PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fernando Baraja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor 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.

Baraja
vs
Bakunin

225 cm
21
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
19
290 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fernando Baraja!
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, Igor Bakunin!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baraja fails in his attempt to clinch.

Bakunin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Bakunin stops Baraja from getting back to his feet.
Bakunin lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Bakunin lands with a punch from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bakunin winds up and cracks Baraja with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Bakunin is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Bakunin looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Bakunin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Baraja. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bakunin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bakunin is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Baraja trying to control here.
Bakunin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baraja has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bakunin is working away from the top position though.
Bakunin looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Bakunin is thwarting Baraja's attempts to control the position.
Bakunin lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Bakunin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Baraja won't allow Bakunin to pass to mount.

Baraja looking for submissions off his back.
Baraja is controlling Bakunin's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Bakunin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Baraja keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baraja is looking to improve his position.
Baraja is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bakunin wants to free his trapped foot but Baraja is holding on for dear life with his legs.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Baraja tries to clinch up but Bakunin circles away and keeps his distance.
Baraja closes the distance and clinches up with Bakunin, looking for a takedown. Baraja pushes Bakunin against the cage but Bakunin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Baraja is breathing heavily.

Bakunin moves into range and clinches up with Baraja.
Baraja wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bakunin has him pressed against the cage.
Baraja looking for a takedown.
Baraja gets underhooks to prevent Bakunin's takedown attempt.

Bakunin turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Bakunin manages to end up in side control.
Bakunin lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baraja seems a little lost for a moment, as Bakunin dominates the positioning.
Baraja is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Bakunin is looking to take a break and control but Baraja is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bakunin working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Bakunin lands an elbow.
Bakunin in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Bakunin working the head with strikes.
Baraja can't do much from the bottom here.
Check out the look on Bakunin's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Baraja is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Bakunin off and has taken his back!
Baraja tries to get the hooks in deep but Bakunin pushed the leg off.
Baraja not allowing Bakunin to control his hands.
Bakunin looking very determined here, making life difficult for Baraja.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Bakunin is keeping busy.
Baraja keeps control of the position as Bakunin tries to break free.
Baraja tries to get the hooks in deep but Bakunin pushed the leg off.

Baraja working for a choke but Bakunin is defending well.
Baraja keeps control of the position easily here as Bakunin tries to buck him off.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Baraja tries to get the hooks in deep but Bakunin pushed the leg off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Bakunin dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bakunin tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Baraja swivels and escapes.
Bakunin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bakunin fails to land with a series of punches.
Bakunin takes a swing at Baraja's ribcage but misses.
Bakunin takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Baraja shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bakunin as he jumps to the side.
Bakunin swings widly with a right hand
and Baraja counters with a nice body kick.
Baraja plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Baraja shoots in but Bakunin avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Baraja closes the distance and clinches up with Bakunin, looking for a takedown. Baraja pushes Bakunin against the cage but Bakunin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fernando Baraja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baraja closes the distance but Bakunin moves to the side

and Bakunin counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baraja trying to control from the bottom.
Bakunin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Baraja is trying to maintain the position but Bakunin is very close to passing his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baraja is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bakunin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bakunin's back!
Baraja will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baraja working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Baraja is looking to control Bakunin but Bakunin is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Baraja lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Bakunin.

Bakunin preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Baraja.
Baraja controlling well, preventing Bakunin from escaping the position.
Baraja is looking to control Bakunin but Bakunin is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Bakunin tries to escape but Baraja has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Bakunin looking very determined here, making life difficult for Baraja.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin is really stuck here.
Baraja throwing sloppy strikes.
Bakunin is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Bakunin has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Baraja.
Bakunin is in bad spot here.
Bakunin tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Baraja tries to control but Bakunin wriggling away.
Baraja throws some wild stikes that Bakunin manages to avoid easily.
Baraja throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

Baraja wants to finish this one by submission but Bakunin is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Baraja.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin controls the position.
Baraja with good strikes from the mount here!
Bakunin sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Bakunin is trying to get back to full guard.
Baraja controlling the action here.
Bakunin is trying to get back to full guard.
Bakunin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Bakunin gets back to full guard.
Bakunin has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Baraja has passed into side control.
Bakunin is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Baraja's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Bakunin tries to roll over but Baraja keeps him under control.
Bakunin gets back to full guard.
Bakunin keeping moving, preventing Baraja from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Fernando Baraja will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Bakunin lands a with a good body shot.
Baraja shoots in but Bakunin avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Baraja has his takedown stuffed
and Bakunin counters with a nice uppercut.

Bakunin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Bakunin lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Baraja bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bakunin's guard.

Baraja stands up and waves to Bakunin to follow him.
Baraja has his takedown stuffed

and Bakunin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fernando Baraja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baraja working a defensive guard here.
Bakunin wants to control from the top but Baraja keeps moving.
Igor Bakunin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bakunin postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Bakunin lands a couple of elbows.
Baraja keeping moving, preventing Bakunin from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baraja lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bakunin!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bakunin is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Baraja trying to control but Bakunin is having none of it.
Baraja throws some wild stikes that Bakunin manages to avoid easily.
Baraja throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Bakunin because Baraja loaded up on that one.

Baraja moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Bakunin has worked his arm free - good work by Bakunin!
Baraja advances nicely into full mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bakunin can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin is in all sorts of trouble here.
Baraja throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Baraja trying to control but Bakunin is having none of it.
Bakunin wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Baraja trying to control.
Baraja biding his time, controlling Bakunin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin breaks Baraja's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Baraja is trying to control the position but Bakunin postures up.
Baraja trying to strike off his back.
Baraja wants to sweep here but Bakunin controlling him for the moment.
Baraja looking to control.
Baraja looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Horrible takedown by Baraja or perhaps it was just good defense by Bakunin which made him look bad.
Bakunin misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Baraja counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Baraja stays in close to Bakunin's body and controls the position.
Bakunin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Baraja wants to control from the top but Bakunin keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Baraja is one step ahead there.
Bakunin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Bakunin takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Bakunin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Baraja defending well though.
Baraja regains full guard. Nicely done.
Bakunin stands up over Baraja, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Baraja is on top in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bakunin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Baraja's guard.
Bakunin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bakunin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Baraja looking to control.
Bakunin distracts Baraja with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

And that's the end of the fight!
Igor Bakunin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bakunin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Igor Bakunin!