PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mikhail Bakunin (ranked 506 p4p, 69 weight class) and Abner Applegate (ranked 520 p4p, 73 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bakunin
vs
Applegate

181 cm
34
178 lbs
21 - 10 - 0

182 cm
32
180 lbs
17 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mikhail Bakunin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abner Applegate!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Saam Ante and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bakunin lands with a shot to the body.
Bakunin swings for the body but Applegate moves out of range.
Bakunin throws a body shot but no joy.
Applegate lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Bakunin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Applegate moves away.
Applegate lands a glancing blow to the side of Bakunin's head.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Applegate tries to land a leg kick but Bakunin saw it coming and moves away.
An inside leg kick lands from Applegate.
The fight stays on the outside here - Applegate looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Applegate tries to clinch but Bakunin is having none of it.
Applegate keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bakunin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Applegate fails to land with a series of punches.
Applegate takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Bakunin is looking to wear down Applegate with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Bakunin takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Applegate tried to score with a low kick but Bakunin checks it.
Applegate ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Applegate throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bakunin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Applegate is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bakunin misses with a hook. Applegate ducked under it nicely.
Applegate blocks a head kick by Bakunin.
Bakunin throws a looping overhand right but Applegate ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Applegate tries to clinch but Bakunin moves out of range.
Bakunin lands a jab.
Applegate throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bakunin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Applegate dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bakunin. That did some damage!
Bakunin looks to land a combination but Applegate avoids it well.
Bakunin just misses with a punch to the body.
Applegate fails with an attempt to clinch.
Applegate looks for a takedown but Bakunin sprawls well.
Bakunin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Applegate throws out the jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bakunin. Applegate does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bakunin scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Applegate doesn't seem bothered though.
Bakunin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Applegate misses the shot to the body.

Applegate has Bakunin up against the cage in a clinch.
Applegate tries a knee to the head but Bakunin blocks it.
Bakunin blocks an uppercut.
Bakunin struggles to land a body shot inside as Applegate controls his hands.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bakunin misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Applegate.
Applegate throws a head punch that misses.
Bakunin blocking some punches.
Bakunin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bakunin lands a right hand that snaps the head of Applegate backwards.
Bakunin struggles to land a body shot inside as Applegate controls his hands.
Bakunin misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Applegate.
We've been informed that Applegate has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Applegate prevents a body shot from Bakunin.
A short body shot lands from Applegate as the two fighters clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Applegate.
Applegate tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bakunin's elbow.
Applegate is pushing Bakunin up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Applegate.
Bakunin misses with the head strike.
Applegate misses with an elbow over the top.
Applegate misses with an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin misses with a punch to the body.
Bakunin lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Applegate backwards.
Bakunin working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Applegate tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bakunin working aggressively here.
Bakunin lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Applegate or not.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bakunin.
Applegate tries a body shot but Bakunin blocks it.
Bakunin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bakunin throws a punch but it's blocked by Applegate.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bakunin.
Bakunin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Applegate's elbow.
Bakunin lands a shoulder strike.
Applegate misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bakunin lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Bakunin takes a shot to the head.
Applegate misses with a punch to the body.
Bakunin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Applegate throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bakunin creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Applegate.
Applegate misses with a punch on the inside.
Bakunin swings wildly with an uppercut but Applegate uses good head movement to avoid it.
Applegate blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Applegate throws a head punch that misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Applegate throws an elbow but misses.
Bakunin prevents a body shot from Applegate.
A short right from Applegate on the inside.
Applegate works on Bakunin's body with a couple of short punches.
Bakunin working some nice short punches in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bakunin.
Applegate tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bakunin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bakunin swings wildly with an uppercut but Applegate uses good head movement to avoid it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bakunin presses Applegate against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Applegate tries to throw a body punch but Bakunin avoids it by throwing Applegate back against the cage.
Applegate is working Bakunin over against the cage.
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 Mikhail Bakunin will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bakunin throws a body punch but Applegate moves out of range.
Bakunin throws a body shot but no joy.
Bakunin sets himself, and Applegate steps forward looking for the clinch! Bakunin avoids it this time.
Applegate fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Bakunin is out of range.
Applegate tries to clinch but Bakunin is having none of it.
Applegate dives in and grabs Bakunin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bakunin pushes down on Applegate's head and hops out.
Bakunin is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Bakunin uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Applegate has time to react.

Applegate forces Bakunin back against the cage and clinches.
Bakunin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bakunin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Applegate has a couple of punches blocked by Bakunin.
Bakunin throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Applegate.
Bakunin working aggressively here.
Applegate blocking some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bakunin misses with a punch to the body.
Applegate blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bakunin lands a nice shot to the body.
Mikhail Bakunin has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Bakunin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bakunin misses with the head strike.
Applegate fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Applegate.
Bakunin blocking some punches.
Bakunin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bakunin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Applegate's elbow.
Bakunin tries to throw a body punch but Applegate avoids it by throwing Bakunin back against the cage.
Bakunin lands with a left to the head.
Bakunin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Applegate creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Bakunin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Applegate misses with a punch to the body.
Applegate softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Bakunin misses with a body punch.
Applegate lands a body shot in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bakunin.
Applegate tries to throw a body punch but Bakunin avoids it by throwing Applegate back against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Applegate.
A hook to the body from Applegate.
Bakunin takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Mikhail Bakunin has been cut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bakunin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Applegate breaks from the clinch.
Bakunin misses with a looping right.

Applegate gets in close and instigates a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Applegate lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Bakunin or not.
Applegate blocks a body shot from Bakunin.
Bakunin tries a body shot but Applegate blocks it.
Bakunin misses with a body punch.
Applegate misses with a knee to the head.
Applegate cracks Bakunin with a nice body shot.
Applegate tries to work over Bakunin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A left hand lands to the body for Applegate.
A nice left hand lands by Applegate.
Bakunin misses with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Bakunin fails to land.
Applegate with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Bakunin struggles to land a body shot inside as Applegate controls his hands.
Applegate swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Applegate missing with knees to the body.
Applegate goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Applegate goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bakunin tries to work over Applegate's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Applegate.
Applegate swings wildly with an uppercut but Bakunin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Applegate scores with a nice hook to the head.
Applegate doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bakunin can't find room to land a body shot as Applegate controls the action.
Bakunin has a couple of punches blocked by Applegate.
Applegate misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bakunin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Applegate blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bakunin lands with a right to the head.
Bakunin makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Bakunin throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Applegates head.
Bakunin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Applegate working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Bakunin misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bakunin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Applegate's elbow.
Applegate misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bakunin.
Bakunin gets through Applegate's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bakunin has a couple of punches blocked by Applegate.
Applegate lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Applegate.
Applegate prevents a body shot from Bakunin.
Bakunin struggles to land a body shot inside as Applegate controls his hands.
Bakunin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bakunin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Applegate lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Applegate misses with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Bakunin fails to land.
Bakunin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Applegate cracks Bakunin with a nice body shot.
Bakunin swings wildly with an uppercut but Applegate uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bakunin throws a head punch that misses.
Applegate tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bakunin's elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Abner Applegate will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Mikhail Bakunin'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. This is the final round!

A nice inside leg kick there by Applegate. That's going to slow Bakunin down.

Applegate gets a clinch.
Applegate tries to work over Bakunin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Applegate misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A hook to the body from Applegate.
Bakunin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bakunin has a couple of punches blocked by Applegate.
Applegate blocking some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bakunin.
Bakunin misses with the head strike.
Bakunin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bakunin misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right from Applegate on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Applegate swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Applegate lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Bakunin lands with a short shot to the head.
Bakunin lands a body punch in the clinch.
Bakunin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bakunin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bakunin creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Applegate creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Bakunin working aggressively here.
Bakunin is working Applegate over against the cage.
Bakunin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bakunin working aggressively here.
Bakunin prevents a body shot from Applegate.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Applegate.
Applegate works on Bakunin's body with a couple of short punches.
Applegate lands a left hand that snaps the head of Bakunin backwards.
Bakunin can't find room to land a body shot as Applegate controls the action.
A nice left hand lands by Applegate.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bakunin.
Bakunin misses with a punch to the body.
Applegate lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Applegate presses Bakunin against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice body punch from Applegate - that landed with a thud.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Applegate.
Applegate lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Applegate gets through Bakunin's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Applegate is working Bakunin over against the cage.
Applegate lands an uppercut.
Bakunin swings wildly with an uppercut but Applegate uses good head movement to avoid it.
Applegate lands a body punch in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Applegate.
Applegate gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Applegate.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Applegate.
Applegate lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Applegate lands a nice uppercut.
Applegate lands a body punch in the clinch.
Applegate pushes off an throws an elbow but Bakunin leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Applegate gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Applegate jumps into guard, dragging Bakunin to the mat.
Applegate looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Applegate looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bakunin stands and steps away. Applegate gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Applegate tries to close the distance and clinch but Bakunin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
It looked like Bakunin wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Applegate throws a looping overhand right but Bakunin ducks down to avoid it.
Applegate doesn't manage to clinch there - Bakunin circles away.
Bakunin cracks a nice hook into Applegate's ribs.

Applegate closes the distance and clinches.
Applegate using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bakunin has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Applegate has a couple of punches blocked by Bakunin.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Applegate.
A nice left hand lands by Applegate.
Applegate misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bakunin swings wildly with an uppercut but Applegate uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Applegate tries to throw a body punch but Bakunin avoids it by throwing Applegate back against the cage.
Applegate digs a right hand into Bakunin's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Bakunin's gas tank.
A short right from Applegate.
Applegate misses with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Applegate.
Applegate lands with a short shot to the head.
Bakunin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bakunin throws a head punch that misses.
Applegate throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Bakunins head.
Bakunin misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Applegate fails to land.
Applegate misses with some punches.
Bakunin lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Applegate lands a right hand.
Bakunin is leaning against Applegate and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Applegate escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Applegate misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bakunin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Applegate.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abner Applegate comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Applegate has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abner Applegate!
Abner Applegate very nearly forgot to thank Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.
In defeat, Mikhail Bakunin stepped up to the mic, saying 'I tip my hat to Turbo he's a beast there's a reason he's been champ for so long and been so dominant. I will be back you can count on that'.