PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marcos Budinha (ranked 23882 p4p, 250 weight class) and Oleg Borisov (ranked 23227 p4p, 261 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Budinha
vs
Borisov

150 cm
19
130 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

165 cm
28
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcos Budinha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Oleg Borisov!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Ren Mimura and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Budinha doesn't manage to clinch there - Borisov circles away.
Budinha lets loose with a powerful body kick. Borisov will feel that in the morning.
Borisov sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Budinha lands a nice looking kick to the body. Borisov takes a step back to recover.
Borisov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Budinha defends well and Borisov ends up having to push Budinha into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Budinha looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Borisov misses with a head kick.
Borisov circles away from the clinch attempt.

Budinha rushes Borisov and presses him up against the cage.
Borisov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Budinha walks away with a smile on his face. Borisov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Budinha lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Borisov tries to keep at a distance but Budinha has taken the fight into the clinch.
Budinha avoiding damage.
Borisov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Marcos Budinha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oleg Borisov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borisov is trying to pull guard but Budinha turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Budinha looking to slow down the pace here.
Budinha is trying to maintain a safe position but Borisov gets an underhook and turns Budinha into the cage.
Budinha stalling.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Marcos Budinha.
Budinha tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Borisov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Budinha tries to clinch
and Borisov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Borisov tries to keep at a distance but Budinha has taken the fight into the clinch.
Borisov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Budinha just stands there and leans against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Borisov jumps guard but Budinha turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Budinha is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Budinha has Borisov pushed against the cage.
Budinha with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Budinha to work.
Budinha leaning his opponent against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Marcos Budinha.
Budinha fails with an attempt to clinch.
Budinha tries to clinch up but Borisov circles away and keeps his distance.

Budinha has taken the fight to the clinch.
Budinha trying to stall but Borisov improves his position.
Budinha is looking to control Borisov's arms but Borisov gets an underhook and turns him. Now Budinha has his back to the cage.
Budinha tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The referee is keeping an eye on Budinha - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Budinha wants to stall.
Budinha slows down the pace here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Marcos Budinha.
Borisov looks to clinch
and Budinha counters with a nice low kick that buckles Borisov's knee momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Budinha throws a front kick that sends Borisov stumbling back into the cage.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Budinha - that will leave a mark!
Budinha connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Budinha gets a clinch.
Borisov is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Budinha crunches a lovely knee into Borisov's ribcage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Budinha is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Budinha looking to stall.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Budinha obliges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Budinha leaning his opponent against the cage.
Budinha lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Oleg Borisov has been cut.
Borisov can't break the clinch.
Budinha is trying to maintain a safe position but Borisov gets an underhook and turns Budinha into the cage.
Budinha slowing the pace effectively.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Marcos Budinha.
Borisov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Budinha instigates a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Borisov tries to pull guard but Budinha holds him up against the cage and eventually Borisov drops back down to his feet.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Budinha scores a nice knee to the body.
Borisov looks winded!
Budinha lands a good knee to the midsection. Borisov won't want to take too many of those.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcos Budinha dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Oleg Borisov's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Budinha throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Borisov's head.
Budinha tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Borisov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Borisov wants to counter the offense by Budinha and move into the clinch position.
Borisov looks to land a left hand but Budinha moved out of range nicely.
A nice inside leg kick there by Budinha. That's going to slow Borisov down.
Budinha is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Budinha is looking to clinch.

Borisov takes the fight into the clinch.
Budinha lands an elbow that stopped Borisov in his tracks for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Borisov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Budinha avoiding damage as Borisov throws knees to the body.
Borisov letting Budinha take a breather here.
Borisov takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borisov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Budinha taking a breather.
Budinha throws a knee to the head but misses.
Borisov tries for a takedown. No joy.
I was talking to Budinha's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Marcos Budinha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oleg Borisov.
Budinha wants to stall.
Borisov slows down the pace here.
Borisov stalling the fight.
Borisov throws a head punch that misses.
Budinha connects with a nasty looking knee right to Borisov's face.
Marcos Budinha has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Borisov leaning his opponent against the cage.
Budinha is trying to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Budinha is trying to maintain a safe position but Borisov gets an underhook and turns Budinha into the cage.
Budinha can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Borisov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Budinha just stands there and leans against the cage.
Budinha avoiding damage.
Budinha is pushing Borisov up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Budinha gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Marcos Budinha.
Borisov wants to clinch.

Budinha gets a clinch.
Budinha wants to stall.
Budinha connects with a nasty looking knee right to Borisov's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Budinha is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Borisov tries a knee to the head but Budinha blocks it.
Budinha slows down the pace here.
Budinha misses with a knee strike.
Budinha is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Borisov can do to turn this around?
Budinha wants to stall.
Budinha landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Budinha scores a nice knee to the body.
Borisov is breathing heavily.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Budinha slowing the pace effectively.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Marcos Budinha.

Budinha moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Budinha pressing his opponent against the cage.
Budinha stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Budinha is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Budinha stalling the fight.
Borisov misses with some punches.
Budinha will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Borisov up against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Marcos Budinha.
Budinha tries to clinch there but Borisov circles away.
Borisov unleashes a big counter combination but Budinha bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Budinha keeps the fight on the outside.
Budinha cracks the inside of Borisov's front leg.
Borisov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Budinha moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcos Budinha dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Oleg Borisov's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Budinha throws a leg kick which misses Borisov's front leg but catches the back leg as Borisov tries to avoid it.
Borisov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Budinha counters with an inside leg kick.

Budinha forces Borisov back against the cage and clinches.
Budinha looking to slow down the pace here.
Budinha gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Budinha trying to stall but Borisov improves his position.
Budinha using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Borisov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Budinha blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Borisov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Borisov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Budinha gets to his feet - Borisov follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borisov fails with an attempt to clinch.
It appears Budinha was looking to counter with a kick there.
Budinha stuffs the takedown attempt from Borisov. Borisov gets slowly back to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Borisov.
Marcos Budinha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oleg Borisov.
Borisov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Borisov keeps the fight on the outside.

Budinha forces Borisov back against the cage and clinches.
Budinha stalling in the clinch.
Budinha lands an elbow inside that Borisov shrugs off.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Borisov takes an elbow to the temple.
Budinha trying to control the position but instead, Borisov has worked for underhooks and has pushed Budinha into the cage.
Budinha taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Budinha is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Borisov is keeping busy.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Marcos Budinha.

Borisov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Budinha manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Budinha has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Borisov has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Budinha trying to stall but Borisov improves his position.
Budinha connects with a nasty looking knee right to Borisov's face.

That has opened up Oleg Borisov's cut even more.
Borisov fails to pull guard.
Budinha stalling against the cage.
Borisov looking for a takedown.
Budinha dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Borisov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Budinha tries to close the distance and clinch but Borisov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Budinha is looking to clinch but Borisov is avoiding it.
Borisov throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Borisov swats away the attempt to clinch by Budinha.
Borisov throws out a loose jab but Budinha uses good head movement to avoid it.
Budinha looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Both fighters circling a little - Budinha finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Budinha moves into the clinch.
Budinha connects with a nasty looking knee right to Borisov's face.
Budinha lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Budinha stalling against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Budinha.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Borisov fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borisov takes an elbow to the forehead.
Borisov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Budinha unloads a knee to the mid-section. Borisov lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A bit of stalling here from Budinha.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Marcos Budinha.

Budinha instigates a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Budinha is trying to stall.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Borisov as Budinha tries to tie him up.
Oleg Borisov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Borisov tries to throw a body punch but Budinha avoids it by throwing Borisov back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcos Budinha showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Budinha has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcos Budinha!
Marcos Budinha seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.