PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Viktor Babinski (ranked 1409 p4p, 1231 weight class) and Vladimir Plusnin (ranked 185 p4p, 159 weight class). Viktor Babinski has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Babinski
vs
Plusnin

189 cm
35
259
28 - 11 - 0

180 cm
31
220
12 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 28 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Viktor Babinski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Plusnin!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Eliza Hachem and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Plusnin closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Babinski did well to prevent Plusnin getting side control.
Babinski tries to kick Plusnin off in order to stand up. Plusnin Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Plusnin prevents Babinski from escaping the position.
Babinski tries to bench press Plusnin off him but Plusnin keeps the position.
Babinski knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Plusnin on the ground.
Plusnin working the ground and pound but Babinski is defending the strikes.

Plusnin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Babinski is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Babinski on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Babinski tries to get out of the position.
Plusnin wants to control but Babinski is keeping him busy.

Plusnin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Babinski is looking to reverse the position.
Plusnin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Babinski keeps working.
You can see the frustration on Babinski's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Plusnin scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Babinski to see if he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plusnin wants to control but Babinski is keeping him busy.

Plusnin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Babinski is trying to get back to half guard.
Plusnin trying to control the position but Babinski is working away.

Plusnin looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Plusnin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Babinski keeps working.

Plusnin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Babinski knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Babinski can't do much from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Plusnin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Plusnin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Babinski keeps working.

Plusnin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Babinski tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Plusnin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Babinski keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plusnin landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Plusnin tries for a kimura but Babinski is defending well.

Plusnin looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Plusnin trying to control the position but Babinski is working away.
Babinski is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Plusnin asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Plusnin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Babinski is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babinski tries to improve position but can't.
Plusnin working away.

Plusnin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Babinski knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Babinski pushes Plusnin away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Plusnin gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Plusnin working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Plusnin tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Plusnin has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Babinski wants to control but Plusnin postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Babinski manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Plusnin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Babinski takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Plusnin looks to land a combination but Babinski avoids it well.
Babinski thinks about countering with a body kick.
Plusnin throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Babinski on the side of the head.

Plusnin looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Plusnin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Babinski is looking to escape.

Plusnin is working for a submission of some sort.
Babinski wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Plusnin is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Plusnin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Babinski sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babinski is looking for a sweep. Plusnin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Babinski has one foot on Plusnin's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Plusnin lands a head shot.
Vladimir Plusnin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Babinski cracks Plusnin with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Babinski has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Plusnin to stand back up!

It looks like Vladimir Plusnin has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Plusnin throws an overhand right that lands on Babinski's shoulder, as Babinski tries to avoid the shot.

Plusnin drives through with a takedown into guard.
Plusnin won't allow Babinski to sweep him here.

Plusnin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Plusnin wants to control from the top but Babinski keeps moving.
Plusnin wants to pass the guard but Babinski is keeping the position.
Plusnin prevents Babinski from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Plusnin looking to pass the guard.
Plusnin stops Babinski from standing up.
Plusnin passes into half guard.
Babinski wants to control but Plusnin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Plusnin is trying to control the action in half guard but Babinski is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Vladimir Plusnin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Babinski is trying to stand back up but Plusnin is controlling him

Plusnin is working for a kimura but Babinski is defending it quite comfortably.
Babinski looks like he's trying to stand up.

Babinski has one foot on Plusnin's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
We've been told by Babinski's head coaches at Certiﬁed Cave Gang that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Babinski closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plusnin is looking to control Babinski's arms but Babinski gets an underhook and turns him. Now Plusnin has his back to the cage.
Babinski scores with a shoulder strike.
Plusnin tries to pull guard but Babinski holds him up against the cage and eventually Plusnin drops back down to his feet.
Plusnin is trying to stall.
Plusnin has Babinski pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Babinski manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Plusnin tries to score a body lock takedown but Babinski shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Viktor Babinski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladimir Plusnin.
Babinski misses with a hook to the ribs.
Babinski misses with a body punch.

Plusnin has Babinski pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Plusnin pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Babinski tumbling to the mat - Plusnin dives into Babinski's guard.

Plusnin has gone for a leg lock! Babinski slips out almost immediately though and dives into Plusnin's guard.

Babinski stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babinski displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Plusnin throws out the jab.
Babinski jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Plusnin fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Babinski looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A lazy left from Plusnin finds it's target.
Plusnin missing with a left hand there. Babinski was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Babinski looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Babinski drives through and clinches with Plusnin against the cage.
Babinski tries to work over Plusnin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Babinski doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Plusnin is trying to pull guard but Babinski has him pressed against the cage.
A short right from Babinski on the inside.
Babinski misses with a hook from the clinch.
Plusnin's coach down at St Petersburg MMA Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Plusnin's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Babinski struggles to land a body shot inside as Plusnin controls his hands.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Viktor Babinski will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Vladimir Plusnin's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Plusnin misses with a hook.

Babinski moves into the clinch successfully.
Still in the clinch, Babinski scores with a nice short uppercut.
Babinski tries to work over Plusnin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Babinski misses with a body punch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Babinski creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Babinski tries to work over Plusnin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right from Babinski on the inside.
Plusnin can't get the takedown.
Babinski tries to throw a body punch but Plusnin avoids it by throwing Babinski back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babinski can't find room to land a body shot as Plusnin controls the action.

Plusnin turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Babinski throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Plusnin throws a jab but it's blocked by Babinski.
Plusnin throws a body shot but no joy.
Babinski throws a big counter combination but Plusnin scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Viktor Babinski is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babinski moves out of range as Plusnin strikes.
Plusnin moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Plusnin shoots in but no luck this time.
Babinski staying out of range there.
Plusnin lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Babinski displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Plusnin.
Babinski was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Viktor Babinski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladimir Plusnin.
Plusnin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Plusnin misses with a straight left.
Plusnin throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Babinski sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Babinski forces Plusnin back against the cage and clinches.
Babinski lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Babinski.
Babinski gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Plusnin.
Plusnin has a couple of punches blocked by Babinski.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Babinski misses with a body punch.
Babinski gets through Plusnin's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Plusnin prevents a body shot from Babinski.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Plusnin prevents a body shot from Babinski.
Plusnin takes a shot to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Plusnin.
Babinski tries to throw a body punch but Plusnin avoids it by throwing Babinski back against the cage.
Babinski scores with a nice hook to the head.
A short uppercut from Babinski.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babinski stops a takedown attempt from Plusnin.
Viktor Babinski has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Plusnin blocks a body shot from Babinski.
Babinski misses with a punch to the body.
Plusnin lands with a left to the head.
Babinski lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Babinski lands a hook to the side of the head.
Babinski pushes Plusnin back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Plusnin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Babinski misses with a punch to the body.
Babinski lands a body shot in the clinch.
Babinski lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Plusnin backwards.
Plusnin tries to stall but Babinski uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Babinski prevents Plusnin from breaking the clinch.
Babinski lands a left hand that snaps the head of Plusnin backwards.

Plusnin is rocked!
Plusnin blocks a body shot from Babinski.
Plusnin is still on wobbly legs! Can Babinski finish him?
Plusnin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Babinski gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Babinski gets through Plusnin's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babinski lands a big right hand that drops Plusnin! The killer instinct kicks in and Babinski finishes his opponent with a series of strikes from mount. A dominating finish by Babinski!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Viktor Babinski!
Viktor Babinski bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.