PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Baako The African (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martti Luther (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Luther has chosen Honor - Triumph of the new era as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

The African
vs
Luther

160 cm
22
199 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

192 cm
22
190 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Fighters Formula (New Ownership!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Baako The African!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Martti Luther!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Dmitry Maklakov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The African looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The African with a nice head shot there.

Luther has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but The African can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Luther looking for a guillotine here but The African defends easily.
Luther looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The African is in close to Luther's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The African trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The African could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The African is in close to Luther's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The African lands a couple of digs.
The African lands a couple of digs.
Luther looking to hit a scissor sweep but The African is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The African scoring with punches to the head and body.
The African 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.
Luther working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from The African.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Luther looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The African looking to pass the guard.
Luther tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Luther is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Luther misses with a looping right.
Luther is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by The African.
Martti Luther is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

The African drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The African lands a nice forearm strike.
The African scores with punches from side control.
Luther tries to buck The African off but The African is having none of it.
The African moves into full mount!
The African landing strikes from the mount.
The African is breathing heavily.
Luther is working to get back to half guard.
Luther slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Luther wants to stand back up but The African manages to pass into side control.

The African thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Luther is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The African tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no The African has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The African creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Luther sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Luther manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Luther tries to get to full guard but The African has control of the leg.
Luther gets back to full guard.
Luther wants to get back to his feet but The African is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four 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.
The African working some strikes from top position.
The African postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Luther manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Luther jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… The African is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by The African and Luther has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Luther is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. The African knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The African is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Luther's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baako The African dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Luther throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The African shoots in for a double leg but Luther sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

The African closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - The African lands in his opponent's guard.

Luther escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. The African gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The African won't allow Luther to sweep him here.
Luther utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Luther working a defensive guard here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Luther working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. The African doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. The African manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luther is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Luther throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The African stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Luther swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Luther looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Luther throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

The African 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Luther looking for a guillotine here but The African defends easily.
The African lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Luther looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Luther is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The African working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Luther's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luther looking for a sweep. Not yet Luther, not yet.

Luther working for submissions but it's allowed The African to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Luther gets full guard.

Luther is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Luther is on top in guard.
Luther trying to control the position from guard on top but The African is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Luther drops back, looking for a kneebar! The African looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. The African looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from The African!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The African connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Luther some visible discomfort.
Luther is looking to regain half guard here but The African keeps moving and retains side control.
Luther tries to control the position but he's not in luck - The African easily slips into full mount!
BOOM! The African connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Luther regains half guard.
The African stops Luther from getting back to his feet.
Luther avoiding damage under a succession of punches from The African.
Luther regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martti Luther showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Luther lands a nice looking body shot.
The African keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

The African shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Luther bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Luther looking to sit in guard and control but The African gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The African lands a couple of elbows.
The African in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Luther isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. The African stacks Luther on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by The African!

The African working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The African working the head with strikes.
Luther gets back to half guard.

The African is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Luther has managed to free his arm - good work.
Luther tries to get to full guard but The African has control of the leg.
Luther makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Luther.

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.
Luther utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The African working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Luther escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. The African gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Luther working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because The African has passed into half guard!
Ground and pound from The African.

Luther is defending against the submission attempts here by The African.
Luther is looking for a sweep. The African is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luther regains full guard. Nicely done.
The African postures up in Luther's guard and throws a big left but Luther blocks it.

The African is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Luther is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Luther has escaped and now he's on top!
Luther wants to control from the top but The African keeps moving.
Luther slips nicely into half guard.

The African is defending against the submission attempts here by Luther.
The African tries to roll over but Luther keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Luther is trying to work for a kimura but The African is defending well.
Luther stalling away here and it's allowed The African to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Luther wants to control from the top but The African keeps moving.
The African bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Luther's guard.

Luther throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! The African escapes and throws Luther's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Luther tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Baako The African.
I think The African 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Baako The African!