PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joan Little (ranked 24164 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitiai Bukhankin (ranked 8153 p4p, 0 weight class). Mitiai Bukhankin has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Joan Little's chin.

Little
vs
Bukhankin

181 cm
19
346 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

202 cm
18
290 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joan Little!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mitiai Bukhankin!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Ivan Kurochkin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bukhankin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Bukhankin scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Little throws a few strikes from the bottom but Bukhankin takes advantage and mounts!
Little throwing hammer fists to the chest of Bukhankin. What's that going to do exactly?
Little tries to lock up and control but Bukhankin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Little throws a strike from the bottom but Bukhankin uses the opportunity to take his back.
Little trying to control the hands but Bukhankin won't let him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bukhankin trying to control momentarily.
Our spies down at at The Bear's Den ($400) inform us that Bukhankin has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Bukhankin really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Little.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bukhankin struggling to keep hold of the position.

Bukhankin is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Little knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Little for a finish.
Little trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Little is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Little trying to control but not successfully.
A lull in the action here.
Bukhankin keeps control of the position as Little tries to break free.
Bukhankin biding his time, controlling Little.
Bukhankin not allowing Little to control his hands.
Bukhankin is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Little could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Bukhankin tightening his grip on Little, looking for the choke.
Bukhankin trying to control momentarily.
Little wants to control his opponent's hands but Bukhankin gets his hands free.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Bukhankin trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Little doesn't escape.
Little might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Little just trying to survive but Bukhankin is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Little trying to get back to his feet but Bukhankin is in full control for now.
Bukhankin not allowing Little to control his hands.
Little is breathing heavily.
Little prevents Bukhankin from getting a body triangle.
Little breaks Bukhankin's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bukhankin is looking for a triangle here but Little uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Little swings around for an armbar but Bukhankin sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Little's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitiai Bukhankin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joan Little's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Little tries to sprawl but Bukhankin drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Bukhankin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Let's hope that Bukhankin has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Little missing with punches from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Little wants to control but Bukhankin is keeping busy.

Little actively working from the bottom here.
Bukhankin is trying to control. Little wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Little is controlling Bukhankin's trapped leg to prevent Bukhankin from advancing to side control.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Bukhankin. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Bukhankin blocks the strikes from Little.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Bukhankin looking to score a takedown here. Little is defending well but Bukhankin drives through and ends up in Little's guard.
Little is looking to stand back up but Bukhankin counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Little.

Bukhankin trying to control the action but Little is working from the bottom.
Little trying to hold on to Bukhankin's head to control him but Bukhankin postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Little misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Bukhankin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bukhankin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Little keeps working.
Bukhankin content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Little wants to control but Bukhankin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Little is refusing to be controlled, as Bukhankin sits in half guard.
Bukhankin might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Little haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Little trying to control here.
Little misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Little pushes Bukhankin off looking to stand but Bukhankin dives back in and keeps control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Bukhankin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bukhankin lands in his opponent's guard.
Bukhankin trying to control the position from guard on top but Little is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bukhankin sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Little's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bukhankin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Little keeps working.
Little is trying to control but can't.
Little is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bukhankin is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Bukhankin is controlling the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Little is looking for a sweep. Bukhankin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitiai Bukhankin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Joan Little's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Bukhankin dives in and scores a takedown into Little's guard.
Little throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Bukhankin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bukhankin trying to control but Little is working from the bottom.

Little has his foot on Bukhankin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bukhankin works his way back into a safe position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Little trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Bukhankin trying to control the position from guard on top but Little is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bukhankin postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bukhankin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Bukhankin shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Little manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Little throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Bukhankin trying to control the position from guard on top but Little is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bukhankin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Little striking off his back but it's not causing Bukhankin any problems.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Little working a defensive guard here.
Little can't keep his opponent in guard - Bukhankin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Bukhankin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Little does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Little tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Bukhankin content to control rather than advance.
Little is trying to maintain the position but Bukhankin is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Bukhankin feints and as Little raises his hands in defense, Bukhankin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Little wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Bukhankin is now in half guard.
Bukhankin is trying to control the action in half guard but Little is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Little is trying to control but can't.
Little wants to get back to full guard.
Bukhankin blocks the strikes from Little.
Bukhankin wants to take a breather but Little is having none of it.
Little trying to control but Bukhankin postures up.

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.
Bukhankin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Little keeps working.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Bukhankin changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Little looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Little trying his best to control but Bukhankin has mounted him.
Little tries to lock up and control but Bukhankin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Bukhankin is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Bukhankin extends the arm and Little is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mitiai Bukhankin!