PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Markus Filch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Bakunin (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.

Filch
vs
Bakunin

175 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Markus Filch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jake Bakunin!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Bruno Lombardi and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Filch misses.
Filch misses the jab.
Filch pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Filch throws an overhand right that lands on Bakunin's shoulder, as Bakunin tries to avoid the shot.
Filch uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bakunin.
The fight stays on the outside here - Filch looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bakunin throws a body punch but Filch moves out of range.
Bakunin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bakunin misses with a series of wild punches.
Bakunin takes a swing at Filch's ribcage but misses.
Bakunin with a nice cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Filch throws a combination that misses
and Bakunin counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Filch thows a left - swing and a miss!
Filch uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bakunin.
Bakunin chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Filch throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Filch throws a hook but Bakunin blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakunin connects with a body shot.
Bakunin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bakunin lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Filch at a distance.
Filch tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bakunin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bakunin connects with a jab.
Markus Filch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bakunin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Filch was well out of range. Poor timing from Bakunin.
Bakunin missing with a left hand there. Filch was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bakunin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bakunin wants it to stay on the feet.
Bakunin throws a body punch but Filch moves out of range.

Filch pushes Bakunin up against the cage in a clinch.

Filch breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Filch tries to clinch there but Bakunin circles away.
Filch scores with a punch to the head.
Bakunin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bakunin avoids the body shot from Filch.
Filch misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Bakunin.

Filch has taken the fight to the clinch.

Filch breaks from the clinch.
Filch fails to land the takedown.
Filch throws a hook to the side of Bakunin's head but Bakunin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Filch wants to clinch up but Bakunin keeps it at a distance.
Filch throws a one two combo.
Filch takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A clash of legs there as Filch blocks the low kick.
Filch misses with a head kick.
Bakunin doesn't manage to clinch there - Filch circles away.
Bakunin thows a body shot but no joy.
Filch misses with the combination.
Bakunin is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Filch throws a left and a right that both miss
and Bakunin counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Jake Bakunin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Filch is breathing heavily.
Bakunin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin stuns Filch with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Filch misses with a double jab
and Bakunin counters with a left to the body.
Filch takes one to the side of the head.
Filch tries to clinch but Bakunin moves out of range.
Bakunin plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Filch misses with a double jab
and Bakunin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Filch fails with an attempt to clinch.
Filch lands a jab to the head.
Bakunin lands a right hook to the body.
Bakunin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Filch.
Filch swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Bakunin counters with a left and a right that stings Filch.
Filch misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bakunin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bakunin is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Filch rather than just go for the knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin misses the shot to the body.
Bakunin scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Bakunin throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Filch on the side of the head.
Filch fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Markus Filch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Filch has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Bakunin.
Bakunin scores with a hook to the body. Filch takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Bakunin lands with an overhand left.
Bakunin chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Bakunin looks to score with a jab to the body but Filch is just out of range.
Filch throws a series of punches but Bakunin moves out of range.
Filch looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Filch takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jake Bakunin will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bakunin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Filch was well out of range. Poor timing from Bakunin.
Bakunin tries to land a leg kick but Filch saw it coming and moves away.

Filch has closed the distance and engaged Bakunin in a clinch.
Bakunin has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Filch is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Filch breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Filch misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bakunin.
Filch is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bakunin throws a sloppy head kick and Filch moves out of range easily.
Filch avoids the body shot from Bakunin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bakunin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Filch.
Filch takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bakunin looks to land a body kick but Filch moved away.
Bakunin has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Filch moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A head kick misses from Filch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filch throws a left and a right that both miss
and Bakunin counters with a right hand to the body.
Filch swinging wilding here.
Filch is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Filch rushes Bakunin and presses him up against the cage.

Filch breaks the clinch.
A combination from Bakunin does no damage.
Filch wants to clinch up but Bakunin keeps it at a distance.
A big left from Filch misses.
Bakunin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Filch was well out of range. Poor timing from Bakunin.
Bakunin lands with a nice body punch.
Filch cracks Bakunin with an open hand slap.
Filch takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Filch tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bakunin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Filch throws a left and a right that both miss
and Bakunin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Filch keeps the fight on the outside.
A jab from Filch misses.
Nice uppercut lands for Bakunin. That snapped Filch's head back.
Bakunin moves into range and connects with a jab.
Filch misses with the combination.
Filch misses with an uppercut.
Bakunin throws a series of punches but Filch avoids them all with ease.
A jab from Bakunin finds it's way through Filch's defenses.
Filch throws a right and a left that Bakunin avoids nicely.
Bakunin throws a predictable looking body shot
and Filch counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Bakunin slips a jab and a cross from Filch.
Filch will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bakunin throws a shot to the body.
Bakunin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Filch was well out of range. Poor timing from Bakunin.
Filch throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Filch doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Bakunin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bakunin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Filch forces Bakunin back against the cage and clinches.

Filch jumps into guard, dragging Bakunin to the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bakunin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Filch is pulling down on Bakunin's head to control his posture.

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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Filch is on top in guard.
Bakunin keeping moving, preventing Filch from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Filch is really struggling to control Bakunin but he's trying to hold on to the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Markus Filch dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Bakunin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Filch.
Filch on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Bakunin wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Filch darts in and clinches Bakunin up against the cage.

Filch breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Filch misses with a combination
and Bakunin counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice uppercut there from Bakunin.
Filch displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bakunin throws out the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Filch throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Filch circles away from the clinch attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
No joy there for Bakunin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Filch keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Filch has closed the distance and engaged Bakunin in a clinch.
Bakunin tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bakunin can't break the clinch.
Bakunin has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Bakunin tries to break free but Filch pushes him back against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Filch.

Filch has picked Bakunin up - he's going for a ride! Filch dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Filch in particular looking to stall.
Filch wants to control but Bakunin is keeping him busy.

Filch postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Bakunin to stand up.
Bakunin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filch shoots in for a takedown but Bakunin shows good takedown defense.

Filch rushes Bakunin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Filch stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Bakunin is trying to force a seperation but Filch has the dominant position.
Filch tries to score a body lock takedown but Bakunin shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Bakunin tries to pull guard but Filch holds him up against the cage and eventually Bakunin drops back down to his feet.

Filch pulls guard.
Filch might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Filch looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bakunin is one step ahead there.
Bakunin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Filch striking off his back but it's not causing Bakunin any problems.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin wants to stand but Filch has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Bakunin trying to control but Filch is working from the bottom.
Filch looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Filch has control of Bakunin's left arm, preventing Bakunin from doing any damage.
Filch wants to sweep but no luck.
Filch is working hard here to advance position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bakunin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Filch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A big right from Filch misses.
Bakunin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Filch throws a combination that misses
and Bakunin counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Markus Filch showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Filch 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Markus Filch!