PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jumalaton Hirmu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Baako The African (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hirmu comes to the cage accompanied by Halloween Theme. Jumalaton Hirmu had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 186.3lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Baako The African has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Hirmu
vs
The African

195 cm
24
196 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

160 cm
23
199 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Knockout power

Tesla Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jumalaton Hirmu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Baako The African!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Dmitry Maklakov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - The African throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

The African gets a takedown into half guard.
The African not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The African lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

The African is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hirmu sees it coming and defends easily.
The African uses his free foot to push down on Hirmu's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Hirmu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirmu regains half guard.
The African sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hirmu defending well though.
The African not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The African frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The African scoring with strikes but Hirmu is staying in there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The African breaks from Hirmu's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The African avoids the attempt from Hirmu to control.
Hirmu can't escape the position.
Hirmu tries to lock up and control but The African gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
The African looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Hirmu is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

The African is going olschool here, as he tries to force Hirmu to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Hirmu shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The African landing strikes from the mount.

The African looking to secure an arm triangle but Hirmu defends it well.

The African goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Hirmu turns into him and now he's in The African's guard.
Hirmu wants to get up but he can't break The African's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The African has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Hirmu is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for The African.
Hirmu wants to lay and pray for a moment but The African keeps working.
The African managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Hirmu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baako The African dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

The African shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The African landing strikes, looking to finish!

The African working for a guillotine from mount but Hirmu is in no mood to give up.

The African jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Hirmu is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Hirmu and The African has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
The African working the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirmu manages to get back to half guard.
The African has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The African is nestled in close to Hirmu, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The African moves into full mount! Hirmu won't be happy about that!
The African connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The referee warns Hirmu that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The African has hold of Hirmu's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Hirmu manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Hirmu is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The African looking for a guillotine from mount but Hirmu is having none of it.
The African looking to finish Hirmu with some ground and pound. This is bad for Hirmu!
The African is in the full mount, landing strikes.
The African working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The referee warns Hirmu that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The African lands a heavy elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The African is landing with some decent strikes but Hirmu is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The African landing punches.
The African breaks from Hirmu's wrist control and lands an elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The African postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hirmu looks a forlorn figure.
The African breaks from Hirmu's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The African looking to finish Hirmu with some ground and pound. This is bad for Hirmu!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baako The African 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

The African closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hirmu to the mat! Hirmu manages to get full guard.
The African advances position into side control!
The African scores with a couple of short elbows.
Hirmu taking a bit of punishment here - The African scoring with strikes.

The African is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hirmu has escaped the position, nice work there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The African is chipping away with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The African grinds an elbow into Hirmu's temple.
Hirmu gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The African seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The African working over Hirmu with some ground and pound. Hirmu looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Baako The African is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The African controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hirmu is trying to maintain the position but The African is very close to passing his half guard.
The African content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four 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.
The African's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Jumalaton Hirmu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Despite being in the dominant position, Baako The African just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Hirmu gets caught flat footed, as The African shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Baako The African comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well The African has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Baako The African!