PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Diego Raven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cody Bunnell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cody Bunnell is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Raven
vs
Bunnell

170 cm
22
135 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

200 cm
23
135 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Diego Raven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cody Bunnell!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bunnell fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bunnell shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Raven as he jumps to the side.
Bunnell fails with a takedown attempt.
Diego Raven has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cody Bunnell.
Bunnell dives in and grabs Raven's left leg, looking for a takedown. Raven pushes down on Bunnell's head and hops out.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bunnell.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Bunnell with that takedown attempt.
Bunnell fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bunnell shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Bunnell was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Raven working to try and regain half guard.
Bunnell can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Raven is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bunnell prevents Raven from getting the reversal.
Bunnell wants to control the pace but Raven is squirming around nicely.
Raven tries to hold on but Bunnell postures up.
Bunnell trying to control but Raven is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Raven tries to hold on but Bunnell pushes him away.
Bunnell is trying to take his opponent's back.
Bunnell is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Raven is looking to get to half guard.
Bunnell wants to control the pace but Raven is squirming around nicely.
Bunnell prevents Raven from getting the reversal.
Bunnell is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Raven controls the position.
Raven is desperately trying to improve his position but Bunnell has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bunnell can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Raven is looking to escape.
Raven is trying to escape the mount.
Bunnell wants to take Raven's back here but Raven is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Bunnell looks gassed!
Bunnell looking to control but Raven is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Raven is wriggling around trying to escape.
Bunnell trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Raven tries to lock up and control but Bunnell gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Raven is squirming around, avoiding Bunnell's attempts to control the action.
Bunnell fails to move to back control.
Raven tries to reverse the position but Bunnell maintains control.
Raven is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Bunnell wants to control the pace but Raven is squirming around nicely.
Raven is trying desperately to improve position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bunnell trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Raven is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Diego Raven will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Bunnell shoots in for a takedown but Raven shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bunnell is trying hard to land a takedown here. Raven sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Raven gets the takedown into side control.
Raven working the strikes but Bunnell uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Raven wants to pass the guard but Bunnell is defending well.
Raven throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bunnell taking some punishment here, with Raven in his half guard.
Bunnell is trying to get back to full guard.
Bunnell is breathing heavily.
Raven slips a nice elbow through Bunnell's hands, connecting with Bunnell's forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raven is looking to pass Bunnell's guard but actually Bunnell recovers to full guard.
Raven might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Raven throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Raven trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bunnell misses with a takedown

so Raven counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Diego Raven has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cody Bunnell.
Raven distracts Bunnell with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bunnell wants to sweep but no luck.
Raven trying to control the position from guard on top but Bunnell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bunnell wants to sweep here but Raven controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raven wants to pass the guard but Bunnell is keeping the position.
Bunnell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Raven distracts Bunnell with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Raven looking to sit in guard and control but Bunnell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Raven looking for a sweep. Not yet Raven, not yet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bunnell with a lazy takedown attempt

and Raven counters with a takedown into side control.
Raven throwing strikes but Bunnell manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Bunnell is looking to take a break and control but Raven is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Raven is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raven is not content to let Bunnell control the position.
Bunnell working away.
Bunnell trying to control the action but Raven is working from the bottom.
Raven is looking for a sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bunnell with a poor takedown

and Raven counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raven trying to mount his opponent but Bunnell defends it.
Raven is working hard here to advance position.
Raven content to control rather than advance.
Raven thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bunnell's head.
Bunnell is trying to control but can't.
Raven looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Raven throwing shots but Bunnell is blocking nicely.
Bunnell is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Raven dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Raven misses with a takedown

and Bunnell counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Raven's guard now.
Bunnell looking to pass the guard.
Bunnell trying to control the position from guard on top but Raven is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Raven knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bunnell on the ground.
Bunnell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bunnell forces his way into half guard.
Raven is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bunnell with a poor takedown

and Raven counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Raven frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Bunnell is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Bunnell tries to hold on but Raven postures up.
Raven prevents Bunnell from getting the reversal.
Raven with good strikes from the mount here!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raven can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bunnell is looking to escape.
Raven dominating with strikes here.
Raven trying to control but Bunnell is having none of it.
Raven looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Raven lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Raven can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bunnell is looking to escape.
Diego Raven is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raven prevents Bunnell from getting the reversal.
Raven lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Raven controlling the position easily from mount.

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 referee stands the fighters back up. Diego Raven just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Raven gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Bunnell decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Raven's guard.
Bunnell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Raven swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Raven looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Raven can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bunnell controls the pace.
Bunnell wants to control from the top but Raven keeps moving.
Cody Bunnell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bunnell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Raven swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Cody Bunnell.
Well Raven has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Diego Raven!