PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Rusev (ranked 2131 p4p, 1600 weight class) and Sergey Bakarow (ranked 261 p4p, 218 weight class). Sergey Bakarow acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Rusev
vs
Bakarow

170 cm
24
174
10 - 9 - 0

187 cm
27
185
6 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Seventh Circle Clothing

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alexander Rusev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sergey Bakarow!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Patrick Alders and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rusev tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bakarow defends well and Rusev ends up having to push Bakarow into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Bakarow escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bakarow throws a head kick that misses

and Rusev counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Bakarow is looking to improve his position.

Rusev is working for a submission of some sort.
Bakarow tries to get to full guard but Rusev has control of the leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rusev is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bakarow has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rusev thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusev tries to pass to full mount but Bakarow defends it.
Bakarow keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bakarow looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Rusev prevents Bakarow from standing back up.
Rusev has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Rusev 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.
Bakarow is looking to escape.
Bakarow keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Rusev sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bakarow defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bakarow is looking to improve his position.
Bakarow is trying to maintain the position but Rusev is very close to passing his half guard.
Rusev sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bakarow defending well though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bakarow controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rusev 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.

Rusev is looking for a kimura but Bakarow is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rusev to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakarow wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bakarow keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bakarow wants to get back to full guard.
Rusev is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Bakarow!
Rusev scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Bakarow?
Bakarow has given up his back here.

Rusev is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Bakarow has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Rusev patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bakarow preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Rusev.

Bakarow is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Rusev has the hooks in. Bakarow is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Rusev softening up his opponent with strikes here.

Rusev is looking for the choke from the back position but Bakarow is controlling his hands well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rusev wants to control but Bakarow is keeping busy.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bakarow is in bad spot here.
Rusev struggling to keep hold of the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Rusev dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rusev shoots in looking for a takedown but Bakarow manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rusev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bakarow displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rusev.
Alexander Rusev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rusev is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Bakarow lands a head kick that stumbles Rusev and the fighters go to the mat.

Rusev is rocked!
Bakarow stands up over Rusev, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Oh Rusev is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rusev trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Rusev seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Bakarow stopping the sweep attempt from Rusev.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bakarow is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Bakarow postures up from his opponent's guard, before exploding into some vicious ground and pound! Rusev covers up, he's hurt! Bakarow keeps throwing the strikes, glancing at the referee... Will he stop it?? One more big shot from Bakarow and the ref steps in to end the fight! Bakarow can't hide his delight as he celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sergey Bakarow!