PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Budancev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Badr Guerrouj (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.

Budancev
vs
Guerrouj

170 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
25
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight 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, Vladimir Budancev!
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, Badr Guerrouj!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Vladimir Khabensky and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Budancev doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Budancev takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Budancev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Guerrouj counters with a straight right hand.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Budancev crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Guerrouj - the referee stops the clock and Budancev gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Guerrouj. Budancev manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Budancev tries for a takedown but Guerrouj circles away easily
and Guerrouj counters with a big head kick but Budancev shrugs it off.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vladimir Budancev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Budancev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Guerrouj pinned against the cage. Guerrouj gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Budancev gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Budancev has his takedown stuffed
and Guerrouj counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Budancev has his takedown stuffed
and Guerrouj counters with a slapping leg kick.
Budancev is breathing heavily.
Guerrouj lands a head shot.
Budancev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Guerrouj counters with an inside leg kick.
Guerrouj moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Budancev takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guerrouj lands with a good body shot.
Crunch! Guerrouj slams his shin into Budancev's torso.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Guerrouj scores with a head kick. Budancev tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Guerrouj goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Guerrouj scores with a head kick. Budancev tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Nice uppercut lands for Guerrouj. That snapped Budancev's head back.
Guerrouj lands with a hook. Budancev tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Guerrouj throws a shot to the body.
Guerrouj lands with a slapping head kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Guerrouj.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guerrouj fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Budancev has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Badr Guerrouj is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Budancev on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Guerrouj dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Budancev. That did some damage!
Guerrouj plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Guerrouj lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Guerrouj is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Budancev had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Budancev on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Guerrouj buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Guerrouj connects with a right hand. Budancev shakes it off.
That kick from Guerrouj tenderised Budancev's leg. Budancev is trying to keep his angry face on.
Guerrouj has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guerrouj throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
An inside leg kick lands from Guerrouj.
Guerrouj cracks Budancev with an open hand slap.
Budancev has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Guerrouj finds it's way round the side to connect with Budancev's head.
Guerrouj scores with a push kick.
Guerrouj moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Guerrouj lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A slapping leg kick lands for Guerrouj.
Budancev moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Badr Guerrouj dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Guerrouj throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Budancev tries for a takedown but Guerrouj circles away easily
and Guerrouj makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Guerrouj with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Guerrouj throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Budancev's head.
Budancev doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Guerrouj counters with a body kick that stops Budancev in his tracks momentarily.
Nice body punch from Guerrouj.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Budancev might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Guerrouj lands a right hook to the body.
Guerrouj throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Budancev tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Guerrouj with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Guerrouj connects with a leg kick. Budancev looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Guerrouj has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Guerrouj connects with an inside leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Guerrouj, right into the meat.
Guerrouj ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Guerrouj fakes the leg kick and cracks Budancev in the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Guerrouj darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Budancev is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Guerrouj scores with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guerrouj lands with a thumping leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Guerrouj.
Vladimir Budancev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Guerrouj lands a high kick!
Guerrouj goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Guerrouj throws a quick inside leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Guerrouj. That's going to slow Budancev down.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Budancev. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Guerrouj throws a head kick that Budancev semi-blocks.
Badr Guerrouj seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Budancev has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Guerrouj.
A solid leg kick lands there for Guerrouj.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Guerrouj.
Guerrouj throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Guerrouj throws a nice head kick!
Guerrouj feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Budancev's calf.
A jab from Guerrouj does it's job there.
Guerrouj throws a quick inside leg kick.
Budancev takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
That kick from Guerrouj tenderised Budancev's leg. Budancev is trying to keep his angry face on.
Guerrouj scores with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guerrouj throws a head kick that half lands.
A head kick from Guerrouj lands but Budancev takes it in his stride.
Guerrouj lands with a thumping leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Guerrouj lands a head kick. Budancev smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Budancev takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Guerrouj feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Budancev's calf.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Guerrouj feints and then cracks Budancev's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Budancev down.
Guerrouj fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Budancev has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Guerrouj lands with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Badr Guerrouj showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Guerrouj fakes the leg kick and cracks Budancev in the body.
Budancev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Guerrouj counters with a right hand to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Guerrouj.
A head kick from Guerrouj lands but Budancev takes it in his stride.
Budancev looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Budancev shoots and misses
and Guerrouj counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Budancev takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Budancev steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Guerrouj. That one must have hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Budancev chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Guerrouj can pounce on him.
Budancev with a lazy takedown attempt
and Guerrouj counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vladimir Budancev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Guerrouj lands a nice leg kick that just misses Budancev's sensitive parts.
Guerrouj cracks Budancev with an open hand slap.
Budancev drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Vladimir Budancev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Guerrouj lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Guerrouj scores with a crisp jab that stopped Budancev in his tracks.
Budancev has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Guerrouj.
Guerrouj scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guerrouj with a nice cross.
Guerrouj scores with a jab to the head.
Guerrouj lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Budancev is rocked!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Guerrouj lands a front kick.
Budancev takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Guerrouj lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Guerrouj goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Oh Budancev is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Guerrouj scoring well with a low kick there.
Budancev seems to have got his legs back now.
Budancev on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Guerrouj. Guerrouj obviously looking to wear him down.
Budancev looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Budancev takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Guerrouj lands with a hook. Budancev tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Guerrouj lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Guerrouj plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Guerrouj connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Budancev momentarily.
Budancev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Guerrouj counters with a nice leg kick.
Guerrouj scores with a shot to the body.
Guerrouj keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guerrouj lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Guerrouj throws a quick inside leg kick.
Budancev will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Guerrouj explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Guerrouj scores with a head kick. Budancev tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Guerrouj connects with a high kick.
Guerrouj scores with a kick to the midsection.
Guerrouj with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Guerrouj lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Vladimir Budancev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Badr Guerrouj is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Guerrouj swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Budancev.

And that's the end of the fight!
Badr Guerrouj comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Guerrouj has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 24:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 24:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Badr Guerrouj!