PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Igor Bakunin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and liam snell (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.

Bakunin
vs
snell

199 cm
18
290 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
19
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Berserker Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Igor Bakunin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, liam snell!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Edson Gomes and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
snell feints and then cracks Bakunin's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bakunin down.
Igor Bakunin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
snell looks for a takedown but Bakunin sprawls well.
snell tries to clinch there but Bakunin circles away.

snell moves into the clinch successfully.
Bakunin is working for takedown but snell is calmly controlling the position for now.
Bakunin looking for a takedown.
Bakunin tries to score a body lock takedown but snell shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Igor Bakunin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bakunin tightens his grip and picks snell up, before dumping him to the ground. snell manages to land in guard.
snell throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Bakunin won't allow snell to sweep him here.
snell looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
snell lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bakunin!
Bakunin is squirming around, avoiding snell's attempts to control the action.
Bakunin holds on, trying desperately to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
snell trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Bakunin tries to reverse the position but snell maintains control.
Bakunin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Bakunin takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
snell putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Bakunin is looking to get to half guard.
A nice elbow there by snell.
Bakunin is trying desperately to improve position.
Bakunin sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Bakunin tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
snell seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
snell looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Bakunin is not content to let snell control the position.
Bakunin missing with punches from the bottom.
snell moves nicely into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
snell looks gassed!
Bakunin manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Bakunin flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Bakunin is looking for a sweep. snell is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bakunin moves into full guard.
snell won't allow Bakunin to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
snell wants to control from the top but Bakunin keeps moving.
Bakunin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Bakunin lands strikes from half guard.
Bakunin lands with a punch from half guard.
snell trying to control from the bottom.
Bakunin is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
snell on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Bakunin landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Bakunin seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Bakunin is nestled in close to snell, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Bakunin trying to mount his opponent but snell defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bakunin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
snell has hold of Bakunin's hands but Bakunin slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
snell trying to control here.
Bakunin 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 pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Bakunin with shots to the head and body - snell looks very uncomfortable down there.
snell takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Bakunin scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish snell?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bakunin scores a takedown into full mount!
Bakunin lands a big elbow.
Bakunin with good strikes from the mount here!
Bakunin working snell over with strikes here.
snell is working to get back to half guard.
snell is bucking up trying to escape but Bakunin cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Igor Bakunin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee warns snell that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
BOOM! Bakunin connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Bakunin connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bakunin connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
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!
Bakunin with good strikes from the mount here!
snell working to try and regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakunin looking to finish snell with some ground and pound. This is bad for snell!
snell bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
snell tries to stand but Bakunin is controlling from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bakunin is on top in guard.
Bakunin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

snell is looking for a triangle but Bakunin pushes his legs off easily.
snell trying to keep a closed guard but Bakunin is proving a slippery customer.
Bakunin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bakunin tries to free his leg and advance position but snell is retaining full guard.
snell manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
snell wants to control the pace but Bakunin is squirming around nicely.
snell is in the full mount, landing strikes.

snell wants to finish this one by submission but Bakunin is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from snell.
snell landing strikes, looking to finish!
Bakunin regains half guard.
snell prevents Bakunin from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bakunin is working hard here to advance position.
Bakunin flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
snell shoots for a takedown but Bakunin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
snell misses with a double jab.

Bakunin looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Bakunin with a nice head shot there.
Bakunin won't allow snell to sweep him here.
snell trying to control the position.

snell pushes Bakunin off and scrambles back to his feet.

Bakunin gets a takedown into half guard.
snell controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bakunin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. snell defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Bakunin 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. This is the final round!

Bakunin gets the takedown into side control.
snell is working to avoid the ground and pound but Bakunin connects with a decent elbow.
snell is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Bakunin off and has taken his back!
snell throwing damaging strikes from the back! Bakunin could be in trouble here!

Bakunin fending off the submission attempt from snell.
Bakunin rolls, trying to escape but snell keeps control of the position.
Bakunin turns into snell and is now in his guard.
Bakunin postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
snell trying to control the position.
snell keeping full guard, as Bakunin tries to pass.
Bakunin is looking to advance position but snell has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
snell scores with a couple of good head shots there.

snell working for a guillotine from mount but Bakunin is in no mood to give up.

snell looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Bakunin bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Bakunin is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! snell is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! snell has escaped and now he's on top!
snell is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
snell looking to pass the guard.
Bakunin has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but snell has passed into side control.
Bakunin takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
snell tries to stand but Bakunin is controlling his head.
snell blocks the strikes from Bakunin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin is not content to let snell control the position.
Bakunin is trying to work for a sweep but snell has mounted him!
snell scores with a couple of good head shots there.
snell manages to capitalize on a mistake by Bakunin to take his back!
snell struggling to keep hold of the position.
snell keeps control of the position as Bakunin tries to break free.
snell is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Bakunin is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
snell doesn't have the hooks in and Bakunin manages to turn into his guard.
snell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bakunin.

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.

snell 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.
snell can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bakunin controls the pace.
snell wants to sweep here but Bakunin controlling him for the moment.
snell looking to control.
snell wants to get back to his feet but Bakunin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Bakunin gets a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. snell manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Bakunin is looking to work some ground and pound but snell has wrist control.
liam snell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bakunin throws and elbow that misses. snell uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bakunin's guard. Nice move by snell!

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 Igor Bakunin.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bakunin, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:28

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