PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cody Bunnell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Luque (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bunnell
vs
Luque

200 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
18
141 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cody Bunnell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gabriel Luque!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Igor Prikhodko and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luque fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Bunnell decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Luque looking for submissions off his back.
Bunnell stops Luque from getting back to his feet.
Bunnell controlling the action here.
Bunnell stops Luque from getting back to his feet.
Well, if Bunnell is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luque is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Luque looking for submissions off his back.
Bunnell is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Bunnell prevents Luque from improving his position.
Luque is looking to escape.
Luque looks gassed!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Luque with a lazy takedown attempt

and Bunnell counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Luque can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bunnell controls the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bunnell won't allow Luque to get back to his feet.

Luque working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Bunnell has passed into half guard!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bunnell passes to side control.
Bunnell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Luque tries to improve position but can't.
A lull in the action here as Bunnell stalls from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Luque is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Bunnell has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Bunnell controlling the position from side mount.

Luque bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Bunnell scores with a takedown into Luque's guard.
Luque looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cody Bunnell dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Luque closes the distance but Bunnell moves to the side

and Bunnell counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Luque!
Luque is desperately trying to improve his position but Bunnell has a good base and remains in mount.
Luque is trying to stand up.
Bunnell will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bunnell manages to capitalize on a mistake by Luque to take his back!
Luque controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good control from Bunnell.
Luque is breathing heavily.
I really don't envy Luque right now.
Bunnell is riding his opponent, not letting Luque buck him off.
Luque is trying to break free.
Bunnell biding his time, controlling Luque.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Luque rolls, trying to escape but Bunnell keeps control of the position.
Bunnell trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Luque doesn't escape.
Luque is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Bunnell off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Luque trying to get back to his feet but Bunnell is in full control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good control from Bunnell.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Cody Bunnell just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Bunnell shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Luque throws his legs up looking for a submission but Bunnell uses it to pass to side control.
Bunnell taking a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luque is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Luque tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bunnell wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cody Bunnell dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Luque gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Bunnell counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Luque actively working from the bottom here.
Bunnell stalling.
Bunnell has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Luque takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Luque is trying to stand back up but Bunnell is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bunnell perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Luque is looking to get back to full guard here but Bunnell has managed to pass to side control instead.
Bunnell won't let Luque get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Luque working to try and regain half guard.
Bunnell controlling the pace for now.
Luque has given up his back. Will we see Bunnell going for some submissions?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Good control from Bunnell.
Luque is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Luque rolls, trying to escape but Bunnell keeps control of the position.
Bunnell controlling the position well here. Luque rolled but Bunnell kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Luque tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I would not like to be Luque right now.
Luque trying to get back to his feet but Bunnell is in full control for now.
Luque tries to escape the position.
Luque is trying to get back to his feet but Bunnell has full control of the position and if anything, Luque has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Bunnell has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Luque's body.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Cody Bunnell just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Luque misses with a takedown attempt

and Bunnell counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Luque's guard now.
Gabriel Luque has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Luque throws his legs up looking for a submission but Bunnell uses it to pass to side control.
Luque is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Bunnell has just dragged him back down to the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cody Bunnell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bunnell has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cody Bunnell!