PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Alan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Bakunin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alan kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Fucking Hostile by Pantera. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Alan
vs
Bakunin

208 cm
20
294 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

199 cm
20
290 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

[JMFC] Blueprint Clothing
[JMFC] Arashi Fighting Nutrition Q156 RECOVERY!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, James Alan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Igor Bakunin!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Thiago Cunha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bakunin shoots in for a double leg but Alan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Alan swinging wilding here.
Bakunin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Alan counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Alan wants to get up but he can't break Bakunin's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Bakunin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bakunin tries to strike from the bottom.
Bakunin will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Bakunin throws his legs up looking for a submission but Alan uses it to pass to side control.
Bakunin tries to buck Alan off but Alan is having none of it.
Bakunin can't do much from the bottom here.
Bakunin is trying to work for a sweep but Alan has mounted him!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakunin swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Bakunin is trying desperately to improve position.
Alan lands a heavy elbow.
Bakunin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Alan lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin tries to hold on but Alan postures up.
Bakunin tries to reverse the position but Alan maintains control.
Alan throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Bakunin holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Alan tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Alan blocks Bakunin's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bakunin sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Bakunin regains full guard. Nicely done.

Bakunin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Alan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alan wants to stand but Bakunin is controlling his posture from full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Alan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Alan throwing strikes but missing.
Bakunin is striking off his back. Alan thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.

Bakunin looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bakunin wants to get back to full guard.
Bakunin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Alan.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bakunin tries a low kick but Alan avoids it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Alan is defended easily by Bakunin.
Bakunin fails with the takedown
and Alan counters with a nice uppercut.
A combination from Alan does no damage.
No luck for Bakunin with that takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Alan dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bakunin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Alan misses with an uppercut. Bakunin saw that one coming.
Bakunin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bakunin with a lazy takedown attempt
and Alan counters with a straight right hand.
Bakunin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Alan dodges the punch combination from Bakunin.
Alan tries to clinch up.

Bakunin gets caught flat footed, as Alan shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Bakunin trying to keep a closed guard but Alan is proving a slippery customer.
Bakunin is controlling Alan's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakunin looking for a sweep. Not yet Bakunin, not yet.
Bakunin tries to strike from the bottom.
Bakunin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bakunin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Bakunin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bakunin fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
James Alan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Bakunin.

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.
Bakunin takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Alan fails with the takedown

and Bakunin counters with a shoot takedown. Alan fights it but they end up in guard.
Bakunin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bakunin prevents Alan from getting back to his feet.
Alan keeping moving, preventing Bakunin from controlling successfully.
Bakunin distracts Alan with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bakunin trying to control but Alan is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bakunin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Bakunin cracks Alan with a solid left hand.

Bakunin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Alan keeping moving, preventing Bakunin from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Alan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bakunin is controlling him.

Bakunin postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Alan is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Bakunin, into his guard.
Bakunin controlling Alan's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Alan dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Bakunin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Alan manages to avoid it.

Bakunin shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bakunin showed some decent athleticism there.
Bakunin seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Bakunin blocks the strikes from Alan.

Alan is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Bakunin pulls his head out easily.
Bakunin is trying to control. Alan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakunin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Bakunin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Alan defending well though.
Alan is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Bakunin scores with a couple of nice shots.
Bakunin is just content to waste time from the top position. Alan takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Bakunin throwing strikes but missing.
Bakunin trying to control but Alan is working from the bottom.
James Alan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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.
Bakunin is working Alan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bakunin connects with a couple of short punches.
Igor Bakunin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bakunin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bakunin working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bakunin distracts Alan with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bakunin lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Bakunin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Alan working for a triangle but Bakunin defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bakunin landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin won't allow Alan to sweep him here.

Bakunin is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Alan is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Alan has escaped and now he's on top!
Alan stopping the sweep attempt from Bakunin.

That's four 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.
Bakunin with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Alan can't handle though.
Alan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Alan tries to stand but Bakunin is controlling from the bottom.
Alan preventing the sweep.
James Alan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Bakunin had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Alan is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Bakunin Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Alan's back instead.
Bakunin throwing strikes and Alan squirms under the pressure, ending up mounted.

And that's the end of the fight!
Igor Bakunin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Alan 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Alan!