PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mat Diaz (ranked 550 p4p, 84 weight class) and Mikhail Bakunin (ranked 378 p4p, 58 weight class). Diaz comes to the cage accompanied by I Got Five On It. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Diaz
vs
Bakunin

180 cm
35
184 lbs
22 - 12 - 0

181 cm
35
178 lbs
24 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Perkele!
Conviction

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

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 22 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mat Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mikhail Bakunin!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bakunin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Diaz was well out of range. Poor timing from Bakunin.
Bakunin throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Diaz has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Bakunin finds it's way round the side to connect with Diaz's head.
Diaz slips a jab and a cross from Bakunin.
Bakunin feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Diazs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Bakunin fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Diaz on the side of the head.
Bakunin throws a sloppy head kick
and Diaz counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Mikhail Bakunin has been cut.
Bakunin scores with a jab to the body.
Bakunin loads up on a big right hand but Diaz slips the punch.
Diaz jabs Bakunin right on the nose. Bakunin blinks but takes it well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Diaz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bakunin ducks under a wild hook from Diaz.
The fighters circling - Bakunin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A jab from Diaz does it's job there.
Bakunin tries a head kick but it misses.
Bakunin lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Bakunin.
Mikhail Bakunin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bakunin swings for the body but Diaz moves out of range.
Bakunin throws out a loose jab but Diaz uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've been hearing reports that Diaz has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Diaz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bakunin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bakunin moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Diaz. Bakunin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Diaz moves forwards but Bakunin connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Bakunin misses with a wild body shot.
Bakunin misses the jab.
Bakunin tries to bum rush Diaz with a series of wild strikes but Diaz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mikhail Bakunin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Diaz moves out of range as Bakunin strikes.
Diaz throws a jab but it's blocked by Bakunin.
Bakunin lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Bakunin lands with a good body shot.
Bakunin on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Bakunin takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Diaz throws a right and a left that Bakunin avoids nicely.
Bakunin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Diaz misses the shot to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Diaz.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A slow jab from Diaz misses its intended target.
Bakunin connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Bakunin misses with a few strikes there.
An attempted straight right counter from Diaz misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Diaz. That snapped Bakunin's head back.
Diaz misses the shot to the body.
A jab from Diaz misses.
Bakunin misses with a combination
letting Diaz counter with a right hand.
Bakunin throws a sloppy head kick and Diaz moves out of range easily.
Diaz drops down looking for a counter takedown but Bakunin sprawls and moves away.
Diaz avoids the body shot from Bakunin.
Bakunin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Diaz misses with a head kick.
Bakunin throws a counter combo.
Bakunin lands with a nice combination. Diaz backs away looking to recover.
Diaz throws a body punch but Bakunin moves out of range.
Bakunin looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bakunin connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Bakunin lands a slapping body shot.
Diaz looks to land a right hand but Bakunin moved out of range.
Diaz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bakunin defending well as Diaz loads up on a big left hand.
Bakunin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Diaz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bakunin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Bakunin.
Bakunin throws a counter combo.
Diaz throws out a loose jab but Bakunin uses good head movement to avoid it.
The fighters circling - Diaz throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Diaz lands with an overhand left.
Bakunin misses with a head kick.
Diaz dodges the punch combination from Bakunin.
Bakunin missing with a left hand there. Diaz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Diaz was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Bakunin takes a swing at Diaz's ribcage but misses.
Bakunin throws a right hand that Diaz ducks under and follows up with a left that Diaz also avoids with ease.
Bakunin tries a head kick but it misses.
Bakunin throws a combination. Diaz tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Diaz misses with a straight left.
Diaz changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Diaz bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Bakunin gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Bakunin manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bakunin.
Bakunin looks to score with a jab to the body but Diaz is just out of range.
Diaz walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Bakunin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bakunin throws a right and a left that Diaz avoids nicely.
Bakunin moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Bakunin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bakunin is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Diaz had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Diaz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A telegraphed right hand from Bakunin misses the target.
Diaz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bakunin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Diaz.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bakunin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bakunin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Diaz scores with a nice strike.
Bakunin tries a head kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhail Bakunin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mikhail Bakunin's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bakunin misses with a hook.
Diaz avoids the body shot from Bakunin.
A punch combination from Diaz misses.
Diaz takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Bakunin connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Bakunin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bakunin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bakunin fails to land with a series of punches.
Diaz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Diaz cracks a nice hook into Bakunin's ribs.
Diaz lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
No joy there for Bakunin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Diaz swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Diaz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bakunin circles away quickly and effectively.
Diaz looks to score with a jab to the body but Bakunin is just out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bakunin scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Bakunin tries a head kick but it misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Diaz misses the target.
Bakunin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Diaz swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakunin throws a right and a left that Diaz avoids nicely.
A quick step to the side and Diaz tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Danga de danga de dang - Bakunin scores with a four punch combination!
Bakunin throws a body punch but Diaz moves out of range.
It looked like Diaz wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Bakunin throws a hook to the side of Diaz's head but Diaz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bakunin swings widly with a right hand
enabling Diaz to counter with a crisp jab.
Bakunin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A nice combination there by Diaz.
Bakunin stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Bakunin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A shot to the liver by Bakunin. Beautiful body shot.
Diaz blocks a jab.
Diaz fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bakunin throws a sloppy head kick and Diaz moves out of range easily.
Bakunin throws out a loose jab but Diaz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Diaz misses with a few strikes there.
Diaz walks into a straight right hand from Bakunin.
Diaz clobbers Bakunin with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Bakunin slips under a jab from Diaz.
Mikhail Bakunin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bakunin gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin swinging wildly here.
Bakunin looks to land a right hand but Diaz moved out of range.
Bakunin throws a jab when Diaz was well out of range.
Diaz jabs at Bakunin's body.
Bakunin misses with a wild combination.
Diaz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bakunin.
Diaz tries to counter with a takedown but Bakunin is quick to defend against it.
Diaz looks to score with a jab to the body but Bakunin is just out of range.
Diaz takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Diaz misses with a wild body shot.
Bakunin misses with a body shot.
Bakunin on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Bakunin misses with a head kick.
A quick step to the side and Diaz tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bakunin lands a right hook to the body.
A jab from Diaz finds it's way through Bakunin's defenses.
Diaz avoids the head kick by Bakunin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin avoids the body shot from Diaz.
A little jabbing left from Bakunin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Diaz shoots in and drives through. Bakunin sprawls well.
A punch combination from Bakunin misses.
Diaz closes the distance and clinches up with Bakunin, looking for a takedown. Diaz pushes Bakunin against the cage but Bakunin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bakunin scores with a hook to the body. Diaz takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Decent striking displayed by Bakunin there.
Bakunin connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Diaz's hands.
A big right from Bakunin misses.
Bakunin throws a head kick but Diaz moves out of range.
Diaz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Diaz there.
Bakunin pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Diaz back to the cage. Bakunin follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bakunin lands a head kick!
Bakunin is breathing heavily.
Bakunin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bakunin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bakunin throws a body punch but Diaz moves out of range.
Bakunin blocks a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin throws a big shot that misses.
Bakunin throws a shot from downtown. Diaz moves away and avoids it.
Bakunin connects with a right hand. Diaz shakes it off.
Diaz throws a sloppy head kick and Bakunin moves out of range easily.
Diaz looks for a takedown but Bakunin sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mat Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diaz misses with a head kick.
Bakunin throws a series of punches but Diaz moves out of range.
Diaz cracks Bakunin with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A punch combination from Bakunin misses.
Bakunin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Diaz cracks Bakunin with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bakunin changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Diaz looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Diaz misses with a body shot.
Diaz misses with a lunging right hand
and Bakunin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bakunin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhail Bakunin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mikhail Bakunin's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Bakunin lands a jab-cross combination.
Diaz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bakunin was well out of range. Poor timing from Diaz.
Diaz lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Donk. Bakunin catches Diaz right on the button with a cross.
Diaz drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Diaz walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Diaz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Bakunin fails to land with a series of punches.
Diaz misses with a looping left.
Diaz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bakunin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
It looked like Diaz was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Bakunin.
A looping hook to the body misses from Diaz. Bakunin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Diaz dodges the punch combination from Bakunin.
Diaz slips under a jab from Bakunin.
Bakunin is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Bakunin jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakunin lands a jab-cross combination.
Bakunin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Diaz avoids the body shot from Bakunin.
A decent looking cross lands there for Diaz.
A punch combination from Bakunin misses.
Diaz half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Diaz misses with a wild body shot.
A shot to the body from Diaz misses
and Bakunin counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Diaz dodges the punch combination from Bakunin.
Diaz lands with a nice body punch.
Diaz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bakunin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diaz manages to avoid it.
Bakunin walks into a stiff left hand from Diaz.
Diaz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Diaz slips a jab and a cross from Bakunin.
Diaz throwing a counter right hand but Bakunin manages to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bakunin throws a body punch but Diaz moves out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Diaz.
Mat Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz looks to score with a jab to the body but Bakunin is just out of range.
Bakunin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Diaz moves away.
Mikhail Bakunin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bakunin misses with a wild combination.
Diaz went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Diaz misses with a two punch combination.
Bakunin lands a really nice looking cross but Diaz seems unphased.
A big left from Diaz misses.
Bakunin throws an overhand right that lands on Diaz's shoulder, as Diaz tries to avoid the shot.
Diaz is looking to counter punch.
Bakunin throws a nice looking combination but Diaz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bakunin throws a poor cross that misses
and Diaz counters with a right hand to the body.
Diaz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bakunin throws a head kick that misses
and Diaz counters with a nice uppercut.
Diaz on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Bakunin displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Bakunin throws a shot from downtown. Diaz moves away and avoids it.
Bakunin lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin slips a jab from Diaz.
Diaz's jab looks to have found its range, popping Bakunin under the eye.
Bakunin moves away from the strike by Diaz.
Diaz scores with a shot to the body.
Bakunin misses with a few strikes there.
Diaz misses with a series of wild punches.
Bakunin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mikhail Bakunin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Diaz looks to land a right hand but Bakunin moved out of range.
Bakunin throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Diaz's head.
Bakunin throws a jab but it's blocked by Diaz.
Bakunin scores with a decent looking hook.
Bakunin throws a right and a left that Diaz avoids nicely.
Diaz scores with a hook.
Bakunin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Diaz was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bakunin scores with a punch to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz slips under a jab from Bakunin.
Diaz was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Diaz throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Diaz throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Diaz just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Diaz. That snapped Bakunin's head back.
Bakunin swings widly with a right hand
and Diaz counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A head kick misses from Diaz.
Diaz slips under a jab from Bakunin.
Diaz slips a jab and a cross from Bakunin.
Nice defenses there by Diaz.
Diaz takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Diaz throws a big shot that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diaz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Diaz moves out of range of the strikes.
Bakunin lunges at Diaz with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Diaz's hand.
Bakunin misses with a wild body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikhail Bakunin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bakunin 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikhail Bakunin!
Mikhail Bakunin decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.