PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rip Snorten (ranked 505 p4p, 70 weight class) and Mikhail Bakunin (ranked 690 p4p, 89 weight class). Snorten comes to the cage accompanied by Sound of Silence. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Snorten
vs
Bakunin

180 cm
34
180 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

181 cm
33
178 lbs
18 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Rip Snorten!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mikhail Bakunin!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paulsen Ambrosius and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bakunin lands a right hook to the body.
Snorten loads up on a big right hand but Bakunin slips the punch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Snorten looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bakunin misses with a jab to the body

and Snorten counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Snorten.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Snorten.
Snorten goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bakunin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Snorten lands a shoulder strike.
Bakunin can't find room to land a body shot as Snorten controls the action.
Bakunin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bakunin swings wildly with an uppercut but Snorten uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bakunin scores with a shoulder strike.
Bakunin makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Bakunin swings wildly with an uppercut but Snorten uses good head movement to avoid it.
Snorten misses with a hook from the clinch.
Snorten blocks a body shot from Bakunin.
Snorten lands with a left to the head.
Snorten can't find room to land a body shot as Bakunin controls the action.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bakunin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bakunin throws a head punch that misses.
Bakunin working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Snorten gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Bakunin wants to stand but Snorten is controlling the position.
Bakunin has momentary wrist control but Snorten slips an elbow through the middle.
Snorten sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bakunin's guard.
Snorten is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Snorten is nestled in close to Bakunin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Snorten looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bakunin with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Bakunin is trying to stand up here but Snorten is controlling him well.
Bakunin on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Snorten working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Snorten takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Snorten throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bakunin on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Snorten lands with a punch from half guard.
Bakunin wants to improve his position but Snorten is controlling well.
Snorten missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Snorten working over Bakunin with some ground and pound. Bakunin looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin is trying to stand back up but Snorten is controlling him
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Snorten lands a nice short elbow.
Bakunin is trying to stand.
Bakunin is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Snorten scores with a couple of nice shots.
Bakunin wants to get back to his feet.
Ground and pound from Snorten.
Snorten lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Bakunin kicks Snorten off and gets back to his feet.
Mikhail Bakunin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bakunin looks to land a left hand but Snorten moved out of range nicely.
Bakunin throws a body shot but no joy.
Snorten appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Snorten scores with a hook to the body. Bakunin takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Snorten moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Snorten throws a body kick that misses.
Bakunin misses with a hook.
Snorten appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Snorten looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Nice uppercut lands for Bakunin. That snapped Snorten's head back.
Bakunin walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Snorten slips under a jab.
Bakunin misses the shot to the body.
Bakunin thuds a left hand into Snorten's body.
Bakunin lands a jab to Snorten's midsection.
Bakunin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Snorten throws a quick counter kick to the body but Bakunin avoids it.
Bakunin throws out a loose jab but Snorten uses good head movement to avoid it.
Snorten throws a body shot but no joy.
Snorten takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Bakunin throws a hook to the side of Snorten's head but Snorten sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bakunin just misses with a punch to the body.
Snorten misses with a body kick.
Snorten dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bakunin. That did some damage!
Bakunin lands a jab to the head.
Bakunin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Snorten just misses with a punch to the body.
Bakunin misses with a hook. Snorten ducked under it nicely.
Snorten lands a nice looking kick to the body. Bakunin takes a step back to recover.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A big right from Bakunin misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Snorten uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bakunin.
Nice defenses there by Snorten.
Snorten avoids the body shot from Bakunin.
Snorten misses with a body shot.
It seemed like Bakunin was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
An inside leg kick from Snorten misses.
Snorten keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Snorten feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Bakunin's calf.
Bakunin looks to throw the jab but Snorten is out of range.
Bakunin throws a looping overhand right but Snorten ducks down to avoid it.
Snorten half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Snorten throws a low kick, looking for Bakunin's leg but Bakunin calmly moves out of range.
Bakunin connects with a crisp jab.
Bakunin throws an overhand right that lands on Snorten's shoulder, as Snorten tries to avoid the shot.
Snorten looks to land a body kick but Bakunin moved away.
Snorten changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bakunin. Snorten does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bakunin throws the left hand but Snorten avoids the punch easily.
Snorten is looking to wear down Bakunin with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Bakunin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Snorten blocks a head kick by Bakunin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rip Snorten will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Snorten uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Bakunin looks to score with a jab to the body but Snorten is just out of range.
Snorten uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Bakunin throws a jab when Snorten was well out of range.
Bakunin thuds a left hand into Snorten's body.
Bakunin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Snorten scores with a nice head shot.
Snorten keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Snorten thows a left - swing and a miss!
Snorten looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Snorten takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Jab, jab by Snorten - just one landing.
Bakunin staying out of range there.
Bakunin scores with a nice strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Snorten scores with a hook to the body. Bakunin takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Snorten moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Bakunin throws a shot from downtown. Snorten moves away and avoids it.
Snorten throws a push kick but Bakunin slaps the foot to one side.
Bakunin misses with a hook. Snorten ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Snorten on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Snorten throws a low kick, looking for Bakunin's leg but Bakunin calmly moves out of range.
Bakunin swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Snorten displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bakunin throws out the jab.
Bakunin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bakunin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Snorten was well out of range. Poor timing from Bakunin.
Bakunin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Snorten manages to avoid it.
Bakunin throws a lazy right hand but Snorten sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nice shot by Bakunin.
Bakunin cracks a nice hook into Snorten's ribs.

Bakunin gets tackled into the cage by Snorten. Snorten maintains the clinch.
Snorten scores with a hook to the body.
Snorten wants to take the fight to the mat but Bakunin manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Bakunin lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Snorten backwards.
Bakunin blocks an uppercut.
Bakunin blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Bakunin fails to land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bakunin.
Rip Snorten has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Bakunin misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin misses with a punch on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bakunin struggles to land a body shot inside as Snorten controls his hands.
Bakunin lands a body shot.
Bakunin struggles to land a body shot inside as Snorten controls his hands.
Bakunin has a couple of punches blocked by Snorten.
Bakunin lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Snorten lands a hook to the side of the head.
Snorten working aggressively here.
Bakunin swings wildly with an uppercut but Snorten uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bakunin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Snorten blocking some punches.
Snorten scores with a hook to the body.
Bakunin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bakunin lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Bakunin can't find room to land a body shot as Snorten controls the action.
Bakunin throws a head punch that misses.
Bakunin takes a shot to the head.
Snorten swings wildly with an uppercut but Bakunin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Snorten works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Snorten swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A shot in the inside from Snorten.
Snorten has Bakunin pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bakunin manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Bakunin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Snorten struggles to land a body shot inside as Bakunin controls his hands.
A short left from Snorten.
Snorten blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Snorten lands an uppercut.
Bakunin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bakunin tries to throw a body punch but Snorten avoids it by throwing Bakunin back against the cage.
Bakunin digs a right hand underneath Snorten's ribcage. Snorten let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Bakunin lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Snorten backwards.
A nice left hand lands by Bakunin.
Bakunin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bakunin swings wildly with an uppercut but Snorten uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bakunin struggles to land a body shot inside as Snorten controls his hands.
Snorten misses with a hook from the clinch.
Snorten struggles to land a body shot inside as Bakunin controls his hands.
A left hand lands to the body for Bakunin.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bakunin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Snorten lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Bakunin or not.
Bakunin is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Snorten jumps guard but Bakunin stands there with Snorten around his waist. Snorten gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rip Snorten. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Snorten goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bakunin struggles to land a body shot inside as Snorten controls his hands.
A nice left hand lands by Snorten.
Bakunin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Bakunin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Snorten tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Snorten.
Snorten blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Snorten.
Snorten blocks an uppercut.
Snorten blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bakunin stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Snorten goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Snorten tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bakunin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Bakunin swings wildly with an uppercut but Snorten uses good head movement to avoid it.
A right handed body shot lands from Snorten.
Bakunin can't find room to land a body shot as Snorten controls the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mikhail Bakunin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A looping hook to the body misses from Snorten. Bakunin does a little dance to reset his feet.
The fighters circling - Snorten throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Snorten is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A leg kick checked by Bakunin.
Bakunin misses with a head kick.
Bakunin connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Snorten momentarily.
Snorten looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Bakunin misses with an uppercut.
Mikhail Bakunin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Snorten uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bakunin.
Bakunin avoids a kick to the body.
Snorten tries to close the distance and clinch but Bakunin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bakunin looks like he wants to counter punch here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bakunin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Snorten.
Snorten moves out of range as Bakunin strikes.
Snorten uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bakunin.
Bakunin scores with a shot to the body.
Bakunin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Snorten was well out of range. Poor timing from Bakunin.
Bakunin on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakunin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Snorten.
Bakunin walks into a jab.
Bakunin moves out of range as Snorten throws a body kick.
Snorten throws a body kick that misses.
Bakunin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bakunin takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Snorten misses with a body kick.
Snorten keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bakunin.
Snorten is looking to counter punch.
Bakunin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bakunin swings for the body but Snorten moves out of range.
Snorten slips a jab from Bakunin.
Bakunin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Snorten was well out of range. Poor timing from Bakunin.
Snorten missing with a left hand there. Bakunin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Snorten looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Snorten misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The fighters circling - Snorten throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin throws a hook but Snorten avoids it easily.
Bakunin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Snorten moves away.
Snorten feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Bakunin bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Snorten's head.

Snorten closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Snorten lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Snorten lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Snorten swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bakunin lands a left hand.
Snorten digs a right hand into Bakunin's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Bakunin's gas tank.
Bakunin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bakunin misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Snorten.
Snorten gets through Bakunin's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Snorten lands a body punch in the clinch.
Snorten lands a right hand.
Nice body punch from Snorten.
Snorten lands with a left to the head.
Snorten tries to score a body lock takedown but Bakunin shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Bakunin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Snorten throws a punch but it's blocked by Bakunin.
Snorten scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Snorten has Bakunin pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bakunin manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Bakunin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Snorten's elbow.
Snorten has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bakunin is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rip Snorten. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Snorten softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Snorten blocks a body shot from Bakunin.
Bakunin misses with a punch on the inside.
A body shot lands from Snorten.
Bakunin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Snorten blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Snorten drags the fight down to the ground.
Snorten is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Snorten working over Bakunin with some ground and pound. Bakunin looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Snorten looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Snorten landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Snorten lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Snorten landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Snorten lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Bakunin is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin tries to kick Snorten off but Snorten keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Bakunin is still in real trouble! Can Snorten finish him?
Snorten is nestled in close to Bakunin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Bakunin pushes Snorten off looking to stand but Snorten dives back in and keeps control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ground and pound from Snorten.
Snorten scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Snorten winds up and cracks Bakunin with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rip Snorten overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Snorten prevents Bakunin from improving his position.
Bakunin wants to get back to his feet.
Bakunin is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Snorten lands strikes from half guard.
Bakunin taking some punishment here, with Snorten in his half guard.
Bakunin wants to get back to his feet.
Bakunin on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Snorten slips a nice elbow through Bakunin's hands, connecting with Bakunin's forehead.
Bakunin looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rip Snorten clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Snorten lands a nice shot to the body.
Nice straight punches there by Bakunin. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Bakunin.
Bakunin seems to have recovered his senses.
Snorten misses with an uppercut.
Snorten connects with a combination that backs up Bakunin into the cage. Snorten lands a flurry of punches that gets past Bakunin's guard. Bakunin is down and the referee has seen enough. It is all over! Snorten bursts into tears - this win obviously means a huge amount to him.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:19 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rip Snorten!
Rip Snorten retains his welterweight title!
A victorious Rip Snorten thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
Mikhail Bakunin spoke after the fight, saying 'I tip my hat to Turbo he's a beast there's a reason he's been champ for so long and been so dominant. I will be back you can count on that'.