PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jacko Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Bakunin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jake Bakunin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Bakunin

180 cm
21
183 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
190 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jacko Gracie!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jake Bakunin!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Alyssa Summers and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Gracie shoots in and bounces Bakunin off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Bakunin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bakunin is keeping the position for now.
Gracie is looking to work some ground and pound but Bakunin has wrist control.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Bakunin blocks nicely.
Bakunin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gracie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bakunin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bakunin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A head kick misses from Bakunin.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bakunin sprawls well. Bakunin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Gracie lands a slapping body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie looks to score with a jab to the body but Bakunin is just out of range.
Gracie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bakunin is fending him off so far but Gracie persists. Nope, Bakunin circles away and we're back to standing.
Gracie looks to land a right hand but Bakunin moved out of range.
Gracie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bakunin manages to avoid it.
Bakunin throws a hook but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Bakunin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gracie.
Bakunin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gracie.
Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Bakunin avoids the body shot from Gracie.
Bakunin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gracie misses the body punch
and Bakunin counters with a slapping leg kick.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gracie passes Bakunin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gracie prevents Bakunin from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Bakunin defends the submission attempt.

Bakunin has one foot on Gracie's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Bakunin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gracie.
Gracie jabs at Bakunin's body.

Gracie decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gracie has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Bakunin is looking to escape.
Gracie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bakunin's head.
Bakunin is trying to stand.
Gracie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bakunin's head.
Bakunin is refusing to be controlled, as Gracie sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to free his trapped foot but Bakunin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Gracie stops Bakunin from getting back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gracie fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Gracie misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Bakunin counters with a two punch combo.
Gracie takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Gracie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gracie lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Gracie scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Bakunin won't allow it.
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bakunin is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bakunin won't allow Gracie to pass to mount.
Gracie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gracie landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Gracie uses his free foot to push down on Bakunin's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Bakunin.
Gracie connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bakunin is bucking up trying to escape but Gracie cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Gracie with a couple of short strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Bakunin's face.
Gracie lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Gracie connects with a couple of good shots from 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.
Gracie punishing his opponent with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacko Gracie dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bakunin takes one to the side of the head.
Gracie is looking to wear down Bakunin with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Bakunin doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Gracie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bakunin defends it nicely.
Gracie swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Bakunin to counter with a crisp jab.
Gracie comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Gracie just misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie lands with a nice body punch.

Gracie shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Bakunin manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gracie passes Bakunin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gracie is nestled in close to Bakunin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Jacko Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gracie sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bakunin defending well though.
Bakunin tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
Bakunin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bakunin pushes Gracie off looking to stand but Gracie dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Bakunin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gracie seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Gracie slips a nice elbow through Bakunin's hands, connecting with Bakunin's forehead.
Bakunin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gracie not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bakunin wants to get back to his feet.
Gracie wants to advance to full mount but Bakunin doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Bakunin has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Gracie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bakunin seems keen to control Gracie's posture.
Bakunin keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

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.
Bakunin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gracie is controlling him.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Bakunin is looking to stand up but Gracie isn't so interested in that idea.
Gracie won't allow Bakunin to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bakunin takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Bakunin throws a lazy right hand but Gracie sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gracie lands a right hook to the body.
Bakunin swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bakunin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bakunin takes a swing at Gracie's ribcage but misses.
Jacko Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bakunin gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gracie trying to control but Bakunin is working from the bottom.
Bakunin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracie.
Gracie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Bakunin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Bakunin is keeping the position.
Bakunin is adopting a defensive guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Bakunin bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Gracie's head backwards.
Gracie changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bakunin moves away.
Gracie misses with a shot to the body
and Bakunin counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Bakunin thows a body shot but no joy.
Gracie swings for the body but Bakunin moves out of range.
Gracie throws a body punch but Bakunin moves out of range.
Gracie connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Bakunin momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacko Gracie dominated that second 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 looks to land a right hand but Gracie moved out of range.
Bakunin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gracie.
Gracie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bakunin was well out of range. Poor timing from Gracie.
Bakunin attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Bakunin stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gracie.
Bakunin is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Bakunin takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Bakunin takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Gracie throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Bakunin is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.
Gracie in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Bakunin some visible discomfort.
Gracie works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Bakunin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bakunin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gracie wants to control but Bakunin is keeping him busy.
An elbow from Gracie crashes against the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gracie works to advance to full mount. Bakunin defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Gracie landing strikes from the mount and Bakunin is in trouble!
Gracie looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gracie breaks from Bakunin's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Gracie has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Bakunin's face.
Gracie looking to control but Bakunin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Gracie is really struggling to control Bakunin but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Gracie prevents Bakunin from getting the reversal.
Gracie misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Bakunin is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Gracie perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Gracie wants to control but Bakunin is keeping him busy.
Gracie scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gracie misses with a head shot. Bakunin uses the momentum to regain guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gracie accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Bakunin keeps moving.
Bakunin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gracie's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bakunin defends well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bakunin manages to get himself to full guard.
Bakunin wants to stand but Gracie is controlling the position.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Bakunin keeps moving.
Gracie with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gracie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gracie throwing strikes but missing.
Bakunin wants to stand up but Gracie is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacko Gracie clearly takes that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A shot to the body from Gracie misses
and Bakunin counters with a stiff right hand.
Gracie thows a body shot but no joy.
Gracie on the wrong end of a nice hook.

It looks like Jacko Gracie has been cut.
Gracie is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bakunin sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gracie scores with a body shot.

Bakunin lands a left and a right that send Gracie crashing to the mat, dazed. Bakunin thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Gracie is rocked!
Bakunin has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie misses with a body shot.
Oh Gracie is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Bakunin scores with a body shot.
Bakunin scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Gracie doesn't seem bothered though.
Bakunin sees an opening and throws a straight punch right through Gracie's defenses. It connects perfectly with Gracie's jaw and knocks him out cold! Wow - that's a contender for knockout of the year - absolutely brutal!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:43 of round 4, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Jake Bakunin!
Jake Bakunin is the new middleweight champion!