PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Burenkov (ranked 1497 p4p, 175 weight class) and Shoju Bayushi (ranked 1311 p4p, 157 weight class). Bayushi comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Scorpions - Always Somewhere kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! On his way into the cage it seems that Sergey Burenkov has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Sergey Burenkov seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Burenkov
vs
Bayushi

178 cm
26
170 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

173 cm
25
163 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergey Burenkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shoju Bayushi!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Richard Clark and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Burenkov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Bayushi manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Burenkov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bayushi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Burenkov cracks Bayushi with a nice body shot.
Burenkov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Bayushi gets through Burenkov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Burenkov has clasped his hands together around Bayushi's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Burenkov is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Bayushi's shoulder. That is not cool.

Burenkov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bayushi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Bayushi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Burenkov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bayushi wants to control but Burenkov postures up.

Burenkov tries for a kimura but Bayushi is defending well.
Bayushi is not content to let Burenkov control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bayushi prevents Burenkov from moving into mount.

Burenkov is trying to get an arm triangle but Bayushi is defending well.
Bayushi prevents Burenkov from improving position.
Bayushi is looking for a sweep.
Burenkov has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Bayushi tries to lock up and control but Burenkov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bayushi working to try and regain half guard.
Burenkov fails to move to back control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bayushi is squirming around, avoiding Burenkov's attempts to control the action.
Burenkov scoring with strikes but Bayushi is staying in there.
Bayushi is wriggling around trying to escape.
Bayushi tries to lock up and control but Burenkov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Burenkov breaks from Bayushi's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Burenkov is working for a guillotine from mount but Bayushi frees his head quite easily.
Bayushi can't escape the position.
Bayushi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burenkov trying to control but Bayushi is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burenkov is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Bayushi has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Bayushi is trying desperately to improve position.

Burenkov working for a submission but Bayushi is keeping him at bay.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bayushi is trying desperately to improve position.
Burenkov looking to control but Bayushi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bayushi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Bayushi is bucking up trying to escape but Burenkov cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Burenkov lands a heavy elbow.
Bayushi is controlling an arm, preventing Burenkov from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Bayushi tries to lock up and control but Burenkov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Burenkov jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Bayushi manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Bayushi is letting Burenkov control him for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Burenkov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nice takedown defense from Bayushi. No joy for Burenkov on that attempt.
Burenkov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sergey Burenkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice defenses there by Bayushi.
Burenkov scores with a nice head shot.
Burenkov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Bayushi looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Bayushi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Burenkov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bayushi.

Burenkov darts in and clinches Bayushi up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A frustrated look appears on Bayushi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Burenkov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Burenkov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Bayushi breaks from the clinch.
Bayushi lands with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burenkov lands a head shot.
Bayushi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Burenkov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Burenkov just misses with a punch to the body.
Burenkov digs a good body shot into Bayushi's ribs.

Oooooh!!! Bayushi has knocked Burenkov down with a huge combo! Bayushi steps away and waves a wobbly Burenkov back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Burenkov is rocked!

It looks like Sergey Burenkov has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bayushi lands a nice hook to Burenkov's body. Burenkov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Bayushi cracks a nice hook into Burenkov's ribs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Burenkov is defended easily by Bayushi.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergey Burenkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bayushi scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Burenkov doesn't seem bothered though.
Bayushi works Burenkov's body with a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bayushi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Burenkov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Burenkov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bayushi.

Burenkov gets the takedown into side control.
Bayushi dodges the ground and pound from Burenkov.
Bayushi struggling a bit here.
Burenkov trying to control the action but Bayushi is working from the bottom.
Bayushi is trying to get back to half guard.

Burenkov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bayushi tries to bench press Burenkov off him but Burenkov keeps the position.

Burenkov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Bayushi gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Bayushi is trying to control but Burenkov manages to pass to mount!
Bayushi tries to hold on but Burenkov pushes him away.

Burenkov has hold of Bayushi's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Bayushi manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burenkov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Bayushi swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Burenkov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bayushi is looking to escape.
Bayushi tries to hold on but Burenkov pushes him away.
Burenkov fails to take his opponent's back.
Burenkov landing strikes from the mount and Bayushi is in trouble!
Burenkov trying to control but Bayushi is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Shoju Bayushi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Sergey Burenkov'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!

Burenkov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bayushi misses with a looping right.
Burenkov jabs at Bayushi's body.
Bayushi misses with a double jab.
Burenkov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A slow jab from Bayushi misses its intended target.
Burenkov shoots for a takedown but Bayushi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Burenkov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bayushi tries to counter by closing the distance.
A swing and a miss from Burenkov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bayushi wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Burenkov gets the takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bayushi tries to buck Burenkov off but Burenkov is having none of it.
Burenkov moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bayushi is trying to control Burenkov's posture but Burenkov avoids it.
Sergey Burenkov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Burenkov working the head and body with strikes.
Bayushi manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Burenkov regains full guard. Nicely done.
Burenkov controls Bayushi momentarily but Bayushi frees himself.
Bayushi throwing strikes from guard but Burenkov blocks nicely.
Burenkov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bayushi scoring with punches to the head and body.
Bayushi won't allow Burenkov to sweep him here.
Bayushi throws an elbow that misses. Burenkov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bayushi's guard. Nice move by Burenkov!

Bayushi keeping full guard, as Burenkov tries to pass.
Bayushi is looking to sweep but instead, Burenkov has passed into half guard.
Bayushi is looking to control Burenkov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bayushi avoid being mounted?
Burenkov wants to control but Bayushi is keeping him busy.
Bayushi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burenkov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bayushi is just riding it out for now. Burenkov eventually gives up the hold.

Burenkov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bayushi defends it well.
Burenkov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bayushi is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Burenkov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Burenkov's back!
Bayushi doesn't have the hooks in and Burenkov manages to turn into his guard.
Bayushi pulls Burenkov in close to his closed guard and prevents Burenkov from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bayushi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Burenkov passes Bayushi's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Burenkov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bayushi keeps working.
Burenkov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bayushi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Bayushi is trying to get back to full guard.

Burenkov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bayushi defends it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Sergey Burenkov.
I think Burenkov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergey Burenkov!
After winning the bout, Sergey Burenkov thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
The defeated Shoju Bayushi had this to say: 'The biggest thing I learned from losing? Winning is better.'.