PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mikhail Bakunin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauri Pekkarinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bakunin comes to the cage accompanied by thats all. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bakunin
vs
Pekkarinen

175 cm
22
150 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

170 cm
24
150 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

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 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mikhail Bakunin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mauri Pekkarinen!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Fedor Mirinova and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pekkarinen forces Bakunin back against the cage and clinches.

Pekkarinen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Bakunin feints and as Pekkarinen raises his hands in defense, Bakunin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bakunin wants to control from the top but Pekkarinen keeps moving.
Pekkarinen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bakunin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pekkarinen is keeping the position for now.
Bakunin wants to control from the top but Pekkarinen keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pekkarinen keeping full guard, as Bakunin tries to pass.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bakunin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Pekkarinen shoots for a double leg takedown but Bakunin sprawls well. He's pushed Pekkarinen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Bakunin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bakunin lands in his opponent's guard.
Bakunin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bakunin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin trying to control the position from guard on top but Pekkarinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bakunin is really struggling to control Pekkarinen but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Bakunin throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Pekkarinen throws a body punch but Bakunin moves out of range.

Pekkarinen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bakunin looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Bakunin is not content to let Pekkarinen control the position.
Pekkarinen prevents Bakunin from escaping the position.
Pekkarinen landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Pekkarinen controls the position.
Pekkarinen prevents Bakunin from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pekkarinen tries to clinch there but Bakunin circles away.

Bakunin fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Pekkarinen sprawls well initially but Bakunin persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bakunin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Bakunin is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pekkarinen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bakunin.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pekkarinen is looking for a sweep. Bakunin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pekkarinen has managed to clinch.
Pekkarinen gets underhooks to prevent Bakunin's takedown attempt.
Pekkarinen stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Bakunin looking for a takedown.
Pekkarinen just leaning against Bakunin, taking a breather.
Bakunin tries to score a body lock takedown but Pekkarinen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikhail Bakunin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pekkarinen dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Mauri Pekkarinen.
Pekkarinen throws a series of punches but Bakunin avoids them all with ease.
Mauri Pekkarinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Pekkarinen clinches up with Bakunin and pushes him back against the cage.
Pekkarinen is pressed up against the cage. Bakunin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pekkarinen down to the mat. Pekkarinen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Bakunin looks to throw the jab but Pekkarinen is out of range.

Pekkarinen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bakunin looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Bakunin wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bakunin explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Pekkarinen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Bakunin tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Pekkarinen manages to move to mount!
Bakunin really wants to buck Pekkarinen off and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pekkarinen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Bakunin wants to try and get back to his feet.
Pekkarinen controlling the position easily from mount.
Bakunin is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

Bakunin bucks up and throws Pekkarinen to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pekkarinen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Bakunin manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Bakunin wants to get back to his feet but Pekkarinen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

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.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Pekkarinen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Bakunin manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Bakunin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mikhail Bakunin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bakunin shoots in but no luck this time.
Bakunin has his takedown stuffed

and Pekkarinen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bakunin won't be happy with that.
Bakunin wants to get back to his feet but Pekkarinen drags him back down.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Bakunin throws Pekkarinen to one side and escapes!
Pekkarinen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bakunin but Bakunin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bakunin with a lazy takedown attempt

and Pekkarinen counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Bakunin!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pekkarinen controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauri Pekkarinen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Bakunin looks for a takedown but Pekkarinen sprawls well.

Pekkarinen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Bakunin is looking to advance position but Pekkarinen has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Bakunin is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Pekkarinen scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Bakunin?
Pekkarinen trying to control but Bakunin is having none of it.
Bakunin wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bakunin somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Pekkarinen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bakunin circles away.
Bakunin swats away the attempt to clinch by Pekkarinen.

Bakunin looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Bakunin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pekkarinen defending well though.
Pekkarinen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bakunin is trying to work for a kimura but Pekkarinen is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Bakunin is working for a submission of some sort.
Pekkarinen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pekkarinen is trying to get back to full guard.
Bakunin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bakunin content to control rather than advance.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Bakunin closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bakunin is looking to advance position but Pekkarinen won't allow it.
Bakunin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pekkarinen defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pekkarinen won't allow Bakunin to pass to mount.
Bakunin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pekkarinen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Pekkarinen trying to control here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Bakunin throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Pekkarinen was covering up waiting for the punch and Bakunin finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Bakunin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikhail Bakunin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bakunin 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28

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