PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Toktogulovich Bakiyev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Louis Friedlander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Friedlander 's choice of entrance music: Bring Me to Life. This should be a great matchup!

Bakiyev
vs
Friedlander

171 cm
21
163 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

177 cm
28
162 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Granite chin

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Toktogulovich Bakiyev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Louis Friedlander !
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Friedlander shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bakiyev defends it nicely.
Friedlander shoots in for a double leg but Bakiyev sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Good exchange - Bakiyev coming out on top.
Bakiyev throws a body shot but no joy.
Friedlander has his takedown stuffed
and Bakiyev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Toktogulovich Bakiyev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Louis Friedlander .
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bakiyev lands a slapping body shot.
Friedlander takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Friedlander shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bakiyev pinned against the cage. Bakiyev gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Friedlander drives through with a takedown into guard.

Friedlander postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Bakiyev is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Friedlander , into his guard.

Friedlander is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bakiyev tries to stand but Friedlander is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Friedlander throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've been hearing good reports from Bakiyev's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Bakiyev wanted to stand there but Friedlander had control of the position.

Friedlander had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bakiyev defends it easily.

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

Bakiyev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakiyev wants to stand but Friedlander has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Bakiyev knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Friedlander on the ground.
Friedlander looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bakiyev is one step ahead there.

Friedlander is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bakiyev defends well.

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.
Bakiyev would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Friedlander has his takedown stuffed
and Bakiyev counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Bakiyev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Friedlander tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Friedlander on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Bakiyev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Friedlander was well out of range. Poor timing from Bakiyev.
Bakiyev throws a body punch but Friedlander moves out of range.
Friedlander drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Bakiyev defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toktogulovich Bakiyev dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Bakiyev misses with a body shot.
Friedlander looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bakiyev keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Bakiyev lands a jab to the nose.
Bakiyev keeps the fight on the outside.
Louis Friedlander is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bakiyev lands a jab to the head.
Friedlander takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Friedlander shoots in looking for a takedown. Bakiyev tries to sprawl out of it but Friedlander keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bakiyev manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bakiyev. Friedlander does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bakiyev just misses with a punch to the body.
Friedlander steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Bakiyev.
Friedlander gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bakiyev counters with a left to the body.
Toktogulovich Bakiyev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Louis Friedlander .
Bakiyev throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Friedlander stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A punch lands to the side of Friedlander 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Bakiyev lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Bakiyev just misses with a punch to the body.
Friedlander changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Friedlander shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bakiyev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friedlander fails with the takedown
and Friedlander takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bakiyev lands with a nice body punch.
Bakiyev dips to his left and cracks Friedlander with an uppercut!
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!
Friedlander takes one to the chin there.
Nice shot lands for Bakiyev.
Nice body punch from Bakiyev.
Friedlander takes one to the chin there.
Friedlander tries for a takedown but Bakiyev circles away easily
and Friedlander takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakiyev lands a slapping body shot.
Bakiyev dips to his left and cracks Friedlander with an uppercut!
Friedlander closes the distance and clinches up with Bakiyev, looking for a takedown. Friedlander pushes Bakiyev against the cage but Bakiyev circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bakiyev was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Nice takedown defense from Bakiyev. No joy for Friedlander on that attempt.
Friedlander has his takedown stuffed
and Bakiyev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Friedlander takes a jab right on the kisser.
Bakiyev misses with a body shot.
Friedlander tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Bakiyev lands with a nice body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Friedlander shoots for a double leg takedown but Bakiyev sprawls well. He's pushed Friedlander 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bakiyev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Friedlander shoots for a double leg takedown but Bakiyev sprawls well. He's pushed Friedlander 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
It looked like Bakiyev was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Friedlander .
Friedlander shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bakiyev as he jumps to the side.
Bakiyev jabs Friedlander to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A jab from Bakiyev finds it's way through Friedlander 's defenses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Friedlander looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Friedlander misses with a takedown
and Bakiyev counters with a nice body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toktogulovich Bakiyev dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Bakiyev lands with a nice body punch.
Friedlander looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Toktogulovich Bakiyev is winning the standup battle so far.
Bakiyev swats away the attempt to clinch by Friedlander .
No luck with that takedown attempt from Friedlander .
Good standup being displayed there by Bakiyev as he connects with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bakiyev dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Friedlander gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Bakiyev.
Bakiyev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Friedlander can do to turn this around?
Bakiyev connects with a body shot that sends Friedlander 's belly button to the back.
Toktogulovich Bakiyev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakiyev scores with a nice strike.
Bakiyev digs a good hook to Friedlander 's body.
Bakiyev throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Friedlander walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Friedlander shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bakiyev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Friedlander with a poor takedown
and Friedlander takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Toktogulovich Bakiyev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Louis Friedlander .
Friedlander takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Bakiyev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Friedlander changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Friedlander shoots in for a double leg but Bakiyev sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Bakiyev appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakiyev takes a swing at Friedlander 's ribcage but misses.
Bakiyev fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Friedlander looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Friedlander tries to clinch
and Bakiyev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bakiyev connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Bakiyev scores with a sloppy right hand. Friedlander should have avoided that one.
Friedlander darts in looking for a takedown but Bakiyev gets double underhooks and turns Friedlander into the cage.
Bakiyev swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Friedlander doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Bakiyev makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Friedlander takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bakiyev dips to his left and cracks Friedlander with an uppercut!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakiyev lands a slapping body shot.
Friedlander takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Bakiyev throws a shot to the body.
Bakiyev connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Friedlander momentarily.
Friedlander walks into a left hand.

Friedlander gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Bakiyev is trying to push Friedlander away but Friedlander has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Bakiyev can't break the clinch.
Friedlander is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Friedlander prevents Bakiyev from breaking the clinch.
Bakiyev is trying to push Friedlander away but Friedlander has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Friedlander has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bakiyev avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Friedlander missing with knees to the body.
Friedlander is looking for a takedown.
Bakiyev stops a takedown attempt from Friedlander .
Bakiyev tries to circle away but Friedlander has him pinned against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Toktogulovich Bakiyev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bakiyev, 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:25
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:25
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toktogulovich Bakiyev!
A relieved looking Toktogulovich Bakiyev thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.