PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mikhail Bakunin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anton Marx (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
Marx

189 cm
24
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mikhail Bakunin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anton Marx!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Bruno Lombardi and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bakunin has a takedown stuffed.
Bakunin scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Bakunin closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Bakunin blocks the strikes from Marx.

Bakunin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bakunin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Marx's head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Marx can do anything to dispel that myth.
Marx trying to control but Bakunin postures up.
Bakunin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bakunin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bakunin prevents Marx from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakunin wants to take a breather but Marx is having none of it.
Marx tries to kick Bakunin off but Bakunin keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Marx is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Bakunin is trying to control. Marx wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
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.

Marx is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bakunin pulls his head out easily.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Bakunin wants to stand but Marx has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bakunin looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Marx is fending him off so far but Bakunin persists. Nope, Marx circles away and we're back to standing.
Bakunin lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Bakunin.
Marx shoots in for a takedown but Bakunin shows good takedown defense.
Bakunin misses with a low kick.
Despite the aggression on Marx's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Bakunin lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Bakunin.
Bakunin avoids the head kick by Marx.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bakunin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bakunin lands in his opponent's guard.
Bakunin is standing up over Marx. Marx looks to escape but Bakunin dives into side control.
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!

You can see the frustration on Marx's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bakunin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Marx keeps working.
Marx tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Bakunin presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marx tries to hold on but Bakunin postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin wants to control the pace but Marx is squirming around nicely.
Marx wants to hold on but Bakunin pushes him away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Bakunin cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Marx is trying desperately to improve position.

Bakunin has hold of Marx's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Marx manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Bakunin is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Marx is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bakunin working for a submission but Marx is keeping him at bay.
Marx is squirming around, avoiding Bakunin's attempts to control the action.
Marx is wriggling around trying to escape.
Marx is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Bakunin is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Marx is surviving well by controlling Bakunin's body position as best he can.
Marx can't escape the position.
Bakunin sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Marx wants to hold on but Bakunin pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Marx takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Bakunin closes the distance and clinches up with Marx, looking for a takedown. Bakunin pushes Marx against the cage but Marx circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bakunin blocks a head kick by Marx.
Mikhail Bakunin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marx jabbing away but nothing is landing.
No luck for Bakunin with that takedown attempt.
Marx tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bakunin swats him away and circles back towards the center.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Bakunin wants to get back to striking at distance but Marx won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marx is working for takedown but Bakunin is calmly controlling the position for now.
Marx has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Bakunin after a bit of a struggle.

Bakunin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mikhail Bakunin is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakunin scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Bakunin scores with a three punch combo!
Marx is still on wobbly legs! Can Bakunin finish him?
Marx shoots in but no luck this time.
Mikhail Bakunin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anton Marx.
Bakunin tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Marx defends well and Bakunin ends up having to push Marx into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Marx has a takedown stuffed.
Bakunin is looking for a counter combo.
Marx blocks a head kick by Bakunin.
Marx feints a counter leg kick.
Bakunin throws a perfectly timed hook that sends Marx crashing down! Marx tries to stagger back to his feet but Bakunin just hammers him until the ref stops the fight! A confused Marx asks the ref what just happened. Poor fella.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mikhail Bakunin!