PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jim Lingfield (ranked 1193 p4p, 2306 weight class) and Sergey Bakarow (ranked 160 p4p, 286 weight class). Jim Lingfield has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lingfield
vs
Bakarow

178 cm
29
175
14 - 8 - 0

187 cm
28
185
7 - 11 - 0

Great wrestler
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

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 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jim Lingfield!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sergey Bakarow!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Daniel Blasius and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bakarow.
Lingfield swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bakarow looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Lingfield clinches.
Bakarow looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Lingfield drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bakarow pulls his leg out and moves away.

Lingfield gets caught flat footed, as Bakarow shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bakarow wanted to stand there but Lingfield had control of the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bakarow accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bakarow stopping the sweep attempt from Lingfield.

Lingfield looking for a guillotine here but Bakarow defends easily.
Bakarow is looking to work some ground and pound but Lingfield has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lingfield controlling the position.
Lingfield manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bakarow manages to get himself to full guard.

Lingfield engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Bakarow working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lingfield.
Bakarow is trying to control the position but Lingfield postures up.
Lingfield missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lingfield postures up.
Lingfield working some strikes from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lingfield keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bakarow's head.
Lingfield is working Bakarow over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Lingfield stops Bakarow from standing up.
Bakarow is trying to keep Lingfield in close.
Lingfield's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Lingfield trying to control the position from guard on top but Bakarow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lingfield is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Lingfield scoring with some ground and pound.
Bakarow trying to strike off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakarow wants to stand but Lingfield is controlling the position.
Lingfield trying to control the position from guard on top but Bakarow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Bakarow tries to clinch but Lingfield is having none of it.
Lingfield fails to land the takedown.
Bakarow shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lingfield sprawls well. Lingfield wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bakarow gets slowly back to his feet.
Lingfield looks to score with a jab to the body but Bakarow is just out of range.

Lingfield drives through with a takedown into Bakarow's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Lingfield trying to control but Bakarow is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lingfield controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bakarow wants to stand and escape but Lingfield is having none of it.
Bakarow keeping moving, preventing Lingfield from controlling successfully.
Bakarow seems keen to control Lingfield's posture.
Lingfield loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lingfield lands a couple of digs.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bakarow tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lingfield stops Bakarow from standing up.
Lingfield stopping the sweep attempt from Bakarow.
Bakarow keeping moving, preventing Lingfield from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Lingfield dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lingfield closes the distance and clinches up with Bakarow, looking for a takedown. Lingfield pushes Bakarow against the cage but Bakarow circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bakarow slips under a jab.
Lingfield connects with a looping right hand.
Lingfield is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bakarow can do to turn this around?
Bakarow doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lingfield counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Bakarow shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Lingfield is trying to defend but Bakarow finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Lingfield is looking for a sweep. Bakarow is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bakarow lands strikes from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bakarow not doing much here.
Lingfield is trying to maintain the position but Bakarow is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakarow tries to stand and escape but Lingfield is controlling the position.
Lingfield 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.
Bakarow stalling away here and it's allowed Lingfield to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Bakarow is fighting to break Lingfield's control of his arms but Lingfield is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Bakarow cracks Lingfield with a solid left hand.
Lingfield keeping moving, preventing Bakarow from controlling successfully.
Bakarow wants to get up but he can't break Lingfield's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Lingfield 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.
Lingfield looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Lingfield working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bakarow loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bakarow trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lingfield keeping moving, preventing Bakarow from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bakarow doesn't manage to clinch there - Lingfield circles away.
Lingfield half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Lingfield goes for a double leg but Bakarow avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bakarow continues to drive forward.
Bakarow fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
I was talking to Lingfield's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Bakarow is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jim Lingfield. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lingfield is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Bakarow gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lingfield.
Lingfield is looking to take this one to the mat.
Bakarow wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Lingfield tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bakarow taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lingfield avoids a wild elbow strike from Bakarow.
Bakarow tries to pull guard but Lingfield forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Lingfield is working for takedown but Bakarow is calmly controlling the position for now.
Lingfield stops a takedown attempt from Bakarow.

Bakarow escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bakarow shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lingfield as he jumps to the side.
Lingfield changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Lingfield shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bakarow pinned against the cage. Bakarow gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Bakarow has managed to clinch.
Lingfield can't get the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bakarow gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lingfield.
Bakarow is trying to stall.
Lingfield wants a takedown but no success here.
Lingfield wants a takedown but no success here.
Lingfield tries for a takedown. No joy.
Lingfield goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bakarow prevents it.
Lingfield tries to score a body lock takedown but Bakarow shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bakarow stalling in the clinch but Lingfield improves position.
Bakarow lands a body punch in the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Bakarow decides to pull guard.
Lingfield wants to control from the top but Bakarow keeps moving.
Bakarow trying to keep a closed guard but Lingfield is proving a slippery customer.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Bakarow showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Bakarow gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Lingfield goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bakarow prevents it.
Bakarow is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Bakarow is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Bakarow has Lingfield pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Bakarow pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Lingfield tumbling to the mat - Bakarow dives into Lingfield's guard.

Lingfield has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Bakarow should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Lingfield has tightened it up now! Bakarow should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Jim Lingfield!
Jim Lingfield decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.