PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Carwyn Cain (ranked 945 p4p, 102 weight class) and Alex Stern (ranked 3118 p4p, 255 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Alex Stern enters the ring!

Cain
vs
Stern

175 cm
27
154 lbs
9 - 5 - 2

178 cm
20
143 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 2, fighting out of London, Carwyn Cain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alex Stern!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stern misses with an uppercut. Cain saw that one coming.
A left lands for Stern.
Cain throws a half hearted mid kick.
Cain throws a push kick but Stern slaps the foot to one side.
Stern lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Cain looks for a takedown but Stern sprawls well.
Stern blocks a head kick by Cain.
Despite the aggression on Stern's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Cain fails with the takedown
and Stern cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stern swinging wildly here.

Cain shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Stern's guard.

The fighters are working up against the ropes. Stern manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cain drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cain definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carwyn Cain. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cain is looking for a takedown.

Stern breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stern misses with an uppercut.
Cain drops down looking for a counter takedown but Stern sprawls and moves away.
Stern's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Stern duly obliges.

Cain looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Cain postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cain working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cain postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Cain keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stern's head.
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 trying to control the position from guard on top but Stern is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cain with a nice head shot there.
Stern is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cain is controlling him.
Cain landing some decent shots from guard.
Stern is looking to stand up but Cain isn't so interested in that idea.
Cain pushes down on Stern's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Cain scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cain lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cain perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Cain takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Cain lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Cain slips a nice elbow through Stern's hands, connecting with Stern's forehead.

Stern is rocked!
Stern is looking to escape.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stern can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cain looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Cain looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Stern pushes Cain off looking to stand but Cain dives back in and keeps control.
Cain is trying to control the action in half guard but Stern is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Cain is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cain winds up and cracks Stern with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cain drops an elbow to the side of Stern's head.
Stern is still in real trouble! Can Cain finish him?

Stern has one foot on Cain's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Stern seems to have recovered his senses.
Cain goes for a double leg but Stern avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the ropes as Stern continues to drive forward.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stern blocks the body kick.
Stern scores with a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stern. Cain does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stern throws a right and a left that both miss.
Stern cracks Cain with a right hand to the side of the head.
Some wild striking there from Stern.
Cain throws a push kick but Stern slaps the foot to one side.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Cain shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Cain was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cain working the head and body with strikes.
Stern on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Stern is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Cain in side control lands a decent elbow.
Cain scoring with punches and elbows.
Stern is working to avoid the ground and pound but Cain connects with a decent elbow.
Cain scores with punches from side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cain creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Cain working the ground and pound.
Cain is looking to take a break and control but Stern is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Stern tries to escape but Cain is in control.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Cain wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stern keeps working.
Cain lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Stern down.
Stern is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
We've been informed that Stern has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Stern is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Stern takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Cain passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Stern!
Cain breaks from Stern's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Cain loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Stern scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Cain land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Cain stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 6:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Carwyn Cain!
Carwyn Cain was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.