PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ping Pong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ali Bagautdinov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pong
vs
Bagautdinov

175 cm
18
135 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

169 cm
21
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Inexperienced

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ping Pong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ali Bagautdinov!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Paulsen Ambrosius and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pong shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bagautdinov as he jumps to the side.
Pong misses with a takedown
and Bagautdinov counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Bagautdinov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bagautdinov lands in his opponent's guard.
Pong looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bagautdinov stopping the sweep attempt from Pong.
Pong has a closed guard, preventing Bagautdinov from standing up.
Bagautdinov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pong. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pong wants to stand up but Bagautdinov is controlling him.

Pong escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bagautdinov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bagautdinov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Bagautdinov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bagautdinov.
Pong is trying to get back to half guard.
Bagautdinov controlling the position from side mount.
Pong is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Bagautdinov has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bagautdinov decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Pong slaps away a takedown attempt from Bagautdinov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Pong shoots in and drives through. Bagautdinov sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ping Pong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bagautdinov bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Pong's head.
Pong with a lazy takedown attempt
and Bagautdinov counters with a left to the body.
Pong closes the distance and clinches up with Bagautdinov, looking for a takedown. Pong pushes Bagautdinov against the cage but Bagautdinov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pong is breathing heavily.

Bagautdinov moves into the clinch.
Pong tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bagautdinov avoids it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bagautdinov misses with an elbow strike.
Bagautdinov is pushing Pong up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Pong really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bagautdinov pushes Pong back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pong tries to break the clinch but Bagautdinov is controlling the position.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Bagautdinov has Pong pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Bagautdinov pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Pong tumbling to the mat - Bagautdinov dives into Pong's guard.
Pong not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Pong is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pong bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bagautdinov's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pong is pushing down on Bagautdinov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bagautdinov is fighting to maintain full guard but Pong has managed to sneak the leg through.
Pong is pressing down on Bagautdinov's thigh, looking to free his foot. Bagautdinov is holding on for now.
Pong lands with a punch from half guard.

Bagautdinov has one foot on Pong's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Pong tries to clinch up
and Bagautdinov counters with a stiff right hand.

Bagautdinov feints and as Pong raises his hands in defense, Bagautdinov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bagautdinov trying to control but Pong is working from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bagautdinov stopping the sweep attempt from Pong.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ali Bagautdinov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bagautdinov works Pong's body with a nice hook.
Pong closes the distance and clinches up with Bagautdinov, looking for a takedown. Pong pushes Bagautdinov against the cage but Bagautdinov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Bagautdinov shoots in and bounces Pong off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Bagautdinov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pong trying to control the position.
Pong has a closed guard, preventing Bagautdinov from standing up.
Bagautdinov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bagautdinov gets to his feet - Pong follows without any prompting.

Bagautdinov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Pong looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Pong wants to control but Bagautdinov postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pong is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Pong's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Pong is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Bagautdinov off and has taken his back!

Bagautdinov is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Pong gets his way!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bagautdinov has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Pong.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bagautdinov is in bad spot here.

Pong working for a choke but Bagautdinov is defending well.

Pong has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Bagautdinov has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Bagautdinov covering up well under a series of strikes from Pong.

Pong is persistently looking for the submission but Bagautdinov is defending it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bagautdinov wants to control his opponent's hands but Pong gets his hands free.
Ali Bagautdinov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bagautdinov biding his time here by controlling the hands, looking to escape.
Bagautdinov is trapped and Pong is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Pong lands strikes to the head.
Bagautdinov tries to escape but Pong has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bagautdinov is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Pong has the hooks in. Bagautdinov is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Pong gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Bagautdinov covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Pong scores with punches from the back.
Bagautdinov is trying to stand back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pong lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Pong.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ping Pong dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Pong gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bagautdinov counters with a two punch combo.
Pong has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Pong is rocked!
Bagautdinov is looking to clinch.
Oh Pong is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Bagautdinov stalks Pong and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Pong's face. Pong staggers backwards, shaken.
Pong fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bagautdinov lands a jab-cross combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pong.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ping Pong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pong dives in for a single leg takedown but Bagautdinov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Bagautdinov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bagautdinov controlling the action here.
Bagautdinov prevents Pong from improving his position.
Pong seems to have got his legs back now.
Pong trying to control but Bagautdinov postures up.

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.
Bagautdinov is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Pong is looking for a sweep. Bagautdinov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bagautdinov tries to stand but can't do so whilst Pong controls his leg.
Pong tries to get to full guard but Bagautdinov has control of the leg.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Pong stuffs the takedown attempt from Bagautdinov. Bagautdinov gets slowly back to his feet.
We've been informed that Bagautdinov has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pong throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bagautdinov's waist but Bagautdinov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pong off to one side.

Bagautdinov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Pong napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Bagautdinov stands up.
Crunch! Bagautdinov slams his shin into Pong's torso.
Pong gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bagautdinov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bagautdinov scores with a jab to the body.
Pong fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bagautdinov avoids it really well and circles away.
Bagautdinov unleashes a big counter combination but Pong bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Bagautdinov digs a good body shot into Pong's ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bagautdinov scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bagautdinov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Pong!
Pong is looking for a sweep.
Pong being controlled for a moment.
Pong gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ali Bagautdinov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bagautdinov 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ali Bagautdinov!