PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Damian Laboy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexey Bakharev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bakharev comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Hatebreed - Live For This kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Laboy
vs
Bakharev

170 cm
20
140 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

161 cm
21
145 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Damian Laboy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexey Bakharev!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Dmitry Maklakov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laboy moves out of range of the body kick from Bakharev.
Laboy rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bakharev moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Laboy misses with the combination.
Bakharev misses with a wild body shot.
Bakharev tries to clinch up but Laboy circles away and keeps his distance.
The fighters circling - Laboy throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bakharev doesn't manage to clinch there - Laboy circles away.
Bakharev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Laboy goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Some wild striking there from Laboy.
A left and a right from Laboy both land. Nice combination.
Bakharev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bakharev wants to clinch up but Laboy keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laboy tries to keep at a distance but Bakharev has taken the fight into the clinch.
Laboy tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bakharev lands an elbow inside that Laboy shrugs off.
A head punch on the inside from Laboy fails to land.
Bakharev looking to stall.
Laboy is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bakharev is defending well for now.
The referee calls for Bakharev to work.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Laboy lands a body shot in the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Alexey Bakharev.
Laboy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bakharev.
No joy there for Laboy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Laboy thows a left - swing and a miss!
Laboy looks to throw the jab but Bakharev is out of range.

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.
Laboy tries to bum rush Bakharev with a series of wild strikes but Bakharev uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Laboy misses with a straight left.
Bakharev fails with an attempt to clinch.
Laboy looks to land a combination but Bakharev avoids it well.
Laboy will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Laboy throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bakharev sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bakharev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A punch combination from Laboy misses.
Bakharev avoids a punch combination nicely.
Laboy misses with a hook.
Laboy keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laboy stalks Bakharev and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Bakharev's face. Bakharev staggers backwards, shaken.

Bakharev forces Laboy back against the ropes and clinches.
Bakharev keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Laboy's efforts to push away.
Laboy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bakharev's elbow.
Laboy tries to circle away but Bakharev has him pinned against the ropes.
Laboy wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Laboy is leaning against Bakharev and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Bakharev trying to stall but Laboy improves his position.
Bakharev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bakharev will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Laboy up against the ropes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Laboy. Bakharev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Laboy throws a body punch but Bakharev moves out of range.
Laboy misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bakharev needs to keep his hands up - Laboy had a free shot at his head there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Laboy misses.
Laboy takes a swing at Bakharev's ribcage but misses.

Bakharev closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Laboy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bakharev on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Laboy tries to land a knee to the head but Bakharev blocks with his arms.
Laboy misses with some punches.
Laboy wants to break free but Bakharev has control.
Bakharev leaning against his opponent.
Laboy misses with the head strike.
Bakharev has Laboy pushed against the ropes.
Laboy leaning against his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bakharev just leaning against Laboy, taking a breather.
Bakharev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Laboy working aggressively here.
Bakharev looking to slow down the pace here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damian Laboy dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Laboy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Bakharev clinches up against the ropes.
Laboy is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Bakharev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Laboy throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Laboy working aggressively here.
Laboy takes an elbow to the forehead.
Bakharev blocking some punches.
Bakharev blocks an uppercut.
Laboy is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bakharev drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Laboy tries a body shot but Bakharev blocks it.
Laboy misses with an elbow over the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laboy misses with an elbow strike.
Laboy is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Bakharev is keeping busy.
Bakharev dodges an elbow strike from Laboy.
Laboy is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Laboy.
Laboy trying to stall but Bakharev improves his position.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Laboy just misses with a elbow thrown towards Bakharev's brow.
Laboy tries to stall but Bakharev uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Laboy misses with a short punch on the inside.
Laboy throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Bakharev has clasped his hands together around Laboy's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Laboy is not content to let Bakharev control the position.
Laboy can't do much from the bottom here.
Bakharev remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laboy regains half guard.
Laboy is looking for a sweep. Bakharev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Laboy makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Laboy.
Laboy 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.
Bakharev wants to control from the top but Laboy keeps moving.
Bakharev stays in close to Laboy's body and controls the position.
Bakharev won't allow Laboy to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakharev slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Laboy manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Bakharev sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Laboy is looking for a sweep. Bakharev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Laboy is pressing down on Bakharev's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Bakharev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Laboy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Laboy trying to control the position here.
Bakharev trying to control but Laboy is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bakharev pushes down on Laboy's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Laboy tries to roll over but Bakharev keeps him under control.
Laboy is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bakharev's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bakharev's back!
Bakharev is in bad spot here.
Laboy throwing sloppy strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Laboy is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Laboy trying to control momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alexey Bakharev will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Bakharev misses with a shot to the body
and Laboy counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Laboy misses with a body shot
and Bakharev counters with a nice leg kick.
Laboy throws a right hand that Bakharev ducks under and follows up with a left that Bakharev also avoids with ease.
Laboy moves out of range as Bakharev throws a body kick.
Laboy throws a left and a right that both miss

and Bakharev counters with a shoot takedown. Laboy fights it but they end up in guard.
Bakharev wants to pass the guard but Laboy is keeping the position.
Bakharev wants to control from the top but Laboy keeps moving.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Laboy escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bakharev gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Laboy keeping moving, preventing Bakharev from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laboy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bakharev is one step ahead there.
Laboy is working hard here to advance position.
Laboy keeping moving, preventing Bakharev from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bakharev uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Laboy.

Bakharev fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Laboy sprawls well initially but Bakharev persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bakharev is taking a breather. Laboy says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Laboy moves into full guard.
Bakharev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Laboy wants to hit a switch here but Bakharev passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Laboy there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laboy is trying desperately to improve position.
Bakharev controlling from mount.
Laboy is looking to improve his position but Bakharev isn't that keen on the idea.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Bakharev content just to control the position here.
Bakharev manages to capitalize on a mistake by Laboy to take his back!
Laboy can't escape the position.
Laboy wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laboy prevents Bakharev from getting a body triangle.
Bakharev really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Laboy.
Bakharev is hanging on to Laboy's back as he tries to escape.
Bakharev has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Laboy's body.
Laboy breaks Bakharev's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Bakharev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Laboy postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Bakharev is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Laboy, into his guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four 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.
Laboy wants to stand and escape but Bakharev is having none of it.
Bakharev not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Bakharev trying to control the position from guard on top but Laboy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bakharev won't allow Laboy to sweep him here.
Laboy keeping moving, preventing Bakharev from controlling successfully.
Bakharev content to stall in guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexey Bakharev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bakharev has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Alexey Bakharev!