PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Akim Mihaylov (ranked 4575 p4p, 3889 weight class) and Phil Baron (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Phil Baron is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Mihaylov
vs
Baron

200 cm
25
265
0 - 0 - 0

210 cm
25
265
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Akim Mihaylov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Phil Baron!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Dirk Anderson and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baron tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Mihaylov defends well and Baron ends up having to push Mihaylov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Mihaylov tries to work over Baron's front leg with a kick but Baron checks it.
Baron throws a counter combo.
Baron dives in and grabs Mihaylov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mihaylov pushes down on Baron's head and hops out.
Mihaylov leaves Baron with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Akim Mihaylov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phil Baron.
Baron shoots in and drives through. Mihaylov sprawls well.
Baron bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Baron shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mihaylov but Mihaylov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Baron avoids the head kick by Mihaylov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Baron tries to keep at a distance but Mihaylov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Mihaylov putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Baron in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Baron looks winded!
Mihaylov misses with a knee strike.
Mihaylov scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Phil Baron has been cut.
Mihaylov connects with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mihaylov unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Baron takes a knee right on the jaw!
A knee to the head by Mihaylov.
Mihaylov scores with a knee to the head.

Baron is rocked!
Mihaylov tries to land a knee to the head but Baron blocks with his arms.
Baron is still on wobbly legs! Can Mihaylov finish him?
Mihaylov looking to throw knees to the head but Baron is blocking nicely.
Mihaylov misses with a knee strike.
Mihaylov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Mihaylov tries a knee to the head but Baron blocks it.
Mihaylov misses with a knee to the head.
Mihaylov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Baron has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mihaylov misses with a knee strike.
Mihaylov looking to throw knees to the head but Baron is blocking nicely.
Mihaylov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Baron has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mihaylov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Baron has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Baron tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mihaylov smiles and moves away.
Baron seems to have recovered his senses.
Mihaylov will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Mihaylov clinches up against the cage.
Baron jumps guard but Mihaylov stands there with Baron around his waist. Baron gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Mihaylov putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Baron in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Mihaylov crunches a lovely knee into Baron's ribcage.
Mihaylov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Mihaylov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baron takes a knee right on the jaw!
Mihaylov prevents a takedown attempt there.
Baron tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mihaylov smiles and moves away.
Baron is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mihaylov looks to land a right hand but Baron moved out of range.
Mihaylov backing away here, and Baron unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

Baron gets tackled into the cage by Mihaylov. Mihaylov maintains the clinch.
Baron jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mihaylov walks away with a smile on his face. Baron gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mihaylov throws a body shot but no joy.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Baron is defended easily by Mihaylov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mihaylov looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Baron tries for a takedown but Mihaylov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Mihaylov clinches.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Mihaylov obliges.
Baron takes a knee right on the jaw!
Mihaylov has Baron pressed up against the cage in a tight Thai clinch. Baron is arching his back, trying to avoid the knees but a big one sneaks through from Mihaylov - that's hurt Baron badly! Oh, another knee lands and Baron is covering up! The referee steps in to save him - possibly a bit early but Baron doesn't seem to be complaining.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:31 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knees). Akim Mihaylov!