PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kosmodrom Baikonurov (ranked 1386 p4p, 2527 weight class) and Jamie Hull (ranked 73 p4p, 145 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Baikonurov
vs
Hull

170 cm
25
137
6 - 5 - 0

169 cm
25
138
7 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kosmodrom Baikonurov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jamie Hull!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Radbod Blank and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hull closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Baikonurov's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Hull tries to free his leg and advance position but Baikonurov is retaining full guard.
Hull keeps trying to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hull slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baikonurov can't do much from the bottom here.

Hull is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Baikonurov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Hull swings around for an armbar but Baikonurov sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Hull's guard.

Hull is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Baikonurov is stalling in the full guard.
Baikonurov wants to stand but Hull has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Baikonurov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hull has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Baikonurov has managed to get both his arms back between Hull's legs - danger averted.
Baikonurov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Hull is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Baikonurov defends well.
Hull is trying to keep Baikonurov in close.
Baikonurov content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baikonurov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baikonurov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hull is controlling Baikonurov's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hull ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A big right from Baikonurov misses.
Hull shoots in but no luck this time.
Hull fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hull uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Baikonurov.
Baikonurov looks to land a right hand but Hull moved out of range.
Hull has a takedown stuffed.
Kosmodrom Baikonurov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jamie Hull.
Hull shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Baikonurov sprawls well. Baikonurov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hull gets slowly back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Baikonurov missing with a left hand there. Hull was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hull fails with the takedown
and Baikonurov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hull shoots in for a takedown but Baikonurov shows good takedown defense.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kosmodrom Baikonurov dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Hull tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Hull gets a takedown into half guard.

Baikonurov kicks Hull off and gets back to his feet.
Hull closes the distance and clinches up with Baikonurov, looking for a takedown. Hull pushes Baikonurov against the cage but Baikonurov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Baikonurov misses with a straight right.
Hull tries for a takedown but Baikonurov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jamie Hull seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baikonurov takes a swing at Hull's ribcage but misses.
Hull fails with a takedown attempt.
Kosmodrom Baikonurov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jamie Hull.
Baikonurov stuffs the takedown.
A shot to the liver by Baikonurov. Beautiful body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hull is looking to clinch but Baikonurov is avoiding it.
Baikonurov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Hull tries to score a power double leg takedown but Baikonurov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hull somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hull moves in looking to clinch but Baikonurov pushes him off.
Hull tries to clinch but Baikonurov is having none of it.

Hull shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Baikonurov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Baikonurov trying to control the position here.
Baikonurov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Hull thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hull postures up.
Hull looking to pass the guard.
Baikonurov pulls Hull in to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hull looking to pass the guard.
Hull sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Baikonurov's guard.

Hull looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Baikonurov tries to get to full guard but Hull has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hull is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Hull is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Hull seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Baikonurov has recovered full guard.
Hull tries to free his leg and advance position but Baikonurov is retaining full guard.
Hull stopping the sweep attempt from Baikonurov.
Hull looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hull stopping the sweep attempt from Baikonurov.
Hull pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Baikonurov is keeping the position for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Baikonurov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hull tries to clinch there but Baikonurov circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Baikonurov as Hull shoots in.
Hull with a lazy takedown attempt
and Baikonurov counters with a thumping low kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hull avoids the body shot from Baikonurov.
Hull is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Baikonurov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Baikonurov throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hull moves out of range of the body kick from Baikonurov.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kosmodrom Baikonurov dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Hull closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Jamie Hull has got the better of the ground game so far.

Hull goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Baikonurov rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Hull's guard! Nice work there by Baikonurov!

Hull working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Baikonurov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Baikonurov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Baikonurov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Hull escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Baikonurov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Baikonurov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hull looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Baikonurov trying to pass the guard but Hull defending well.
Well, if Baikonurov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baikonurov trying to pass the guard but Hull defending well.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Baikonurov in particular looking to stall.

Hull looking for a kimura from the bottom but Baikonurov passes into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
You can see the frustration on Hull's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Baikonurov decides to stand back up. Baikonurov steps back and let's Hull get back to his feet.
A slapping leg kick lands for Baikonurov.
Baikonurov tests Hull's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hull is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Some bone on bone action there as Hull checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hull shoots in for a takedown but Baikonurov shows good takedown defense.
Hull doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Baikonurov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hull shoots in but no luck this time.
Baikonurov is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Kosmodrom Baikonurov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jamie Hull.
Hull shoots in but Baikonurov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Baikonurov misses its target.
Kosmodrom Baikonurov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hull shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baikonurov scores with a body shot.
Baikonurov misses with a body shot.
Baikonurov fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hull on the side of the head.
Hull is looking to clinch.
Hull tries to close the distance and clinch up but Baikonurov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kosmodrom Baikonurov is winning the standup battle so far.
Baikonurov throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hull on the side of the head.
Hull keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hull slips a jab and a cross from Baikonurov.
Baikonurov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Baikonurov jabs Hull to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Baikonurov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hull can do to turn this around?
Baikonurov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hull sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hull walks into a stiff left hand from Baikonurov.

Hull fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Baikonurov, pushing him back against the cage.
Hull tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Baikonurov smiles and moves away.
Hull tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Baikonurov counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baikonurov lands a glancing blow to the side of Hull's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baikonurov throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Hull's head.
Hull shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Baikonurov as he avoids it easily.
Baikonurov throws a body punch but Hull moves out of range.
Hull tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Baikonurov swivels and escapes.
Baikonurov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hull tries to move into range but Baikonurov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Baikonurov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Baikonurov lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hull shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Baikonurov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Baikonurov buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Baikonurov stuffs the takedown.
Baikonurov misses with an uppercut.
Hull tries to score a power double leg takedown but Baikonurov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hull somewhat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kosmodrom Baikonurov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Baikonurov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight for Kosmodrom Baikonurov!
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight for Kosmodrom Baikonurov!
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight for Kosmodrom Baikonurov!

Kosmodrom Baikonurov wins by unanimous decision!
A relieved looking Kosmodrom Baikonurov thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.