante swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gasaev stalks Cavalcante and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cavalcante's face. Cavalcante staggers backwards, shaken.
Gasaev connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Gasaev looks for a takedown but Cavalcante sprawls well.

Gasaev closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cavalcante to the mat! Cavalcante manages to get full guard.
Gasaev advances to half guard.
Cavalcante is looking to escape.

Gasaev decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gasaev staying out of range there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gasaev shoots in but no luck this time.
Cavalcante just misses with a punch to the body.
Cavalcante has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Gasaev finds it's way round the side to connect with Cavalcante's head.
Cavalcante throws a hook but Gasaev blocks it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gasaev.
Renan Cavalcante has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Artak Gasaev.
Cavalcante throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gasaev shoots in but Cavalcante avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cavalcante throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cavalcante lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Cavalcante.

Cavalcante gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gasaev to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Gasaev stands up from Cavalcante's guard - Gasaev perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gasaev slips a jab from Cavalcante.

Gasaev drives through and clinches with Cavalcante against the cage.
Gasaev has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Cavalcante is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Gasaev jumps guard but Cavalcante stands there with Gasaev around his waist. Gasaev gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Gasaev breaks from the clinch.

Cavalcante gets caught flat footed, as Gasaev shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Cavalcante wants to stand and escape but Gasaev is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cavalcante keeping moving, preventing Gasaev from controlling successfully.
Cavalcante wants to stand and escape but Gasaev is having none of it.

Gasaev gets to his feet. Cavalcante looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Cavalcante works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Renan Cavalcante is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cavalcante misses with a looping right.
Cavalcante throws a nice looking combination but Gasaev bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Gasaev closes the distance and clinches.
Gasaev fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cavalcante wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gasaev has him pressed against the cage.
Gasaev has Cavalcante pressed against the cage, preventing Cavalcante from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Cavalcante wants to get back to striking at distance but Gasaev won't allow it.

Gasaev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gasaev fails with the takedown.
Renan Cavalcante is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cavalcante misses with the combination.
Renan Cavalcante is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cavalcante throws a combination. Gasaev tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Cavalcante throws a series of punches but Gasaev moves out of range.

Gasaev rushes Cavalcante and presses him up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gasaev lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Gasaev is pressing down on Cavalcante's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cavalcante is holding on for now.
Artak Gasaev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gasaev thows a huge punch but Cavalcante dodges it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Artak Gasaev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cavalcante has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Artak Gasaev!