PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Francesco Baja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Filip Butsev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Baja
vs
Butsev

210 cm
18
195 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Francesco Baja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Filip Butsev!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Valeri Chadov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Butsev misses with a double jab.
Filip Butsev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baja fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Butsev clinches with his opponent.
Baja prevents the takedown attempt.
Butsev working hard to break the clinch.
Butsev looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Butsev has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Baja avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Butsev tries for a takedown but Baja manages to get underhooks.
Francesco Baja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Filip Butsev.
Baja is working for takedown but Butsev is calmly controlling the position for now.
Butsev prevents the takedown attempt.
Butsev is looking to break free of the clinch but Baja has double underhooks.
Baja tries for a takedown. No joy.
Butsev drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Baja throws an elbow but it misses.
Butsev tries to land a knee to the head but Baja blocks with his arms.
Nice elbow from Butsev.

It looks like Francesco Baja has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butsev wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Baja has him pressed against the cage.

Baja manages to pull guard.
Baja wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Butsev trying to control the position from guard on top but Baja is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Baja seems keen to control Butsev's posture.
Butsev trying to control but Baja is working from the bottom.
Baja will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Baja controlling the position.
Baja knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Butsev on the ground.
Butsev throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butsev wants to control from the top but Baja keeps moving.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Butsev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Butsev looks gassed!
Butsev wants to control from the top but Baja keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baja wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Butsev wants to control from the top but Baja keeps moving.
Baja has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Butsev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Baja has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baja avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Butsev throwing strikes from guard but Baja blocks nicely.
Baja has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Butsev controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Butsev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Butsev trying to control but Baja is working from the bottom.
Baja pulls Butsev in to control the position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Francesco Baja just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Butsev tries to close the distance and clinch but Baja swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

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.
Baja swats away the attempt to clinch by Butsev.
Butsev throws a right and a left that both miss.

Baja shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Butsev manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baja stops Butsev from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francesco Baja dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Francesco Baja's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Baja shoots in and bounces Butsev off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Baja is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baja won't allow Butsev to get back to his feet.

That's two 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baja sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Baja has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francesco Baja dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Francesco Baja's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Butsev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Baja throws a nice looking combination but Butsev bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Baja throws a series of strikes that have Butsev backpedaling.
Butsev misses with a low kick.
Butsev with a poor takedown
and Baja makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Butsev doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Baja counters with a head kick.
Horrible takedown by Baja or perhaps it was just good defense by Butsev which made him look bad.
Baja fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Baja fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Butsev sprawls well initially but Baja persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Baja content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butsev wants to stand back up but Baja manages to pass into side control.

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.
Baja controlling the position from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baja trying to control the action but Butsev is working from the bottom.
Filip Butsev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Francesco Baja is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Butsev tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.

And that's the end of the fight!
Francesco Baja showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Baja, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Francesco Baja!