PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Reilly Bell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikhail Bakunin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bakunin has chosen thats all as his entrance music. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bell
vs
Bakunin

173 cm
21
150 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

175 cm
22
150 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Reilly Bell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mikhail Bakunin!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bakunin feints and as Bell raises his hands in defense, Bakunin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bell keeping full guard, as Bakunin tries to pass.

Bell has his foot on Bakunin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bakunin works his way back into a safe position though.
Bakunin passes Bell's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bell trying to hold on to Bakunin's head to control him but Bakunin postures up.
Bell trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Bell working to try and regain half guard.

Bakunin wants to finish this one by submission but Bell is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Bakunin.
Bakunin lands a heavy elbow.
Bell tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bell tries to lock up and control but Bakunin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Bakunin is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Bell has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bell is squirming around, avoiding Bakunin's attempts to control the action.

Bakunin goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Bell is on top in guard.
Bakunin wants to get back to his feet but Bell is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bakunin wants to get back to his feet but Bell is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bell content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bell postures up in Bakunin's guard and throws a big left but Bakunin blocks it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bell postures up and lands a big shot to Bakunin's brow.
Bakunin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bell thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bell throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bakunin wants to stand and escape but Bell is having none of it.
Bakunin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bell lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Bakunin scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Bell wants to get back to his feet but Bakunin drags him back down.
Bell tries to bench press Bakunin off him but Bakunin keeps the position.
Bell is breathing heavily.

Bakunin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Bell has escaped the position, nice work there.
Bell is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bakunin tries for a kimura but Bell is defending well.
The ground and pound from Bakunin seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Bell defending against the ground and pound.

Bakunin wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bell, who protects the arm well.
Bakunin throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Bakunin working away.
Bell wants to get back to his feet.
Bakunin looks up at the clock and then as Bell takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Bakunin smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Bell manages to get back to half guard.
Bell is trying to maintain the position but Bakunin is very close to passing his half guard.
Bakunin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Bakunin is trying to work for a kimura but Bell is defending well.
Bell tries to roll over but Bakunin keeps him under control.

Bakunin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bell sees it coming and defends easily.
Bell is looking to control Bakunin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bell avoid being mounted?

Bell has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Bakunin escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Bakunin!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhail Bakunin dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bakunin scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bell is not content to let Bakunin control the position.
Bakunin working away.
Bell is not content to let Bakunin control the position.
Bell takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Bakunin cracks Bell with a big right hand but Bell just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Bell tries to buck Bakunin off but Bakunin is having none of it.

Bakunin tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Bell tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bakunin wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakunin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bell keeps working.
Bakunin remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Bakunin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bell is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Bakunin is breathing heavily.
Bell takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Bakunin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bell keeps working.
Bakunin advances to mount.

That's two 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.
Bell tries to hold on but Bakunin pushes him away.
Bakunin unloads with some shots from mount but Bell bucks and avoids them well.
Bakunin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Bakunin unloading with bombs!
Bakunin connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Bakunin working for a guillotine from mount but Bell is in no mood to give up.
Poor strikes thrown by Bakunin there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin throwing strikes here but Bell is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Bakunin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Bakunin tries to control but Bell wriggling away.
Bakunin controlling the pace for now.
Bakunin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Bakunin with shots to the head and body - Bell looks very uncomfortable down there.
Bell is trying to escape the mount.
Bakunin with shots to the head and body - Bell looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Bakunin thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Bakunin looking to control but Bell is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Bell bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Bakunin wants to stand but Bell is controlling the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bell postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bakunin is wriggling around but Bell manages to pass to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhail Bakunin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Bakunin darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Bakunin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Bell wants to control but Bakunin is keeping busy.
Bakunin controlling the pace.
Bell is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Bakunin jumps into side control!
Bell is looking for a sweep.

Bakunin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Bakunin sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Bell is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Bakunin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bakunin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Bell tries to bench press Bakunin off him but Bakunin keeps the position.

Bakunin thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Bell can't do much from the bottom here.
Bell is trying to improve his position.
What's Bell going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.

That's two 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.

Bakunin thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Bakunin scoring with punches from side control.
Bell wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Bakunin wants to control but Bell is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Bell's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Bakunin is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Bell is trying to escape and Bakunin transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Bell is forced to tap! Nice work there by Bakunin! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mikhail Bakunin!