PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bukau Bekua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Maksim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bekua comes to the cage accompanied by Muay Thai Music. Maksim has chosen RUSSIA ANTHEM as his entrance music. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Bekua
vs
Maksim

170 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
153 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Sully's Bar & Grill
Ace of Spades

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bukau Bekua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ivan Maksim!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Winston Alpacca and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maksim blocks a head kick by Bekua.
Maksim wants to counter the offense by Bekua and move into the clinch position.
Maksim throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bekua cracks the inside of Maksim's front leg.

Maksim has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bekua dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Bekua throws a knee to the head but misses.

Maksim decides to pull guard.

Bekua gets to his feet. Maksim looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Maksim tries to clinch up but Bekua circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maksim blocks a head kick by Bekua.
Bekua lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

Maksim has taken the fight to the clinch.
Maksim is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bekua is defending well for now.

Maksim has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Bekua clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bekua is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Maksim.
Maksim scores with strikes from the back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maksim keeps control of the position easily here as Bekua tries to buck him off.
Bekua trying to control the action but Maksim just sinks the hooks in.
Maksim somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Maksim lands shots from the back.
Maksim has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Bekua's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Maksim might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Maksim has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Maksim not allowing Bekua to control his hands.
Maksim has the hooks in. Bekua is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Maksim is working the back position looking for the choke. Oh, he's slid into an armbar! Beautiful transition and Bekua taps out! Fantastic Jiu Jitsu from Maksim.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ivan Maksim!
Ivan Maksim got down on his knees post fight and begged the management for a title shot. 'Please, I want that title shot so bad! Give it to me!'