PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alekseyi Bakradze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tihon Lapardin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Bakradze
vs
Lapardin

185 cm
25
177 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

186 cm
26
175 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Knockout power

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alekseyi Bakradze!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Tihon Lapardin!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Luis Engracia and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lapardin has taken the fight to the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Lapardin just misses with a elbow thrown towards Bakradze's brow.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lapardin throws an elbow but misses.
Bakradze comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Bakradze blocks an elbow strike.
Bakradze tries a knee to the head but Lapardin blocks it.
Lapardin creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Bakradze with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lapardin takes an elbow to the temple.
Bakradze tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lapardin avoids it.
Bakradze tries to land a knee to the head but Lapardin blocks with his arms.
Lapardin takes an elbow to the temple.
Bakradze creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Lapardin's defenses.
Bakradze blocks the elbow strike.
Bakradze blocks an elbow strike from Lapardin.
Bakradze avoids the elbow strike from Lapardin, against the cage.
Bakradze blocks an elbow strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bakradze dodges an elbow strike from Lapardin.
Lapardin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Bakradze with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nice elbow from Bakradze.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapardin throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Bakradze throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Lapardin avoids the elbow strike from Bakradze, against the cage.
Nice elbow from Bakradze.
Bakradze throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Bakradze avoids a wild elbow strike from Lapardin.
Bakradze blocks an elbow strike from Lapardin.
Bakradze blocks an elbow strike from Lapardin.
Bakradze throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lapardin blocks it with crossed arms.
Bakradze looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Bakradze throws a knee to the head but misses.
Bakradze lands a damaging elbow.
Bakradze blocks an elbow strike.
Lapardin misses with an elbow over the top.
Lapardin pushes off an throws an elbow but Bakradze leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Lapardin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Bakradze avoids the elbow strike from Lapardin, against the cage.
Bakradze using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lapardin has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lapardin throws an elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakradze tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bakradze lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bakradze blocks an elbow strike.
Bakradze missing with knees to the body.
Lapardin throws an elbow that misses.
Bakradze avoids a wild elbow strike from Lapardin.
Bakradze using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lapardin has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lapardin throws an elbow but it misses.
Bakradze blocks the elbow strike.
Lapardin creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Bakradze using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lapardin has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Bakradze avoids the elbow strike from Lapardin, against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Lapardin.
Bakradze using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Lapardin pushes off an throws an elbow but Bakradze leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Bakradze throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lapardin blocks it with crossed arms.
Bakradze misses with a knee strike.
Bakradze is breathing heavily.
Bakradze tries a knee to the head but Lapardin blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakradze scores a nice knee to the body.
Bakradze avoids a wild elbow strike from Lapardin.
Lapardin throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Lapardin creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Lapardin throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Bakradze looking to throw knees to the head but Lapardin is blocking nicely.
Lapardin misses with an elbow over the top.
Lapardin throws an elbow that misses.
Bakradze with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bakradze takes an elbow to the forehead.
Bakradze pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Bakradze throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lapardin misses with an elbow strike.
Bakradze blocks an elbow strike from Lapardin.
Bakradze throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lapardin blocks it with crossed arms.
Lapardin throws an elbow but it misses.
Bakradze dodges an elbow strike from Lapardin.
Lapardin lands an elbow inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bakradze pushes off an throws an elbow but Lapardin leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Lapardin creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Lapardin lands a nice elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lapardin throws an elbow but misses.
Bakradze throws an elbow but it misses.
Lapardin misses with an elbow strike.
Lapardin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Lapardin creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Lapardin pushes off an throws an elbow but Bakradze leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Lapardin misses with an elbow strike.
Bakradze blocks the elbow strike.
Bakradze misses with a knee to the head.
Bakradze lands a damaging elbow.
Lapardin throws an elbow that misses.
Bakradze avoids a wild elbow strike from Lapardin.
Bakradze creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Lapardin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Bakradze throws an elbow but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tihon Lapardin will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice shot lands for Lapardin.
Bakradze takes one to the chin there.

Lapardin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bakradze looking to throw knees to the head but Lapardin is blocking nicely.
Bakradze blocks an elbow strike.
Lapardin pushes off an throws an elbow but Bakradze leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Bakradze just misses with a elbow thrown towards Lapardin's brow.
Lapardin throws an elbow but it's blocked.
With the fighters up against the cage, Bakradze throws an elbow but misses.
Bakradze with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bakradze throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Lapardin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Lapardin throws an elbow but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bakradze with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Bakradze throws an elbow but it misses.
Bakradze throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Bakradze has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Bakradze blocks an elbow strike.
Tihon Lapardin seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Bakradze pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Lapardin avoids the elbow strike from Bakradze, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapardin throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Bakradze blocks an elbow strike from Lapardin.
Lapardin creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Lapardin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Bakradze tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bakradze blocks an elbow strike from Lapardin.
Bakradze lands an elbow inside that Lapardin shrugs off.
Lapardin looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Lapardin looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Bakradze blocks an elbow strike.
Bakradze throws an elbow that misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Lapardin just misses with a elbow thrown towards Bakradze's brow.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lapardin throws an elbow but misses.
Lapardin looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Lapardin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lapardin lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Lapardin looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Lapardin gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lapardin misses with an elbow over the top.
Bakradze looking to throw knees to the head but Lapardin is blocking nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lapardin takes an elbow to the temple.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Lapardin just misses with a elbow thrown towards Bakradze's brow.
Lapardin looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Bakradze tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lapardin avoids it.
Bakradze misses with a knee to the head.
Lapardin managing to block the knees to the body from Bakradze.
Bakradze blocks an elbow strike.
Lapardin throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Bakradze tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Lapardin just misses with a elbow thrown towards Bakradze's brow.
Lapardin creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Bakradze's defenses.
Lapardin misses with an elbow strike.
Bakradze avoids a wild elbow strike from Lapardin.
Bakradze throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bakradze.
Bakradze tries a knee to the head but Lapardin blocks it.
Lapardin blocks an elbow strike from Bakradze.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lapardin creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Bakradze's defenses.
Lapardin misses with an elbow strike.
Bakradze avoids a wild elbow strike from Lapardin.
Lapardin dodges an elbow strike from Bakradze.
Lapardin pushes off an throws an elbow but Bakradze leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Lapardin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Bakradze avoids a wild elbow strike from Lapardin.
Nice elbow from Bakradze.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lapardin throws an elbow but misses.
Bakradze avoids a wild elbow strike from Lapardin.
Lapardin misses with an elbow over the top.
Bakradze tries to land a knee to the head but Lapardin blocks with his arms.
Lapardin throws an elbow but it misses.
Bakradze blocks an elbow strike from Lapardin.
Bakradze missing with knees to the body.
Bakradze blocks the elbow strike.
Lapardin throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Lapardin throws an elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bakradze dodges an elbow strike from Lapardin.
Lapardin misses with an elbow strike.
Lapardin blocks the elbow strike.
Bakradze is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lapardin is defending well for now.
Lapardin creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Bakradze throws an elbow that misses.
Bakradze creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lapardin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Lapardin pushes off an throws an elbow but Bakradze leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lapardin throws an elbow but misses.
Bakradze avoids the elbow strike from Lapardin, against the cage.
Bakradze throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Lapardin pushes off an throws an elbow but Bakradze leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Lapardin looks to throw an elbow but misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lapardin throws an elbow but misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lapardin throws an elbow but misses.
Lapardin throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Bakradze blocks an elbow strike from Lapardin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tihon Lapardin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Bakradze checks a leg kick.
Lapardin lands a two punch combo.
Bakradze is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Lapardin fails to land with a series of punches.
A good leg kick by Lapardin.

Lapardin closes the distance and pushes Bakradze back into the cage.
Bakradze lands a knee to the head.
Lapardin takes an elbow to the temple.
Bakradze misses with an elbow strike.
Bakradze connects with a knee to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lapardin looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Bakradze tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lapardin creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Bakradze throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lapardin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Lapardin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lapardin throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice elbow from Lapardin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakradze avoids the elbow strike from Lapardin, against the cage.
Bakradze tries to land a knee to the head but Lapardin blocks with his arms.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Lapardin.
Bakradze avoids the elbow strike from Lapardin, against the cage.
Bakradze avoids a wild elbow strike from Lapardin.
A knee to the head by Bakradze.
Bakradze with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Bakradze avoids a wild elbow strike from Lapardin.
Bakradze blocks the elbow strike.
Lapardin throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Lapardin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Bakradze dodges an elbow strike from Lapardin.
Bakradze blocks an elbow strike.
Bakradze with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Lapardin throws an elbow that misses.
Bakradze blocks an elbow strike.
Bakradze avoids a wild elbow strike from Lapardin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lapardin lands an elbow inside that Bakradze shrugs off.
Lapardin misses with an elbow over the top.
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!
Bakradze lands an elbow just above Lapardin 's eye.
Lapardin throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Lapardin throws an elbow that misses.
Lapardin looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Lapardin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lapardin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Bakradze with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bakradze blocks the elbow strike.
Lapardin lands an elbow just above Bakradze 's eye.
Bakradze looking to throw knees to the head but Lapardin is blocking nicely.
Bakradze avoids the elbow strike from Lapardin, against the cage.
Bakradze misses with an elbow over the top.
Lapardin throws an elbow that misses.
Lapardin lands an elbow just above Bakradze 's eye.
Bakradze takes an elbow to the forehead.
Lapardin creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lapardin looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Lapardin dodges an elbow strike from Bakradze.
Lapardin blocks the elbow strike.
Lapardin throws an elbow that misses.
Lapardin throws an elbow that misses.
Bakradze blocks an elbow strike from Lapardin.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Lapardin just misses with a elbow thrown towards Bakradze's brow.
Bakradze throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lapardin blocks it with crossed arms.
Lapardin lands an elbow just above Bakradze 's eye.
Bakradze takes an elbow to the forehead.
Lapardin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Lapardin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Bakradze with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lapardin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Bakradze blocks an elbow strike.
Bakradze throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lapardin looks to throw an elbow but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Lapardin just misses with a elbow thrown towards Bakradze's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bakradze using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lapardin has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lapardin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Bakradze avoids the elbow strike from Lapardin, against the cage.
Bakradze blocks an elbow strike.
Lapardin looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Lapardin throws an elbow but it misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lapardin dodges an elbow strike from Bakradze.
Lapardin creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Lapardin just misses with a elbow thrown towards Bakradze's brow.
Lapardin misses with an elbow over the top.
Lapardin throws an elbow that misses.
Lapardin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bakradze missing with knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Lapardin just misses with a elbow thrown towards Bakradze's brow.
Lapardin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Bakradze throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Lapardin misses with an elbow strike.
Alekseyi Bakradze has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tihon Lapardin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Lapardin just misses with a elbow thrown towards Bakradze's brow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tihon Lapardin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lapardin 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tihon Lapardin!