PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vixx Bubanja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Efraim Barkbit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Efraim Barkbit has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Bubanja
vs
Barkbit

175 cm
20
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
23
206 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight 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, Vixx Bubanja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Efraim Barkbit!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Vladimir Khabensky and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bubanja swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Barkbit tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bubanja paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bubanja is looking to counter the offense by Barkbit and move into the clinch.

Bubanja forces Barkbit back against the cage and clinches.

Barkbit breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barkbit wants to clinch up but Bubanja keeps it at a distance.
Barkbit tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bubanja sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barkbit somewhat.
Bubanja shoots and misses
and Barkbit counters with a two punch combo.
Barkbit pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Bubanja tries to pull guard but Barkbit holds him up against the cage and eventually Bubanja drops back down to his feet.

Bubanja breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barkbit looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bubanja is fending him off so far but Barkbit persists. Nope, Bubanja circles away and we're back to standing.
Bubanja shoots for a double leg takedown but Barkbit sprawls well. He's pushed Bubanja's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vixx Bubanja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barkbit throws a leg kick which misses Bubanja's front leg but catches the back leg as Bubanja tries to avoid it.
Barkbit throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Barkbit keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Barkbit shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bubanja sprawls well. Bubanja wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Barkbit gets slowly back to his feet.
Bubanja keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bubanja swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Barkbit tries for a takedown but Bubanja circles away easily

and Bubanja holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bubanja jumps guard but Barkbit stands there with Bubanja around his waist. Bubanja gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Bubanja escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Barkbit gets a clinch.

Barkbit escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bubanja with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Barkbit to counter with a crisp jab.
Barkbit slaps away a takedown attempt from Bubanja, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Barkbit connects with a high kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bubanja misses with the combination.
Bubanja shoots and misses
and Barkbit counters with a left and a right that stings Bubanja.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick from Barkbit lands but Bubanja takes it in his stride.
Barkbit tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bubanja paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bubanja throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bubanja is breathing heavily.

Barkbit fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Bubanja to the ground. Barkbit is now in Bubanja's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bubanja is looking to stand up but Barkbit isn't so interested in that idea.
Barkbit must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bubanja keeping moving, preventing Barkbit from controlling successfully.
Barkbit postures up.
Bubanja looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bubanja keeping moving, preventing Barkbit from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barkbit has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bubanja is proving hard to escape from.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bubanja swats away the attempt to clinch by Barkbit.
Bubanja attempts a counter takedown but Barkbit avoids it well and moves away.
Barkbit lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Barkbit tries to clinch but Bubanja moves out of range.
Barkbit throws a head kick that half lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bubanja takes a kick to the side of the head.
Bubanja takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Bubanja shoots in for a takedown but Barkbit shows good takedown defense.
A head kick from Barkbit lands but Bubanja takes it in his stride.
Barkbit looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Barkbit tries to sprawl but Bubanja drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Barkbit wants to improve his position but Bubanja is controlling well.
Bubanja not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Barkbit is in trouble now - Bubanja has advanced to mount!
Poor strikes thrown by Bubanja there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barkbit is in all sorts of trouble here.
Barkbit is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Bubanja looking to ground and pound but Barkbit is blocking nicely.
Barkbit is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Barkbit is desperately trying to improve his position but Bubanja has a good base and remains in mount.
Bubanja takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Bubanja throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Barkbit regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bubanja stands up from half guard.
Barkbit shoots for a double leg takedown but Bubanja sprawls well. He's pushed Barkbit's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Barkbit stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Barkbit wants it to stay on the feet.
Barkbit unleashes a big counter combination but Bubanja bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Bubanja clinches.
Bubanja wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vixx Bubanja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barkbit with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Barkbit wants a takedown.
Barkbit gets underhooks to prevent Bubanja's takedown attempt.
Barkbit is trying to break the clinch but Bubanja is controlling him.

Barkbit's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barkbit scores with a head kick.
Bubanja avoids the head kick by Barkbit.
Barkbit fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Barkbit scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Barkbit wants to stand but Bubanja has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
Bubanja is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bubanja managing to control the position.
Barkbit with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bubanja has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Barkbit stops Bubanja from standing up.
Barkbit cracks Bubanja with a solid left hand.
Bubanja being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Barkbit slaps away a takedown attempt from Bubanja, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Efraim Barkbit showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Barkbit is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Barkbit shoots for a takedown but Bubanja saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bubanja keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Barkbit is looking to clinch but Bubanja is avoiding it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bubanja is defended easily by Barkbit.
Barkbit steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Bubanja.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barkbit tries to close the distance and clinch but Bubanja swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
As Barkbit looks to move away, Bubanja throws a big counter combo bu Barkbit just gets out of the way.
Barkbit lands with a slapping head kick.
Bubanja looks for a takedown but Barkbit sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barkbit throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Bubanja's head.

Bubanja clinches up with Barkbit and pushes him back against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Bubanja.
Barkbit misses with a punch to the body.
Barkbit wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bubanja has him pressed against the cage.

Barkbit manages to break the clinch.
Bubanja fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vixx Bubanja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barkbit throws a quick inside leg kick.
Efraim Barkbit seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barkbit stuffs the takedown attempt from Bubanja. Bubanja gets slowly back to his feet.
Barkbit unleashes a big counter combination but Bubanja bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Bubanja could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barkbit tries to clinch up but Bubanja circles away and keeps his distance.
Bubanja swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A head kick misses from Barkbit.
Bubanja tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Barkbit manages to circle out of the way.
Barkbit lands a head kick. Bubanja smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Barkbit tries a head kick but it misses.
Barkbit throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Bubanja pushes Barkbit up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barkbit is trying to push Bubanja away but Bubanja has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Bubanja tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Barkbit just stands there and leans against the cage.
Barkbit wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bubanja throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Barkbit tries to score a body lock takedown but Bubanja shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bubanja has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Barkbit avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Barkbit is pressed up against the cage. Bubanja has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Barkbit down to the mat. Barkbit avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Bubanja stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Barkbit.
Bubanja finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Barkbit doesn't manage to clinch there - Bubanja circles away.
Barkbit goes for a double leg but Bubanja avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bubanja continues to drive forward.
Bubanja misses with a takedown attempt - Barkbit sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bubanja takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Barkbit forces Bubanja back against the cage and clinches.

Barkbit jumps guard and drags Bubanja to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barkbit keeping moving, preventing Bubanja from controlling successfully.
Bubanja prevents Barkbit from getting back to his feet.
Barkbit working a defensive guard here.
Efraim Barkbit has got the better of the ground game so far.

Bubanja stands up from Barkbit's guard - Bubanja perhaps looking for a knockout.
Vixx Bubanja has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Efraim Barkbit is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bubanja tries for a takedown but Barkbit circles away easily
and Barkbit counters with a series of strikes. Bubanja will be more careful next time no doubt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Efraim Barkbit comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Barkbit winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Efraim Barkbit!